Methodology & Professional Development

This course is designed for Overseas Teachers of English (or those about to enter the profession) whose first language is not English.

You can choose to study for 1 to 3 weeks – each week is an independent unit, starting on a Monday. To join this course, you will need an upper-intermediate level of English or higher. You will be asked to do a pre-course language test to determine your level of English. You will also have a brief interview with a member of the College staff on arrival to further help us assess your level of spoken English.

Each week, your full-time course comprises 15 hours of class tuition in a group (including a 30-minute break) and 5 hours of varied activities, including observation of Oxford House College, Oxford classes.

The central objectives of the Methodology and Professional Development Course are

• to help trainees focus on professional practice and knowledge
• to enhance trainees’ professional status, both within their teaching institutions and within the profession as a whole

Specific objectives include

• fostering an in-depth awareness of latest theory and practice in the specialist ELT areas of IT, UK culture and children with special needs
• encouraging teachers in their commitment to a high standard of professional development and growth
• promoting professional collegiality
• fostering an awareness of the latest theory and practice in ELT in terms of approaches, technique and lesson models
• encouraging experimentation and creativity in teaching methodology

The Methodology and Professional Development Course syllabus includes teaching methods and approaches, continuing professional development (CPD), classroom management, teaching phonetics and phonology, teaching reading, teaching cultural awareness in ELT, teaching with IT, project work and teaching English through British life and culture.

Examples of syllabus content include teaching segmental and suprasegmental features of English pronunciation, English as an international language, strategies to develop formal and informal writing skills, implementing the lexical approach, adapting to different learning styles and needs, promoting learning outside the classroom and teaching with internet and intranet.

All course participants receive a pre-course bibliography which they can refer to prior to the start of their course (although the reading of these texts is not a requirement to complete the course).

Participants who are already practising teachers are also invited to complete a brief selection of self-observation sheets to encourage them to analyse their own classroom performance in their own teaching situation, prior to the start of their course. These self-observation sheets are submitted to the Course Director at the start of the course, helping him or her to gain more insight into the teachers’ backgrounds and to better anticipate the teachers’ needs during the course.

On completion of your course, you will receive an Oxford House College certificate, with details of the course dates, the number of course hours, and details of topics covered. In addition you will receive a detailed and personalised report from the Course Director, with suggestions for further professional development.

Go back to Teacher Training page