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Programme Overview

Each year Language Link runs teacher-internship training programmes scheduled to prepare teachers for the new academic year. Though start dates are normally scheduled for August and September, entry into the programme can occur throughout the academic year for exceptional candidates and based on recruitment requirements. At such times, however, training may be more limited in scope due to time constraints. The Internship is nine academic months in duration, and consists of 3 three-month blocks referred to as Blocks A, B and C. A summary of what each block entails appears below: Training Period A one-month, classroom-based, Initial Training Programme (ITP) which includes methodology, observations and practice teaching Block A (Months 1 - 3) Independent practical teaching Regular workshops Lesson observations Individual or group tutorials with an Academic Manager Block B (Months 4 - 6) Practical Teaching (12 weeks) Regular workshops Lesson observations Academic support sessions with an Academic Manager Provisional award of EFL Teacher status Block C (Months 7 - 9) Practical Teaching (12 weeks) Regular workshops Lesson observations Academic support sessions with an Academic Manager Award of the Language Link Certificate in TEFL to successful participants Candidates should note that it is possible to fail the programme should a trainee not reach the required standard at the end of either block A or block B. Upon successful completion of Block C, the intern will be awarded a Language Link Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and with it confirmation that he or she has achieved full teacher status. Preparing for the Internship Prior to coming to Russia, all trainees are expected to complete a self-access grammar awareness module and read the online TEFL Primer covering the following areas: Introduction to TEFL - gain greater insight into the field of EFL TEFL Training Programmes - programmes available on the market today and their relative advantages and disadvantages TEFL Methodologies - some of the major developments in and the theory behind the major approaches to language learning Introduction to Grammar - the underlying structure of English Pronunciation - the sound system on which the English language is based Tips for Teachers - some practical guidance on teaching EFL Warmers and Fillers - a compendium of dozens of useful, short activities for the classroom The Initial Training Programme Teacher-Interns are asked to arrive in Russia approximately one month prior to the start of their contract for the classroom-based Initial Training Programme (ITP). During the ITP the trainee receives basic instruction covering a number of topics related to teaching English as a foreign language: introduction to the communicative approach, lesson plan preparation, use of supplementary materials, classroom management, etc. In addition to classroom instruction, the trainee has the opportunity to engage in peer and student practice teaching. A typical timetable for the one-month Initial Training Programme is shown below: Week One Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 11:00 - 12:00 Language Learners and Motivation/ Roles of the Teacher Eliciting Techniques Giving Instructions Techniques Error Correction Techniques Lesson Planning 12:00 -12:15 Break 12:15 - 13:15 Approaches to Teaching/ The Communicative Approach Eliciting Practice Giving Instructions Practice Error Correction Practice Using the Board & Seating 13:15 - 14:15 Meal Break 14:15 - 15:15 Grammar: Parts of Speech Grammar: Tense Overview Grammar: Present Tense Grammar: Past Tense Grammar: Future Tense 15:15 - 15:30 Break 15:30 - 16:30 Grammar: Parts of Speech Grammar: Tense & Aspect Grammar: Present Tense Grammar: Past Tense Grammar: Future Tense 17:00 - 18:30 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations 19:00 - 21:20 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Week Two Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 11:00 - 12:00 Presenting Grammar Teaching Speaking   Teaching Reading Teaching Vocabulary Drilling Techniques 12:00 -12:15 Break 12:15 - 13:15 Presenting Grammar Teaching Writing Teaching Listening Teaching Pronunciation Teaching Individuals 13:15 - 14:15 Meal break 14:15 - 15:15 Project Introduction: Learner Profile Grammar Phonetics: Introduction to Symbols Grammar Phonetics: Diphthongs Grammar Phonetics: Intonation & Rhythm Project Interview 15:15 - 15:30 Break 15:30 - 16:30 Project Introduction: Learner Profile Grammar Phonetics: Introduction to Symbols Grammar Phonetics: Diphthongs Grammar Phonetics: Transliteration (SAE vs. SBE) Project Interview 17:00 - 18:30 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations 19:00 - 21:20 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Week Three Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 11:00 - 12:00 Classroom Management (Adults)  Classroom Management (Young Learners) Teaching Teens Using Coursebooks (Adults) Teaching Beginners (Adults) 12:00 -12:15 Break 12:15 - 13:15 Games & Activities (Adults) Classroom Management (Young Learners) Games & Activities (Young Learners) Using Coursebooks (Young Learners and Teens) Teaching Beginners 13:15 - 14:15 Meal Break 14:15 - 15:15 Grammar: Passive & Active Grammar: Reported Speech Grammar: Conditionals / Hypotheticals Grammar: Modality Grammar: Gerunds & Infinitives 15:15 - 15:30 Break 15:30 - 16:30 Grammar: Passive & Active Grammar: Questions & Question Formation Grammar: Conditionals / Hypotheticals Grammar: Modality Grammar: Relative Clauses 17:00 - 18:30 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations 19:00 - 21:20 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Week Four Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 11:00 - 12:00 Teaching Cambridge Exams Teaching Other Exams  Teaching Young Learner Exams Placement Teaching Teaching Orientation 12:00 -12:15 Break 12:15 - 13:15 Teaching Cambridge Exams Teaching Other Exams  Teaching Young Learner Exams Placement Teaching Teaching Orientation 13:15 - 14:15 Meal break 14:15 - 15:15 Grammar: Phrasal Verbs Grammar: Noun Phrases Teaching Business English Grammar Study Session & Questions Grammar Test 15:15 - 15:30 Break 15:30 - 16:30 Grammar: Language Functions Grammar: Vocabulary collocations, Fixed Expressions & Semi-Fixed Expressions Experienced Teacher Video Critique Grammar Study Session & Questions Grammar Test 17:00 - 18:30 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations 19:00 - 21:20 Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Practice Teaching/Observations Programme Start Dates Language Link will be running at least one Teacher Internship Training Programme during the 2010-11 academic year. Start dates for the four-week Initial Training Programme (ITP) are: August 9th (ending on September 3rd) September 6th (ending on October 1st)* On completion of the four week ITP, teacher-interns will be assigned their classes thus signaling the start of their official Language Link employment. *this ITP is not confirmed Salary and Benefits Teacher-Interns do not receive a salary during the first one-month Initial Training Programme (ITP). Although this programme is provided free of charge, participants must pay US$ 600 on arrival to cover the cost of accommodation. Please note that the standard of this accommodation is basic and will be in a shared flat. Similarly, interns should not expect western style luxuries or amenities. Teacher-Interns wishing to arrange their own accommodation during the ITP and/or thereafter may do so provided they alert Language Link’s Department of Human Resources one month in advance of their arrival or their decision to leave company-provided accommodation. Following successful completion of the Initial Training Programme, the teacher-intern receives a net monthly salary of 20,000 roubles (approximately USD 670 at the time of writing) and a benefit package which includes company-paid income tax, company-provided accommodation, provision of medical services, holiday and sick time, full visa support, work permission and on-going academic support. Teacher Interns will be subject to two Performance Reviews during the academic year. Each Performance Review will be administered by an Academic Manager and will take place on or before the end date of each of the first two blocks (A and B). Teacher Interns will be evaluated based on exemplary performance with regard to attitude, attendance, participation, classroom observations and student satisfaction. After a Performance Review, an Academic Manager can recommend a Teacher Intern for a pay rise. Pay rises are merit based and not granted automatically. Teacher Interns who meet the criteria can have their pay increased to a maximum of 26,000 roubles throughout the academic year during the programme. On successful completion of Block C and the Teacher-Internship Training Program, the teacher-intern (now provisionally an EFL Teacher) will be awarded a Language Link Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and with it confirmation that s/he has achieved full teacher status. Additionally, Language Link will offer the teacher-intern a travel allowance of up to USD 900 in reimbursement for, or to offset the cost of, his or her round-trip travel to and from the Federal Republic Russia provided an original round-trip ticket was submitted at the start of his/her contract. Teacher-interns who traveled to Russia on single (one-way) tickets are eligible for reimbursement of this ticket as specified above and may apply the remainder of the travel allowance to their ticket home. N.B. Teacher-Interns should arrive in Russia with sufficient funds to live for 6-8 weeks until they receive their first salary payment (salaries are paid in arrears every two weeks, on approximately the 7th and 22nd of every month). Interns are not eligible for payment until they have commenced their teaching.