What is a Trinity course?

So you've been surfing the net for hours looking for a TEFL course and you've come across something called a Trinity Course? No, it's not a special place you can do a TEFL course; neither is it TEFL training as scary (or scarily bad) as the film 'Blade Trinity'.

A Trinity course is simply a TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages) qualification that's widely recognised because it's validated by the oldest examinations board in the world - Trinity College London. It's your passport to teaching across the world.

So what's a Trinity CertTESOL?

You'll often hear the Trinity course being referred to as a 'Trinity CertTESOL'. This sounds more technical than it really is; it simply stands for The Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Why do a Trinity course?

You're probably itching to teach English abroad or even develop a career in TESOL, right? Either way, you'll want your pick of the best teaching jobs in the world and will need to know at least the basics of how to teach a class (unless you fancy standing there like a gibbering mess not knowing what you're doing!).

Do I really need a Trinity course or any other TEFL course to teach abroad?

Although it may be true that you can get a teaching job in some countries without a TEFL certificate, these schools are unlikely to be reputable. And as for paying well..! If you want the best choice of well-paid teaching jobs and all you the preparation you need for teaching English abroad, taking quality training before you go is your best bet.

Who can do a Trinity course?

If you're over the age of 18, can speak English and have, at the very least, qualifications for entry into higher education in the UK (or equivalent in your own country), then you can take a Trinity course. Unfortunately, not everyone who applies for a Trinity course is successful; all course providers hold selection interviews which boil down to you meeting the above criteria and your overall suitability for a TESOL career.

What if I don't have any teaching experience?

Don't worry. Although the Trinity course is one of the best of its breed, this doesn't mean you're expected to be a teaching genius from the start! A Trinity CertTESOL is actually designed for students with little or no experience of teaching English.

So go on, tell me more about the Trinity course...

As it's ready-mixed for teaching novices, a Trinity course will prepare you for your first teaching job by providing you with all the basic skills and knowledge you need to teach, while cementing the foundations for your career in TESOL.

The Trinity course includes various written assignments and a minimum of six hours' teaching practice with real students. To pass the course, you'll need to complete all of these modules successfully.

The Trinity CertTESOL course is assessed across the following five units:

* Unit 1: Teaching Skills
* Unit 2: Language Awareness
* Unit 3: The Learner Profile
* Unit 5: The Unknown Language

To find out more about what each of these units covers, check out the Trinity website.

Are there different types of Trinity course?

Yes. You can take a range of TESOL qualifications, including:

* Trinity CertTESOL
* Trinity DipTESOL
* Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (ESOL)- DTLLS
* Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners (CertTEYL)
* Fellowship Diploma in TESOL Education Studies (FTCL)
* Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners (CertTEYL)
* SKOLA Trinity Young Learners Extension course (STYLE)(CertTEYL)

Read more about Trinity's TESOL qualifications by downloading the free brochure from their website.

How long is a Trinity course?

Courses last for a minimum of 130 hours and can be completed in as few as four weeks with the full-time course, while the part time course can be taken in any amount of time up to a year. You'll probably need to do at least 15 hours' private study on top of this.

Where can I do a Trinity course?

Over 110 training private and state institutions all over the world are validated to run the Trinity course. Find a CertTESOL course near you.

Is a Trinity course internationally accredited?

When it comes to job hunting you'll want a decent teaching qualification to wave at potential employers. A Trinity CertTESOL attracts as much respect globally as the Cambridge CELTA, as it's accredited in England by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and accepted by the British Council as a sound foundation TESOL qualification, so it's a great certificate to have.

But so too is having a reputable TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certification which is internationally-accredited by the ODLQC(Open and Distance Learning Quality Council), guaranteeing worldwide recognition.

What can I do after a Trinity course?

You're ready to pass on your skills to a class full of eager students in Costa Rica or whichever exotic destination you desire! With such an internationally respected qualification, you'll have the chance to gain some of the best (and best-paid) teaching jobs on the planet.

Seeing as the Trinity CertTESOL is designed as a preliminary qualification for TESOL, if you want to develop your teaching career further, you can take a higher level teaching qualification such as the DELTA (Diploma in English Language teaching to Adults).

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