"Play and Learn" signifies what our program will prepare trainees to do upon graduation. We recognize that children learn best when in an environment that is enjoyable. Though enjoyment is essential to a long-term love of learning, it is not enough. Combining play with language-learning activities to enhance learning outcomes produces the best results. We need to meet children where they are to teach them successfully!
The PL-TESOL program specifically focuses on very young learners, children ages 6 and younger. Unlike the YL-TESOL program, the PL-TESOL program is open to two-year degree holders who want to work with very young children. The heart of the PL-TESOL program is to make teaching and learning an enjoyable experience for both student and teacher. We will accomplish this through experiencing and practicing various types of learning activities and using interesting and meaningful materials to enhance the prescribed textbook.Improving the English proficiency of our trainees is also a key component of this twelve-week program.
The PL-TESOL program consists of four core courses taken over a period of twelve weeks. Storytelling gives students hands-on instruction in how to use a storybook to tell a story so students stay interested throughout its entirety as well as how to use the story to teach English language skills. In Joyful Classroom, we explore the knowledge and skills needed to manage a younger learner classroom to create a positive environment for learning. English for Learning is where students gain specific practice in teaching the four skills using English in English to increase trainees'' confidence and comfort when using English in the classroom. Creative Teacher Workshop provides the opportunity for students to work with their peers and instructors to create and perfect teaching materials they can use in their own future classroom as well as hands-on activities they can do with students.
- The Storytelling course is designed to give students hands on instruction in how to tell a story so students stay interested throughout its entirety as well as how to use the story to teach English language skills.
- The Joyful Classroom course is designed to give students the knowledge and skills to manage a younger learner classroom to create a positive environment for learning.
- The English for Learning Course is designed to give students specific practice in teaching the four skills using English in order to increase trainees comfort level when doing so.
- In the Creative Teacher Workshop trainees will have the opportunity to work with peers and instructors to create and perfect teaching materials they are making for their other courses.