Teach English in Luchaogang Nongchang - Shanghai Shi

Course ExperienceI began the ITTT TESOL teacher training course with excitement and worry. I was excited to be pursuing certification in an area of teaching in which I am very interested and that is in high demand in Boston, where I live. I was worried because I didnt know much about the school and its program training teachers of english to speakers of other languages. In preparation, I conducted online research, accessing as many reviews of the school and the program that I could locate. The majority of the reviews I found were extremely positive. I applied to the program and was accepted. As I worked my way through the units, reading, completing the worksheets, eagerly awaiting tutor feedback and comments, I realized I was thoroughly engaged with the material and with the learning. I was truly enjoying itto such a degree that I decided to have TESOL be the concentration for the Masters Degree in Education program I was beginning. I found the units to be challenging and thought provoking. The units are consecutive, one building on the next. They move you through the material and are able to provide a solid foundation in english grammar as well as an equally solid foundation in curriculum planning and implementing. Although I have been a teacher for many years, I feel that this TESOL course has strengthened my teaching skills by not merely revisiting the content area, but by also presenting teaching situations and learning conditions that made me ask myself, What would I do? in a variety of very real classroom situations. I inwardly groaned the first time I looked at the lesson plan template, reluctant to fill in all the areas, initially looking at them as more hoops to jump through. But I did. I discovered that going through the thinking and planning, the reflection, involved in completing the form made me look a little deeper into myself and my reasons for presenting a particular lesson. It made me examine the other layers involved in lesson planning that are woven into and support the lesson at hand: inclusion, culture, the individuals who are the students, the person who is the instructor, am I smiling, am I creating a supportive and welcoming classroom experience. The format for the lesson plans includes sections not only for challenges to the students but challenges for the teacher and what the teacher wants to get out of the lesson. It is good that the course provides multiple opportunities to create lesson plans, to reflect. The different types of lesson formats presented, ESA, Patchwork, Boomerang, was a plus. Often schools lose the unique voice of the teacher through lesson plan formats that are too scripted. I found the ITTT lesson plan formats to be organized in presentation on the page while also providing the teachers with an organized manner of approach regarding the planning of lessons in general. I know that the lesson plan formats and template I learned and used through this course is one I will continue using as I plan my future lessons. Three weeks ago, I began my eight day residency at Goddard College in Vermont. I met with my new advisor, devised and created my academic plan for the next year and completion of my Master of Arts in Education degree. I was asked to present my experiences completing the ITTT tesol certification program, something I was glad to do. As I prepared my brief speech and introduction to TESOL and to my experience of the course, I was again struck by how complete a program it is. I do feel prepared to teach english to students who are speakers of other languages. I do feel able to design lesson plans and present them well. I feel prepared and ready. I could not praise or recommend this TESOL course and program highly enough.