HK$30,000
Already a qualified English language teacher? Take your teaching career to the next level with the Trinity Diploma in TESOL. This prestigious, internationally recognised qualification with English for Asia offers a positive, dynamic and supportive learning environment with small groups and world-renowned tutors.
The blended course allows you to plan your study around your teaching work – you can even complete the Teaching Practice in your own school, with your own students, or to online classes using Zoom.
The DipTESOL comprises 300 hours of study, broken into a six-month online study phase (part-time), followed by a four-week intensive phase (full-time) for your observed teaching practice and phonology interview. The online phase includes compulsory weekly contact sessions and assignments.
You can usually start the online phase in January, April or October with the practical phase typically taking place the following July or August.
Course dates below are when the online phase begins.
Hear from Laura, a DipTESOL trainer, as she answers your burning questions about the course:
This course is for you if
This course might not be for you if
Our typical trainees include ESOL teachers who are
Our courses comprise a diverse mix of ethnicities and nationalities, including native and non-native English speakers with a high level of spoken and written English. We welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds, though it is essential that course applicants hold the minimum qualifications and skills required for entry onto the course.
Trinity DipTESOL: are you ready? Get a teacher trainer's perspective.
Our graduates are experienced professionals, here’s what some of them had to say.
"I completed both the CertTESOL and DipTESOL programs and found the courses excellent. The content is well-structured, providing a solid combination of theory and practice. The teachers and staff in EfA are knowledgeable, supportive, and truly dedicated to helping students succeed. They offer constructive feedback and guidance throughout. It was a fantastic learning experience, and I would recommend it to anyone seeking high-quality TESOL education."
Hannah Liu
DipTESOL graduate, August 2024
“The EFA staff were lovely. With their guidance and input, my course mates and I were able to better refine our lesson plans, which helped make the lessons more engaging and enriching for our learners. I thoroughly recommend English for Asia to English teachers seeking their Cert/DipTESOL qualifications."
Paul Cowden
DipTESOL, 2019
"The first thing I noticed about the EfA tutors I had for my DipTESOL was that they were extremely knowledgeable and gave insightful, detailed advice about how I could improve my lessons during my practical block. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to aid me in my progress to become a teacher with a deeper awareness of the subject!"
Jennie Fung
DipTESOL, 2021
“From providing constructive feedback on my teaching practice to arranging classes for observations, the DipTESOL team at English for Asia has been very supportive. I really appreciate how the trainers were always available to discuss questions that I may have about teaching during the practical block.”
Jacqueline Shing
DipTESOL, 2021
The Trinity DipTESOL comprises four components that cover the theory and practice of English Language Teaching. Our experienced tutors will help you to deepen your theoretical knowledge of teaching and learning. You will master new approaches to teaching and have the opportunity to put them into practice as the course progresses.
You will be examined according to the four units below. Some components are assessed by Trinity's panel of examiners; others are assessed by our trainers and moderated by Trinity. Attendance to a four-week block is mandatory in order to complete unit 3 and unit 4 assessments.
Below you can find more on what's covered in the different modules and assessments. Keen to know every detail? Download the DipTESOL Course Summary and Bibliography.
Through its validation and moderation process, Trinity ensures that all DipTESOL courses follow the same mandatory components.
There are four distinct units consisting of
Units 2, 3 and 4 are usually taken together in the first instance and you have up to three years to complete any failed units or parts of units.
The syllabus places a strong emphasis on the application of theory in the classroom and also on teachers reflecting on and evaluating their own practice.
For the online phase we use a virtual classroom to provide an interactive, supportive environment where all the course content is stored in one place.
You will be in small groups, maximum 16 participants to ensure ample tutor support. Using the latest technology you will be able to see and hear your colleagues from all over the world, as well as participate in forum discussions on weekly modules throughout the course. The interaction for the latter is not scheduled so you can log into the course to suit your own working day.
The online phase is divided into three- or four-week units with rest weeks in between. The modules help prepare you for the different assessment areas.
| Teaching and Learning 1 | Teaching and Learning 2 | English in the World | Phonology | Grammar |
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You will have the option to complete your Teaching Practice:
A 3-HOUR WRITTEN EXAM, CONSISTING OF A GRAMMAR SECTION AND TWO FURTHER SECTIONS WITH ESSAY QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING.
The exam can be taken on any of three dates annually, in May, August and November. To help you prepare, the modules in the online phase will cover a wide range of areas on teaching and learning and we include grammar and essay practice throughout the course with detailed written and verbal feedback from tutors, as well as two mock exams. There are four grammar modules on the course.
A PORTFOLIO OF 3 ACTION RESEARCH PROJECTS.
These involve observing other teachers, reflecting on your own teaching and a research project on an area of ELT that interests you.
To help you prepare, you will be given group and individual guidance and support from our online course director with regular Skype tutorials and plenty of guidance and feedback on how to plan and carry out the projects. There is a module dedicated to part two in the online phase to establish expectations and learn more about action research.
AN ORAL INTERVIEW ABOUT PHONOLOGY CONDUCTED BY A TRINITY EXAMINER.
To help you prepare we dedicate three modules to phonology and provide ongoing support, testing and practice. We also include further phonology workshops and mock interviews during the face to face part of the course.
CLASSROOM DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR TEACHING.
You will be assessed by our tutors on four 60 minute lessons, and then there is a further external assessed lesson observed by a Trinity examiner. You will also present a portfolio of documentation related to the four internally assessed lessons, which includes your plans, materials and profiles of the learners.
To help you prepare we make the course practical in nature giving lots of opportunities to try things out in class and reflect on outcomes with your colleagues and tutors throughout the online phase. You will be asked to create lesson plans, discuss lessons and record teaching diaries. You will have guidance, observation and feedback on your teaching from tutors before the formally assessed lessons.
Parts three and four are usually taken together and we aim to prepare you to do these parts in the face-to-face block. Part two is usually submitted at the same time but can be submitted separately.
Clare Voke
Director of Teacher Training
Sean Martin
CertTESOL Trainer, DipTESOL Trainer
Kevin Clare
Course Director, DipTESOL Trainer
Maria Björning-Gyde
CertTESOL and DipTESOL Trainer, Course Writer
The total course fee for the Trinity DipTESOL is HK$30,000. This investment in your teaching career includes
Additional and potential costs
You can’t buy years of teaching experience, but you can gain access to some of the best, most renowned TESOL tutors, and the English for Asia network. Assuming you meet the entry requirements, of course – apply now.
Course payment is made in three instalments
All fees are non-refundable unless a course is cancelled.
“By the end, my coursemates and I had been able to practice approaches and activities that will be incredibly useful for us in our regular teaching contexts going forward.” - Paul Cowden, DipTESOL graduate
We assess your suitability for the course throughout the application process, which includes an interview (Zoom or in-person) and supervised written task. During the interview, we discuss your teaching experience and language awareness to help decide whether this course is suitable for you – it's also an opportunity for you to ask questions. Acceptance onto the course is at the discretion of the Course Director.
You can find specific requirements below and we are always happy to chat with you and answer questions.
If English is your second or foreign language, you will need to demonstrate the appropriate competence in your spoken and written English, for example by holding a minimum Grade 11 in the Trinity Graded Examinations in Spoken English or other recognised CEFR C1 certificate.
English for Asia is Trinity's largest TESOL course provider outside of Europe and the only dedicated TEFL/TESOL centre in Hong Kong. Our Trinity DipTESOL programme is run in cooperation with Oxford TEFL – one of the world’s foremost names in TESOL.
The DipTESOL is also accepted by many universities for credits towards MA TESOL programmes and other subject-related degrees.
The Trinity DipTESOL and the Cambridge DELTA are the benchmark diploma level TEFL qualifications. They are by far the most highly regarded and widely accepted Level 7 TEFL/TESOL diplomas, providing a springboard for more senior job opportunities and career development.
If you tell a prospective employer that you have the Trinity DipTESOL and they don't know what it is, you might want to reconsider working for them.
The Trinity DipTESOL is accepted as a suitable teaching qualification by the Hong Kong Education Bureau (including for Secondary NET teachers) and by global English Language Teaching organisations such as the British Council and International House. It is also accepted by the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
In the UK, Trinity College London has corporate recognition from the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), and its respective partners in Wales and Northern Ireland. The DipTESOL is rated at Level 7 on Ofqual’s Regulated Qualifications Framework, a comparable level to a masters degree.
The DipTESOL is also accepted by many universities for credits towards MA TESOL programmes and other subject-related degrees.
The British Council is an international organisation that works to build learning opportunities and lasting cultural relationships between the UK and countries around the world. The British Council runs accredited English language schools in over 100 countries worldwide, employing English language teachers in a respectable working environment with good pay.
The DipTESOL is accepted by the British Council as a full TEFL Qualifying qualification for teachers in its accredited teaching organisations in the UK and in its own teaching operations overseas.
The British Council only recruits teachers that meet their requirements.
In Hong Kong, the DipTESOL is registered under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Course Registration 252600). It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognise any qualification to which this course may lead.
In order to obtain and maintain this registration, the DipTESOL course undergoes an annual scrutiny by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to ensure that we can meet the criteria for registration.
This registration ensures that local employers and government departments are able to verify the qualification (including HK Immigration Department, for work visa purposes).
Get insights from the experiences of trainees, graduates, teachers, teacher trainers and other experts on our blog.
There are only two international diplomas recognised by the British Council and by employers worldwide: the Trinity Diploma in TESOL and the DELTA offered by Cambridge ESOL.
Although similar in its content and level of demand, the two courses differ in terms of more specific components and types of moderation and assessment. For example, both courses have an exam and assess teaching practice, but the DipTESOL has an explicit unit on integrating phonology into teaching and also allows more flexibility with the research element of the course.
Our course is very flexible. You will combine an online phase of six months with four weeks of practical teaching practice and assessment in Hong Kong (or online using Zoom).
For the online phase we use a virtual classroom to provide an interactive, supportive environment where all the course content is stored in one place. There are weekly modules which you are expected to contribute to regularly, but the interaction is not scheduled so you can log into the course to suit your own working day.
Yes. Our DipTESOL course is a blended course (part online, part in-person).
The first six-month phase is online for everyone.
In the four-week practical phase, you will have the option to complete your Teaching Practice:
Yes. The DipTESOL is an advanced level teaching qualification suitable for ESOL/EFL teachers who have been teaching for at least two academic years at the time of interview.
Yes. If English is your second or foreign language, you will need to demonstrate the appropriate competence in your spoken and written English, for example by holding a minimum Grade 11 in the Trinity Graded Examinations in Spoken English or other recognised CEFR C1 certificate.
Yes, it is recognised as a qualification for English language teaching in the UK and internationally. It meets the specifications set by the Qualifications Curriculum Authority (QCA), the statutory body authorised to approve qualifications in this field in England.
It is also accepted as an initial qualification by the British Council in the English language teaching organisations accredited by the Council in the UK and in their own teaching operations outside the UK.
Many other state and independent sector teaching organisations also accept the qualification. In Hong Kong, the Trinity DipTESOL is one of only two named diploma level courses identified by the Education Bureau (EDB) for Secondary NET teachers.
Examination, re-sit and resubmission fees are set by Trinity College London. Below are the fees for 2022.
Assessment fees (for full units)
Unit 1 – £56
Unit 2 – £98
Unit 3 – £129
Unit 4 – £236
Note that all Unit 3 and 4 assessments will take place online until further notice.
Minimum fees
There are no minimum fees for Unit 1 or Unit 2.
Minimum fee of two online assessments (i.e. 2 x Unit 3, 2 x Unit 4 or 1 x Unit 3 + 1 x Unit 4).
Re-sits & resubmissions
In the event you need to re-sit or resubmit a unit of the qualification, the below applies.
Resubmission fees (for unit sections)
Unit 2: Observation Instrument – £38
Unit 2: Developmental Record – £38
Unit 2: Independent Research Project – £38
Unit 4: Internally assessed lessons – £58
Unit 4: Teaching Practice Journal – £55
Notes
Need to ask us some questions before you apply for your DipTESOL? Drop us a message in the live chat box, or reach out via any of the options at the bottom of the page.
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