Questions and Answers

What do the acronyms TESOL and TEFL stand for?
Essentially these two are the same thing, both referring to the area of teaching: TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, TEFL for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

What is the difference between the Trinity Cert in TESOL and the RSA Celta?
These are the two most widely accepted initial training certificates, recognized by schools both in the UK and abroad and by organizations such as the British Council and the QCA, Both are accredited at Level 5 in the UK National Qualifications Framework.
Generally, reputable schools will require staff to hold one of these certificates before being offered employment.
The courses are extremely similar in content, both being of a demanding and intensive nature.
The most important difference between the two is how the course is moderated by the respective exam boards. On the final day of a Trinity TESOL course, a representative of Trinity comes to the centre to meet all trainees, receive feedback and interview them on some aspects of teaching. We feel that this is the most efficient way of ensuring high standards are maintained.
Additionally the Trinity Certificate course is more flexible thus allowing us to tailor certain input sessions to trainee interests and requirements.

What are all the other initial training courses that are advertised?
While courses leading to the award of other qualifications exist these are often very limited in recognition and are not accredited by an independent examinations board. They are thus essentially only a certificate from the school and have limited worth as an aid in acquiring teaching positions.

Is there a subsequent qualification I can take at a later date?
In order to become a Director of Studies or Senior Teacher, you will probably need to take a Diploma certificate that represents the next stage ‘up the ladder’ from the Certificate level of the Trinity Cert and RSA Celta.
These Diploma certificates are called the Trinity LTCL Diploma and the UCLES DELTA.
Most people would take this after about 3 years teaching experience.

How should I choose between a full- and a part-time course?
If you intend to do any form of work while studying on the course, you should not enroll on a full-time course. Full-time daily attendance is required and you will also need to do work every evening.

What is the pass rate on the course?
The pass rate is extremely high for two reasons. We only admit people on to the course that we are confident can cope with its demands. Additionally the low number of maximum trainees (10) we take at our centre means that we can promptly attend to any specific difficulties and provide a high level of personal support.

Who are the tutors?
All our tutors have considerable experience teaching and training both in the UK and abroad. Tutors are extremely approachable and will take a personal interest in your development over the course.

What do I do next?
Complete the application form on this site and e-mail it to us. The course director will then call you to arrange a time when you can come in to discuss the course and where it may lead for you in greater detail. You will also be asked to complete a written task at this stage. For candidates who have trouble attending an interview at the school, arrangements can be made to go through this process over the phone.
Following this, ISIS will make a formal offer of a place on the relevant course, which can be secured by the payment of a deposit.

For any queries, telephone the TESOL Department on 0208 293 1444.