Programme overview

Each year Language Link runs TEFL training programmes designed to prepare teacher interns for life in an English language classroom. 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.  At this time, we are currently recruiting for August 2018.  We will run a programme in September on a needs-only basis.

The Teacher Intern Certification Programme 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 instruction in methodology, practice teaching, classroom observations and a written assignment. At this time, each teacher intern will be assigned to a support group led by one of Language Link's Academic Managers.
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, while rare, it is possible to fail the programme should a teacher intern not reach the required standard at the end of either block A or block B. Upon successful completion of Block C, the teacher 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 Initial Training Programme (ITP)

Prior to coming to Russia, all teachers interns are expected to complete a self-access grammar awareness module and read the online TEFL Primer covering the following areas:

Completion of the online grammar modules is mandatory prior to arrival and counted towards the performance review, which is held on the last day of the ITTP.  It is also highly recommended that Teacher Interns read up on the subject area of the grammar modules as they will be asked to present various aspects of this grammar during the training period.

The Initial Training Programme (ITP)

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
10:45 - 12:00 Language Learners and Motivation/ Teacher Roles Eliciting Techniques Giving Instructions Practice Lesson Planning Presenting Grammar
12:00 -12:15 Break
12:15 - 13:15 Approaches to Teaching/ The Communicative Approach Eliciting Practice Error Correction Techniques Using the Board & Seating Presenting Grammar
13:15 - 14:15 Break
14:15 - 15:15 Grammar: Parts of Speech Giving Instructions Techniques Error Correction Practice Supplementing Grammar: Future Tense
15:15 - 15:30 Break
15:30 - 16:30 Grammar: Parts of Speech Grammar: Tense Overview Grammar: Present Tense Grammar: Past Tense Grammar: Future Tense
16:30 - 16:45 Break
16:45 - 17:45 Video - Experienced Teacher Grammar Tense & Aspect Grammar Present Tense Grammar Past Tense Practice Teaching Preparation
18:00 - 19:30 Peer Teaching Preparation Peer Teaching Peer Teaching Peer Teaching Practice Teaching Preparation

Week Two

Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
10:45 - 12:00 Teaching Reading Teaching Writing Drilling Techniques YL Characterisitics/ Basic Principles of TEYL Receptive Skills Reading
12:00 -12:15 Break
12:15 - 13:15 Teaching Listening Teaching Vocabulary YL Characterisitics/ Basic Principles of TEYL Receptive Skills: Listening YL Classroom Management: Positive Behaviour
13:15 - 14:15 Break
14:15 - 15:15 Teaching Speaking Phonology: Introduction to Symbols Phonology: Diphthongs Teaching Pronunciation Phonology: Intonation & Rhythm
15:15 - 15:30 Break
15:30 - 16:30 Project Introduction: Learner Profile Phonology: Introduction to Symbols Phonology: Diphthongs Phonology: Transliteration (SAE vs. SBE) Phonology Test; YL Peer Teaching Task Assignment
16:30 - 17:00 Break
17:00 - 18:30 Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching
19:00 - 21:20 Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching

Week Three

Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
10:45 - 12:00 Adult Classroom Management Teaching teenagers Using Adult Coursebooks Placement Testing Teaching Exam Classes
12:00 -12:15 Break
12:15 - 13:15 Adult Classroom Management Teaching Business English) Teaching Adult Beginners Placement Testing) Teaching Exam Classes
13:15 - 14:15 Break
14:15 - 15:15 Grammar: Active & Passive Grammar: Reported Speech Grammar: Conditionals / Hypotheticals Grammar: Modality Grammar: Gerunds & Infinitives
15:15 - 15:30 Break
15:30 - 16:30 Grammar: Active & Passive Grammar: Questions & Question Formation Grammar: Conditionals / Hypotheticals Grammar: Modality Grammar: Relative Clauses
16:30 - 17:00 Break
17:00 - 18:30 Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching
19:00 - 21:20 Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching

Week Four

Session Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
10:45 - 12:00 YL Classroom Management: Language YL Productive Skills: Speaking YL Teaching: Grammar & Vocab. YL Experienced Videos Grammar Test
12:00 -12:15 Break
12:15 - 13:15 YL Peer Teaching practice YL Productive skills: Writing YL Peer Teaching Practice Using Young Learner & Teen Coursebooks Grammar Test
13:15 - 14:15 Break
14:15 - 15:15 Grammar: Phrasal Verbs Grammar: Noun Phrases Teaching Individuals Teaching with CALL Teaching Orientation
15:15 - 15:30 Break
15:30 - 16:30 Grammar: Language Functions Grammar: Articls Experienced Teacher Video Critique Grammar Q & A; Presenting Grammar Practice Teaching Orientation
16:00 - 17:00 Break
17:00 - 18:30 Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching
19:00 - 21:20 Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Teaching

Programme Start Dates

Language Link will be running two Teacher Intern Training Programme during the 2018-19 academic year. Start dates for the four-week Initial Training Programmes (ITP) are:

  • August 5th (ending on August 30th)
  • September 3rd (tbd)

On completion of the four week ITP, teacher interns will be assigned their classes thus signaling the start of their official Language Link employment.

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$ 550 on arrival to cover his/her accommodation during the ITP, programme registration and administration, materials and the pre-programme networking function. Please note that the standard of this accommodation is basic and will be in a shared flat or homestay. Similarly, teacher interns should not expect western style luxuries or amenities. Those 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. Teachers who rent their own accommodation during the ITP are eligible to waive USD 400 of the the initial fee.

Following successful completion of the Initial Training Programme, the teacher intern receives a net monthly salary of 30,000 roubles and a benefit package which includes company-paid income and social welfare tax (presently 60% in total of all salary and benefits), company-provided accommodation, provision of medical services, paid time off, full visa support, flight reimbursement, 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 a number of performance criteria with regard to attitude, attendance, participation, classroom observations and student satisfaction. Following a Performance Review, an Academic Manager can recommend a Teacher-in-Training 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 40,000 roubles throughout the academic year during the programme.

On successful completion of Block C and the Teacher Intern Certification Programme, 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 RUR 30,000 in reimbursement for, or to offset the cost of, his or her round-trip travel to and from the Russian Federation 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). Teacher interns are not eligible for payment until they have commenced their teaching.

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