Moderation Report

Moderator Name:
Brian Tomlinson

Course Location:
Barcelona

Moderator bio/qualifications
BA, PGCE, MA, PhD

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Course Start Date:
21/11/2011

Report Date:

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1. Materials were available to all trainees including training materials and course schedule
Yes

2. The course provided a minimum of 120 hours of course inputs as indicated on schedule
Yes

3. Each trainee completed a foreign language experience
Yes

4. Each trainee completed a student profile (one-on-one) meetings and assignment
Yes

5. The course provided a minimum of 30 hours of professional, appropriate teaching techniques inputs
Yes

6. The course provided a minimum of 4 hours of observed teaching – i.e. trainers modeling lessons with real students
Yes

7. Each trainee completed peer observations including the completion of peer observation forms
Yes

8. The course provided a minimum 6 hours of grammar inputs
Yes

9. The course provided phonology inputs
Yes

10. Each trainee completed grammar and phonology tests
Yes

11. Teaching Practice

A. Each trainee completed a minimum 6 hours of observed teaching practice with real students (not peers)
Yes

B. The course provided a minimum 6 students per class

Yes

C. The course provided qualified observers (minimum TESOL certificate)
Yes

D. The course provided both written and oral feedback provided to trainee by observer.
Yes

12. The course provided adequate classroom study space
Yes

13.Each trainee completed online feedback form
Yes

14. The lead trainer is willing to personally recommend all trainees who graduate
Yes
15. Lead trainer Info
A. Lead trainer name:

Lisa
B. The lead trainer has at least a diploma and five years of ELT experience or an MA TESOL and two years of ELT experience.
Yes

16. Each trainee appeared to be comfortable, confident and competent during observed teaching practice.
Yes

17. Total number of trainees: 14

Number of trainees passed: 14

Number of trainees failed: 0

Number of trainees that withdrew: 0

Reasons for non-completion of course
 

18. Additional Comments

The trainees were very happy with the course and found it to be demanding but enjoyable and worthwhile. They appreciated the expertise and support given to them by the trainers and the many opportunities they were given to learn from monitored reflection on their experience of doing things for themselves. By the end of the course they felt confident and ready to start a career as teachers of EFL (‘I had a fantastic experience in this course. I successfully learned not only the material I will be teaching but more importantly the beginnings of how to be an effective teacher. I found all of the staff to be kind, supportive, and knowledgeable’).

The trainees’  assignments, as always, demonstrated a willingness and ability to learn from reflecting on their experience as learners, as observers and as trainee teachers and evidenced the development of creativity, criticality and independence.

I spent the day at the Barcelona Centre (09.30-18.00) and observed the first day of the course. I observed:

• a warm-up session in which the trainees got to know each other and the trainers in a fun, relaxed way.
• an introduction to the course which was clear and informative in a very engaging way.
• an introduction to job opportunities in Spain and elsewhere as a preparation for a subsequent session on writing a cv and making an application.
• a peer teaching session in which each trainee gave a seven minute presentation on a topic or skill they were knowledgeable about and after which the trainers led a very useful feedback session on tips for teaching.
• an introduction to TEFL international methodology which achieved both clarity and impact.
• the trainers teaching real classes of students whilst the trainees observed and made notes on an observation sheet.

I also had a meeting with Lisa Girling, the Lead Trainer and Administrator, in which we discussed the Barcelona course structure and the pedagogic approach followed by the trainers. What emerged was a picture of a course which has evolved over a number of years from the professional expertise and vision of the trainers and from the feedback from the local moderator and the trainees. It is a model course in that it is both experiential and reflective and in that it is very serious but very engaging and enjoyable too.

I was very impressed by the organisation of the day, by Lisa’s enthusiasm, energy, affability and wisdom and by the pleasant professionalism and expertise of the other members of staff. At the end of the day you could tell that the trainees were all looking forward not only to the evening Tapas event but to the rest of the course too.