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dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teach/tkt/

and an article from the GUardian about it
http://education.guardian.co.uk/tefl/teaching/story/0,15085,1440285,00.html

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

very interesting. do you think it will be used in turkey? also, do you see it as a way to get around doing a TEFL cert? do you think it is worthwhile at all?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I don't think it will be a way round of getting a TEFL cert. unless the Ministry of Education changes the goal posts(not like them) But I really know nothing about it. I just stumbled across it a few hours ago.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

yes, that thought crossed my mind too Shocked

Nexus · Joined: 08 Mar 2004 Posts: 189 Location: Moscow

I'd been looking at that as well. I heard it might be connected to the idea of the 'competencies' that the Council of Europe is interetsed in. As learners at such a level should be able to this, that and the other, so there should be a defined body of knowledge and terminology that teachers have. Maybe it's the first step towards the professionalisation of TEFL. (yeah, right! I hear you say)

But certainly, looking at some of the questions, there doesn't seem to be much point in doing it if you have a CELTA etc. Is it aimed at NNS teachers, in-service? Also, I don't think there's any preparation course at the moment as such so I guess you just turn up at a centre and start writing.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

It says it is aimed at NNS teachers and those who are changing to teaching English. I suppose it is a way to check on one's knowledge, but why spend money to do it? If it helps to set/maintain some standards, perhaps it is a good thing. There are some standards and I suspect that the ones in Turkey will change to be closer to the EUs soon.

Related to that, I met an Italian professor who was working on getting people in Europe to speak their own language but to use common cognates so someone speaking italian, for example, could speak with someone speaking Spanish. Gradual homogenization of language in the works...