What is it like to take the DipTESOL?

This week we interview a recent DipTESOL trainee, who completed his Trinity DipTESOL in Hong Kong in 2014.  After 4 years post-certificate, he was an experienced teacher looking to develop his teaching skills, knowledge of language teaching and his career when he decided to take the DipTESOL.

1) Why did you decide to take the DipTESOL?

I didn't want to be just a teacher forever so I thought the Dip would naturally be the next step. It's helped me become a Materials Coordinator at the British Council. When it was offered in HK for the first time I didn't hesitate to sign up. I couldn't really travel abroad to study for family reasons.

2) In what mode did you take the Dip? (i.e. part time, full time, online etc)

Part-time online

3) How long had you been teaching before taking the Dip?

4 years

4) How did you know you were/felt ready to take the Dip?

I was becoming arrogant as a teacher. My customers really liked me as a teacher and so I wanted to see what the next level of ELT is. Suffice to say, I am more than humbled after the challenging course. You have a very clear path for professional development after the course.

5) What were you worried about most prior to the course?

Nothing, I was really cocky. Learned the hard way about balancing my work life and studies.

6) In what ways did you develop as a teacher on the course?

I feel like a phonology expert now. I am confident teaching pronunciation. I feel that my DELTA colleagues are much less confident teaching pron compared to me. I also learned how to use new methodologies like TBL which was very novel to me. My greatest strength is that I developed a very reactive style of teaching which is very valuable for delivering on student expectations.

7) Were there any aspects/components of the course that you didn’t enjoy?

Collaborating with others- we were all on different time zones. We could never find a mutual time to work together. There was someone else from HK on my course who stood me up when we agreed to meet.

8) What advice do you wish you’d had before taking the course?

Don't have major life plans like getting married when taking the Dip. I had to delay my projects module and exam module. My tutor was super helpful to help me assign later dates for the 2 modules.

Oh and don't try to be creative for the projects module. Tread on popular/common themes in ELT. I designed over 100 cards for a motivating lexis teaching card game and it nearly killed me. Speak to your tutor and find something that has a lot of established literature on the topic. Do as much as possible and submit drafts, your tutors really help to steer the projects in the right directions. Be practical!

9) What are you top 3 suggestions for resources for future Dip candidates?

Your tutors! Ask them questions all the time! Especially for how to answer language question that require a lot of depth to score high marks!

Trawl the internet for DipTESOL materials that alumni of the dip have put up. There are videos blogs and glossaries that are super useful.

Exam past papers. Drill drill drill.

 

For more information about the Trinity DipTESOL, check out our upcoming workshops or contact one of our course trainers.

About the Author

James Pengelley

James worked at EfA as a CertTESOL and DipTESOL trainer and digital content manager. He holds a Cambridge DELTA, Trinity TYLEC and a postgraduate diploma in teaching (secondary). He has made multiple contributions to English language teaching publications, including the English Australia Journal, The British Council and the International House Journal of Education and Development, which you can read here.

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