Teaching English as a second language in London

TESOL Certificate testimonials

WHAT DO OUR CERTIFICATE STUDENTS SAY ABOUT THE COURSE?

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Anita Micucci

Successfully completed June 2001

Since gaining the TESOL certificate at SGI, I have taught English in both Paris and Madrid.  These were hugely rewarding experiences and the course provided a solid base on which to build up my teaching skills.  Now that I am back in the UK, I am still teaching English.  I have become involved in teaching and assisting in ESOL classes that are run by further education colleges and local authorities.

I completed the Trinity Cert TESOL course in 2001 and although it was only for four weeks, it was an intensive and well structured programme that covered a lot of ground.  I found the theory really interesting and I was taught how to plan and give successful lessons for a wide range of levels of ability.  The actual teaching practice was the most challenging part, but the tutors were really supportive and I grew in confidence as a speaker.  Now, I am at ease when giving presentations to people and teaching in front of large classes.  For me, teaching is about helping students to learn and improve on their English skills and the TESOL course gives you the ability and confidence to do this.

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Paul Harper

Successfully completed January 2005

I was already a qualified School Teacher when I did my Certificate in TESOL at SGI in January 2005 and was very impressed by the professionalism of the staff and the excellent standard of teaching.  I proceeded to work for SGI Polska in Katowice for five fantastic months, and on my return I worked at SGI London for almost a year.  It was a very good, supportive place to study and work, and a pleasure, while there, to be surrounded by people who are very good at what they do.  I am currently studying full-time, taking an MA in Literature: American Poetry and Prose. 

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Saheefa Jaleel

Successfully completed July 2007

Hello. My name is Saheefa and I did my Trinity Cert TESOL with SGI in July 2007. It was my first time in England and I think SGI is the best place for first time students in the marvellous city of London. I faced no problem with accommodation, finding the administration at SGI extremely helpful. My course was very rigorous but my excellent teachers made every step a profound learning experience. They made me work at my best as they made our learning fun.

 Although it was a four week course, I learned so much from the academic and cultural experience that my teaching style has been revolutionised. My teaching efficacy has increased noticeably and my classes are more satisfied with my new teaching techniques. Not only had I learnt teaching styles but also so much about English language itself. I personally most liked the grammar lessons, the unknown language learning and the phonology sessions.

I also cannot forget ‘bagelmania’ where my friends and I went every day at lunchtime  to have coffee. If you come to SGI, don’t forget to enjoy this and other wonderful places nearby.

An amazing part of the experience was to make friends from many countries. We had seven nationalities in the class of 15, and we made a wonderful group. On the last day of the course, we all went to dinner…and then a disco!!!

I enjoyed London because SGI is in a wonderful location near Oxford Street. I suggest every potential teacher of English join SGI and be a part of this wonderful experience. I miss you SGI!!!!

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Adam Loft

Successfully completed April 2007

I had been in the same job for years and was stuck in a rut, but I was determined to change things. A friend suggested taking a TESOL course; it was a complete change of direction, so unlike my previous work, but I`m so pleased I enrolled at SGI, choosing the part time course. Even with a full time job, it was possible to complete the course, the work load being quite evenly spaced and the deadlines realistic.  

It was a total breath of fresh air, so rewarding and enjoyable.

The instructors were both supportive and constructive, help was always available and the feedback after our teaching sessions was invaluable. I made some wonderful new friends too, my fellow trainees providing support and ideas for each other, many of whom I am still in contact with, from their various locations around the world!

I could not have imagined this 12 months ago, but enrolling on the TESOL course at SGI was just the beginning of the life changing experience I was looking for, as I am now living and teaching in Japan.   

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David Green

Successfully completed January 2006

I can still vividly remember my time at SGI. The full-time course remains one of the most intensive and rewarding experiences of my life. The quality of the teaching was excellent on all levels, with staff able to handle students of differing ages and backgrounds, allowing us all to have a laugh and learn at the same time. (And I’m not just saying that because I had a crush on Madeline – is she still there?) Maybe I was just lucky, but the group of people I was with got along really well. We would always stumble out of Saint George International on a Friday evening, flushed from the excitement of finishing our lessons, to have a drink or two in the pub down the road. That kind of convivial atmosphere ensured I looked forward to everyday of training, even the grammar lessons.

I took a lot more away with me than just the fundamental knowledge of how to teach. I felt much more confident in my ability to speak in public, as well as organize myself and others. When I arrived in Taiwan and started to look for teaching work, I quickly realized many of the other people out there didn’t have any teaching experience, and my time at SGI put me well ahead of the game when it came to picking up work. It also made that first lesson much less of a strain as I had a very clear idea about what I was going to do.

Now, I am no longer teaching. I work for the China Daily newspaper in Beijing. However, our edition is aimed at university-level English learners and while my office is a far cry from the chaos of the classroom, my experience as a teacher means I have an inside track on how to help my readers learn the language, albeit remotely.

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Tina Parisi

Tina Parisi: successfully completed April 2007

 I did the Certificate course last summer when I had already been teaching for four years in schools for foreign languages in Croatia. To be honest, I did not expect this course would almost entirely transform the teaching methods which I had been taught at the university or that it would define me as a teacher for future. However, it did and that is why I would recommend this course to all those teachers who want to boost their confidence, increase their teaching efficiency and encourage their students in active involvement during the learning process.

Since there were input sessions to be attended in the morning, and early afternoon, followed by the teaching practice, which is probably the most stressful and at the same time the most useful part of the course, we certainly all had to redouble our efforts to manage to get through those four tough weeks. However, all that and even the observations, evaluations and occasional disapproval by fellow teacher trainees and trainers at SGI proved to be very constructive and worthwhile. Personally I believe that I have benefited from the course even more than the other trainees from my group because I have a chance to apply all these methods and rules to teaching both English and Italian, which I do on a daily basis.

So, thanks are due to the SGI team and the work they do, because this experience made me realise how easy it is to create conditions and environment in which effective learning takes place and how much I can teach without wasting precious lesson minutes on giving detailed explanations and tiring long activities, but simply by being concise and straightforward, by nodding, bringing a picture into class, and using my creativity to the utmost.

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