FAQs

'TESL' is Teaching English as a Second Language. English has a mainstream place in the society in which the learner lives and the learner encounters the language in day-to-day life. Examples are Singapore, parts of India, South Africa and the 'native speaker' countries, for example Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

'TEFL' is Teaching English as a Foreign Language. English is not used a a mainstream language in the learner's environment. Examples are countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Russia, France and Mexico. TEFL is the traditional term used in Britain, but TESL is a more correct term for the British context.

'TESOL' is Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The terms TEFL and TESL can overlap considerably because the teaching situation varies so much in any one society, depending on family, group and other demographic factors the learner is subject to. TESOL is a more useful term that covers both TEFL and TESL.

Courses for awards in TEFL. TESL and TESOL essentially address the same teaching knowledge and skills areas. They are all similar in aiming to provide you with the ability to effectively teach English to speakers of other languages, in a variety of teaching situations.

We don't offer Trinity College TESOL- Trinity aims much of its course delivery within Britain.

Just about every English TESL/TEFL/TESOL teaching qualification is available by distance learning as an option to classroom learning. CELTA and Trinity College TESOL also allow delivery by distance learning. We firmly believe in the advantages of classroom TESOL delivery to be sure that you are ready for teaching and we have hundreds of teachers trained through our classroom course for the LTTC Diploma in TESOL - they are teaching confidently in many countries and institutions.

LTTC has worked to obtain quality system approvals and is an approved training provider with EDI www.ediplc.com. EDI has incorporated ASET (Accreditation Syndicate for Education & Training), which LTTC was also accredited with. EDI works in collaboration with industry, governments, universities and professional bodies around the world to ensure its qualifications are accredited, recognised and relevant, UK-based institutions including:

1.   The Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills in Wales (DELLS)
3.   The Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland (CCEA) www.rewardinglearning.org.uk
4.   The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) http://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/CCC_FirstPage.jsp

There is no universal 'recognition' or licensing body for TESOL/TEFL. By its very nature, the world of teaching English to foreign speakers is so varied, it occurs in so many teaching situations and has so many different learners' needs and teaching environments and countries that it is a global activity, not appropriate for control by any one government or institution body. TESOL is not part of the main curriculum areas in government schools, so 'recognition' by national ministries of education is neither relevant nor usual. See Recognition

Our LTTC Diploma in TESOL graduates have obtained positions in language schools, tuition centres, international schools, Singapore government schools, developing country relief work, Singapore community programmes, adult management training, their own tuition projects and in one case setting up, with others, a new international school in Thailand. Some have gone on to work in Singapore, some have returned to their countries of origin to teach and some have gone on to work internationally.

Why is your course length 102 hours?

We are confident enough in the course design and delivery to know that 102 hours is sufficient to achieve the course aims and provide you with the knowledge and skills for teaching English.

You can choose to specialise in areas such as English for Hotel Management, Hospitality, Tourism, Healthcare, Business, IELTS preparation, Early Learners etc within our Diploma in TESOL course. You will be able to specialise in your lesson planning work and in your practicum development and lesson delivery. You will then receive an endorsement document from British Education Centre attesting to your specialisation, together with your Diploma in TESOL from LTTC.

I am a homemaker. Will I be able to teach?

Yes. We have homemakers busy with families - mothers usually take the morning TESOL course option.

Is there an upper age limit to take TESOL?

No. We have TESOL graduates trained who are aged from their early twenties into their sixties. TESOL is a career that you build in directions you want and it is for all ages.

You pay your registration fee of $50 and your first module course fee of $662.50 on the first class of the module. There is no need for advance payment unless a course intake is close to its limit and you want to be sure to secure a place; we will inform you if this is advisable.

We normally provide a reference letter as you reach the end of your course.

You can borrow two items at any one time. Borrowing of an item is for a maximum of one week. An item may be a book, magazine, DVD, boxed set of student course book plus audio CD, etc.

How established is British Education Centre?

We have been in operation since 2007. We have been teaching LTTC TESOL since 2008. Dr. Alan Richardson, the founder of British Education Centre has worked continually in the education sector in Singapore since 1993 and has taught in the UK government school sector.

We practise good course delivery combined with great resources. We are operated by experienced teacher trainers who also are well capable of management, not by more corporate-oriented business owners. We believe this gives better academic outcomes. We are flexible in response to your work or family commitments. We are in a historic, beautifully-restored building. Come and experience the difference!