Certification, Professional Qualification, Licensing - PTCT & Programs
1.CERTIFIED – According to Barduhn, and Johnson, certification “is the process of deciding that an individual meets the minimum standards of competence in a profession.” (pg.61)
As a result, every teacher certification program, has its own unique standards. For example, TESOL Ontario provides the PTCT – Post TESL Certificate Training, which offers instructors with chance to advance their knowledge and skills in light of their ‘specialized’ areas of teaching. Here is the link for more information about PTCT:
http://www.teslontario.net/uploads/accreditation/PTCT/PTCTflyer100813.pdf
Moreover, the aim of TESOL Ontario is to assist those teachers who hold many years of teaching experience, with an emphasis to build on their areas of specialization,which include the following areas:
Furthermore, the good news is, these PTCT’s - post certificate programs are also completely reimbursable, as it is funded by CIC – Canada Immigration and Citizenship. Please feel free to check out the link and spread the word:
http://ptct.teslontario.org/
2.QUALIFIED – “Qualifications abound. In fact, the latest directory of professional preparation programs in
TESOL (Garshick 2002) lists 400 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the United States and Canada alone.” (“Licensing is the legal process of permitting a person to practice a trade or profession once he or she has met certification standards.” (Cronin 1983: 175, in Barduhn & Johnson, pg.61), pg.60)
I can definitely relate to this quote. I initially applied to the TESOL program during my undergraduate studies at UofT (back then, I believe, it was called the TESL program at Woodsworth). Although I was accepted, I decided to postpone the offer, as I first wanted to complete my HonBA. I felt that one year of undergraduate studies would not suffice to become a TESL teacher.
As the authors of chapter six, Barduhn and Johnson explain, most teacher qualifications require at least a minimum of an undergraduate HonB.A to become a qualified teacher. I would like to share the information and link to the TESOL website at Woodsworth college, which also discusses their reasons for changing the name of the program from TESL to TESOL:
“The certificate program changed its name from TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) to TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in 2006. The new name more accurately reflects the fact that the program considers both Teaching English as a Second Language (e.g., to recent immigrants to Canada) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (e.g., to non-English speakers abroad).”
TESOL certificate program at Woodsworth College, U of T:
http://www.wdw.utoronto.ca/index.php/programs/tesol/prospective_students/
As a result, many years ago, the application process did not require one to have a B.A., and it was less restrictive in regards to the admissions process to become a TESOL teacher. However, as time progressed, the admission process became more rigorous. Now, UofT – Woodsworth college is looking for at least an undergraduate degree, with minimum of B+ average in the final year, a letter of intent, and at least three relevant teaching experiences with references.
Overall, the admission process has become as selective and competitive, similar to the MA / M.Ed program at UofT. As the authors, Barduhn, and Johnson explain, there needs to be set standards, especially in regards to becoming a teaching prior to completing undergraduate studies. In regards to he quote below, here is the link which indicates the current competitive requirements for admission to the TESOL teacher education program at UofT:
http://www.wdw.utoronto.ca/index.php/programs/tesol/how_to_apply
“The year 1986 was a watershed year for teacher education in the United States…These reports argued for the elimination of teacher education at the undergraduate level entirely; offering it only at the graduate level; for rigorous entrance standards for teacher-education programs; for the need for career ladders and a national board of standards; and for the ways of associating university programs more closely with schools.” (Barduhn & Johnson, pg.61)
3.LICENSED – A license to teach is equivalent to a permit, as the instructor has legal permission to practice
in his/her field of practice or area / specialization of teaching:
Licensing is the legal process of permitting a person to practice a trade or profession once he or she has met certification standards….An example from New York follows this sequence: the issuance of a certificate of qualification following an examination at the end of the Bachelors degree, the completion of a very carefully supervised internship of one year to qualify for a limited permit good for years of teaching, and finally the completion of a Masters to qualify for a permanent teaching licence.” (pg.61)
Hence, similar to the description in the quote above, about obtaining a license in New York, there are many opportunities to obtain the qualifications necessary for a teaching license recognized by TESOL Ontario and TESL Canada:
The University of Winnipeg – ESL Teacher Certificate Programs:
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/esl-teacher-certificate-program
The Seneca TESL certificate program, recognized by TESL Canada and TESL Ontario:
http://www.senecacollege.ca/ce/language/language-careers/tesl.html
Internationally recognized teacher training courses:
http://www.teflonline.com/
TESL: Concordia University - Teaching English As Second Language:
http://doe.concordia.ca/programs/teaching-english-second-language/tesl-teaching-english-as-second-language-certificate/
TESL: Teaching English as Second Language - Bachelor of Education (BEd):
http://doe.concordia.ca/programs/teaching-english-second-language/tesl-teaching-english-as-second-language-bed/
Complete list of ESL Teacher Training Programs – Directory for Canada:
http://www.eslincanada.com/english/tesl.php
As a result, every teacher certification program, has its own unique standards. For example, TESOL Ontario provides the PTCT – Post TESL Certificate Training, which offers instructors with chance to advance their knowledge and skills in light of their ‘specialized’ areas of teaching. Here is the link for more information about PTCT:
http://www.teslontario.net/uploads/accreditation/PTCT/PTCTflyer100813.pdf
Moreover, the aim of TESOL Ontario is to assist those teachers who hold many years of teaching experience, with an emphasis to build on their areas of specialization,which include the following areas:
- Developing Teaching Material
- Occupational Specific Language Instruction
- Teaching Pronunciation
- Canadian Language Benchmarks
- Teaching English for Academic Purposes
Furthermore, the good news is, these PTCT’s - post certificate programs are also completely reimbursable, as it is funded by CIC – Canada Immigration and Citizenship. Please feel free to check out the link and spread the word:
http://ptct.teslontario.org/
2.QUALIFIED – “Qualifications abound. In fact, the latest directory of professional preparation programs in
TESOL (Garshick 2002) lists 400 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the United States and Canada alone.” (“Licensing is the legal process of permitting a person to practice a trade or profession once he or she has met certification standards.” (Cronin 1983: 175, in Barduhn & Johnson, pg.61), pg.60)
I can definitely relate to this quote. I initially applied to the TESOL program during my undergraduate studies at UofT (back then, I believe, it was called the TESL program at Woodsworth). Although I was accepted, I decided to postpone the offer, as I first wanted to complete my HonBA. I felt that one year of undergraduate studies would not suffice to become a TESL teacher.
As the authors of chapter six, Barduhn and Johnson explain, most teacher qualifications require at least a minimum of an undergraduate HonB.A to become a qualified teacher. I would like to share the information and link to the TESOL website at Woodsworth college, which also discusses their reasons for changing the name of the program from TESL to TESOL:
“The certificate program changed its name from TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) to TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) in 2006. The new name more accurately reflects the fact that the program considers both Teaching English as a Second Language (e.g., to recent immigrants to Canada) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (e.g., to non-English speakers abroad).”
TESOL certificate program at Woodsworth College, U of T:
http://www.wdw.utoronto.ca/index.php/programs/tesol/prospective_students/
As a result, many years ago, the application process did not require one to have a B.A., and it was less restrictive in regards to the admissions process to become a TESOL teacher. However, as time progressed, the admission process became more rigorous. Now, UofT – Woodsworth college is looking for at least an undergraduate degree, with minimum of B+ average in the final year, a letter of intent, and at least three relevant teaching experiences with references.
Overall, the admission process has become as selective and competitive, similar to the MA / M.Ed program at UofT. As the authors, Barduhn, and Johnson explain, there needs to be set standards, especially in regards to becoming a teaching prior to completing undergraduate studies. In regards to he quote below, here is the link which indicates the current competitive requirements for admission to the TESOL teacher education program at UofT:
http://www.wdw.utoronto.ca/index.php/programs/tesol/how_to_apply
“The year 1986 was a watershed year for teacher education in the United States…These reports argued for the elimination of teacher education at the undergraduate level entirely; offering it only at the graduate level; for rigorous entrance standards for teacher-education programs; for the need for career ladders and a national board of standards; and for the ways of associating university programs more closely with schools.” (Barduhn & Johnson, pg.61)
3.LICENSED – A license to teach is equivalent to a permit, as the instructor has legal permission to practice
in his/her field of practice or area / specialization of teaching:
Licensing is the legal process of permitting a person to practice a trade or profession once he or she has met certification standards….An example from New York follows this sequence: the issuance of a certificate of qualification following an examination at the end of the Bachelors degree, the completion of a very carefully supervised internship of one year to qualify for a limited permit good for years of teaching, and finally the completion of a Masters to qualify for a permanent teaching licence.” (pg.61)
Hence, similar to the description in the quote above, about obtaining a license in New York, there are many opportunities to obtain the qualifications necessary for a teaching license recognized by TESOL Ontario and TESL Canada:
The University of Winnipeg – ESL Teacher Certificate Programs:
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/esl-teacher-certificate-program
The Seneca TESL certificate program, recognized by TESL Canada and TESL Ontario:
http://www.senecacollege.ca/ce/language/language-careers/tesl.html
Internationally recognized teacher training courses:
http://www.teflonline.com/
TESL: Concordia University - Teaching English As Second Language:
http://doe.concordia.ca/programs/teaching-english-second-language/tesl-teaching-english-as-second-language-certificate/
TESL: Teaching English as Second Language - Bachelor of Education (BEd):
http://doe.concordia.ca/programs/teaching-english-second-language/tesl-teaching-english-as-second-language-bed/
Complete list of ESL Teacher Training Programs – Directory for Canada:
http://www.eslincanada.com/english/tesl.php