Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What are the differences between these acronyms: TESL, TEFL, TESOL, and ELT?

2) What does the acronym CCA stand for?

3) How soon will I know if my application has been accepted?

4) Why take the TEFL/TESL/CCA™ Certificate Program?

5) What do I have to bring along with me?

6) How can I prepare myself for the course?

7) How long will the course booklet take to complete?

8) Will I have to take any exams as part of the course?

9) Do I need to have a college/university degree in order to take the course?

10) Is the course difficult to pass?

11) What happens if I fail one of the course components?

12) How will my grade be determined?

13) Do I have to learn "English Grammar"?

14) Who takes the course?

15) How many hours will I need to spend on the course?

16) What are the benefits of taking the TEFL/TESL/CCA™ Certificate Program?

17) I’ve never taught before. Can I still take the course?

18) Do I have to be a native English speaker in order to take the course?

19) Does the course include any teaching practice?

20) Airport pick up?

21) Can you help me with accommodation?
 

1. What are the differences between these acronyms: TESL, TEFL, TESOL, and ELT?

TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) generally refers to teaching English to non-native speaking minority groups in a country where the native language is English (or where education is conducted in English).  TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) is still the most popular term to describe this area of language study.  Essentially, any English language teacher, whether abroad or in the U.S., the UK, Australia, etc. can be called an ESL teacher.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) generally refers to teaching English to non-native speakers either in a country where the native language is not English or when a non-native speaker visits an English-speaking country specifically to learn English.  A TEFL Certificate is the standard name for a certificate in teaching English.  TEFL Certificate graduates may teach both EFL and ESL.

TESOL (Teaching English To Speakers of Other Languages) refers to teaching English to non-native speakers in general.  It is also the name of a related major professional organization based out of Alexandria, Virginia, USA.  There are also many local TESOL affiliates, such as WATESOL (Washington TESOL), CATESOL (California TESOL) and Mexico TESOL.  Also, a Masters in TESOL is the standard name for an advanced degree in English-language teaching.

ELT (English Language Teaching) is a popular term used especially by professionals in Western Europe which is used to refer to the teaching of English to non-English speaking students in general.  There is also a major journal published in the United Kingdom that is called the ELT Journal.


2. What does the acronym CCA stand for?

CCA stands for Cross-cultural Awareness. During the course lectures, the instructors will draw upon their many years of experience with cross-cultural issues. Once you successfully complete the course, the certificate you receive will certify you in CCA, as well as TEFL/TESL.


3. How soon will I know if my application has been accepted?

We will notify you as soon as we receive your application. We will inform you within 5 working days if your application has been accepted.  You will then be sent the pre-course booklet and other pertinent material.


4. Why take the TEFL/TESL/CCA™ Certificate Program?

The TEFL/TESL/CCA™ Certificate Program (TEFL refers to Teaching English as a Foreign Language; TESL to Teaching English as a Second Language; and CCA to Cross-cultural Awareness) is similar to the Cambridge CELTA, one of the best-known and most widely accepted certificates of its kind.  CEC-EPN's guidelines are similar, although we also include a cross-cultural awareness component, which we believe is essential to teach successfully in any part of the world.

Taking the course abroad means that you will set aside your daily routine and experience a new culture from Day 1, which will be a genuine opportunity to develop cross-cultural awareness.  Also, if you are interested in living and working abroad after the course, this gives you a taste of the lifestyle.  The friendship and support provided by our tutors to the students, most of whom find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, is one of our strong points.  Ecuador is a small country of unique contrasts, which will fascinate you during and after the course, if you choose to prolong your stay, either to teach English, study Spanish, or to take a vacation in Ecuador.


5. What do I have to bring along with me?

The course text,'The Practice of English Language Teaching (4th Edition) by Jeremy Harmer checked out through our library system or purchased at the start of the course.  Also remember to bring your completed pre-course booklet along with you.  It will also be useful to bring items which you can use in the classroom such as photos of your family and your home town, information about your home town, tourist information pamphlets, puzzles, small games, etc.  Basic stationery items to plan lessons can be easily bought in Quito, so it is not necessary to bring them with you, unless you wish to do so.

The weather in Quito tends to be much cooler at night than during the day, and rainfall is fairly regular, especially between December and April.  Be sure to bring both warm and cool-weather clothing, and a raincoat or umbrella with you.  It is recommended that you wear pants to class, as in Quito shorts are normally only worn to sporting events.  Also, because of the variability of the weather and the cool night air (<13ºC(54ºF)), it is always best to err on the side of dressing warm by wearing pants and a long-sleeved shirt.  You also may want to wear layers of clothing, with a short-sleeved shirt underneath your long-sleeved one for hot afternoons.


6. How can I prepare myself for the course ?

You will receive a pre-course booklet upon registering for the course, which you should complete before the course starts.  The booklet is designed to give you an idea of our teaching/learning philosophy; a head start in areas such as grammar, lexis (vocabulary) and phonology, i.e. the language itself; and also to review study skills.  The more you can read from the book The Practice of English Language Teaching (4th Edition) by Jeremy Harmer before the course, the better.


7. How long will the course booklet take to complete?

The pre-course booklet will take up to 20 hours to complete, depending on your background and experience.  It will not be graded, but it will be reviewed at the beginning of the course, so you need to complete it before you arrive.  Although we have all the books on the reading list, if you begin reading them before the course, you will have a clear advantage.


8. Will I have to take any exams as part of the course?

No.  You will be assessed on your performance as a teacher.  Assessment is continuous and based on practice teaching, written assignments and your progress in general throughout the course.  You will have weekly one-to-one tutorials with your tutor, where you will have the opportunity to discuss progress and identify areas that need work.  Click here for more assessment details.


9. Do I need to have a college/university degree in order to take the course?

No.  All you need is to have graduated from high school.  However, we reserve the right to accept candidates who do not meet our criteria if we feel that they would be able to successfully complete the course.  Nevertheless, keep in mind that many EFL/ESL institutes require their teachers to have either an undergraduate degree in English or in education.  See our Are you up to taking the course? section for more details.


10. Is the course difficult to pass?

The course requires a lot of hard work and dedication; especially the practice teaching component.  Taking this into consideration, it is rare, but not impossible, for anyone to fail the course.


11. What happens if I fail one of the course components?

While it is possible to fail the course, you will receive as much help as possible from the tutors, through verbal and written feedback, and also the opportunity to resubmit the written assignments if necessary.   Also, keep in mind that the course components themselves are not assessed so much as your ability to apply them in your practice teaching.


12. How will my grade be determined?

All the course tutors will provide input in how the final grade will be determined.  For more details on how you will be assessed, click here.


13. Do I have to learn "English Grammar"?

Yes.  Just like any professional, you need to be knowledgeable about your subject.  The pre-course booklet provides you with the basic grammar you will need to know.  A language analysis component is included in the course. We will teach you how to research specific grammar points before you teach them during your student teaching.  Our main concern is that you be prepared to teach in whatever future circumstances you may find yourself.  Learning “English Grammar” is a continuous process and this course will start you on the right path.


14. Who takes the course?

People of all ages and all kinds of backgrounds take the course, which makes it particularly interesting.  Under the conditions of the course, it is not surprising for close friendships to be made.  People who take the course include :

15. How many hours will I need to spend on the course?

The course is very intensive.  Expect to spend most of your waking hours on course-related activities.  Apart from actual class time with the tutors, you will be observing experienced teachers, doing practice teaching, planning lessons (on your own or with fellow trainees), writing assignments and reading a considerable amount.  You will have very little free time.


16. What are the benefits of taking the TEFL/TESL/CCA™ Certificate Program?

Besides the reward of taking the course itself, teaching in Ecuador or elsewhere is a possibility.  A recommendation from us may help you to get a post in:

17. I’ve never taught before. Can I still take the course?

Yes.  Many participants will take the course without having had previous teaching experience and, in fact, the course is primarily aimed at them.


18. Do I have to be a native English speaker in order to take the course?

No.  But you should show evidence of a proficient level of English in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) so that you can participate effectively in the course. You may also need to give us written evidence of your English level from a recognized language institute or university.


19. Does the course include any teaching practice?

The course considers teaching practice to be of the highest importance.  Scheduled practice teaching will take place every weekday.  A tutor will observe you at least once a week.  You will be teaching volunteer adults, or schoolchildren, depending on your particular interest.  Expect to have around ten to fifteen students in each class. You will teach at two distinct levels during the course.


20. Can you help me with accommodation?

We can arrange accommodation at a hostel or hotel, depending on your preference. If you prefer, you can arrange your own accommodation instead. Please see our Accommodation page for more information.