ConnecTEFL

In 2019, I took the TEFL training and Cultural Competence certification course and worked as an assistant teacher in one of the adult literacy ESL classrooms. The community is warm, welcoming, and meaningfully diverse - the richness of everyone's differences (language, culture, beliefs, citizenship status) is celebrated and supported. I especially enjoyed the inviting, social setup of the CLC (Connect Language Center) - a communal kitchen with a free coffee and tea station, which leads to a cozily furnished lounge with large sofas, tables, and shelves and shelves of books. Because the CLC is designed to encourage social interaction, the most powerful form of language practice happens naturally there: community-building through repeated, social exchanges with fellow students and teachers.

As other reviews have mentioned, the quality of instruction is unbeatable. There are three extremely experienced ESL professionals who teach this course. The insight gained from each of them was invaluable as they have had practical experience in the field in overseas and U.S. based settings. Throughout the course, the teachers ask about your goals and how you want to use your TEFL certificate and are a great resource to help you achieve them. I highly recommend this experience for anyone interested in earning a TEFL certificate.

I completed the program in 2018, and have been teaching ESL full-time ever since! I often refer to and think about the theory, culture and tangible lessons from this course. Would highly recommend! I took the course online and really enjoyed completing it on my own time. The course required a lot of consideration and thought, but for me the practice lesson planning and grading info really helps me in my course teaching to this day. I'm very thankful for the wonderful Dr. Thevanot as well. My favorite instructor! Would highly recommend!

I was incredibly impressed by the quality of instruction provided through this program. During my cycle, there was a rotation of professors who each brought their own unique perspectives to class. I enjoyed being able to take this course in-person with other classmates and left the course feeling better equipped to teach. My particular situation was noteworthy because of the need to transition to virtual classes courtesy of Covid-19. Professors were extremely flexible to meet student needs in an unprecedented circumstance.

This program is incredible! You can tell immediately that every detail was meticulously planned out to help students be successful. The team is readily available to assist with questions; they focus on helping you feel confident in the material, so you are able to finish the program ready for your next step. I believe the intentionality behind the program really allowed me to feel that I was experiencing a top-notch program.

I enjoyed the class so much, and I will continue to recommend it to all who are interested in moving forward in this career path.