TEFL Florence (Italy)

Each component comprises a set of standardized statements of competence, accompanied by indicators of success. The indicators describe the skills, knowledge and qualities associated with effective teachers of English as a Foreign Language. The standardized statements of competence are as follows:

Pedagogy Theory

• Describe a range of teaching methodologies, approaches and strategies
• Describe the skills, knowledge and qualities which characterize an effective teacher
• Describe the factors which influence the establishment of an effective learning environment
• Describe a range of strategies for supporting, monitoring and assessing student progress

Language Awareness

• Describe the purposes and nature of Communication
• Describe key features in relation to the structure of the English language
• Describe and explain the English tense system and other, commonly taught, grammatical features
• Describe how sounds are made and modified and use phonetic symbols to describe the sounds of English

Teaching Skills

• Design and prepare effective lessons
• Prepare and manage the physical learning environment and use resources in an appropriate way
• Provide innovative and flexible learning experiences for individuals and groups of students
• Create learning environments that are student-centered, challenging and safe

Cultural Awareness

• Engage in the process of learning a foreign language
• Demonstrate an awareness of the issues in relation to culture and language teaching
• Demonstrate a willingness to foster positive relationships with members of the local community
• Demonstrate an awareness of cultural similarities and differences and our shared cultural heritage

Life Skills

• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills
• Demonstrate effective communication skills
• Demonstrate effective decision-making skills
• Demonstrate effective organizational skills
• Demonstrate effective financial skills
• Demonstrate effective employment awareness skills
• Demonstrate effective legal awareness skills
• Demonstrate effective personal welfare skills

Each component of the Via Lingua program is allocated a minimum number of study hours. These study hours mainly involve:

• direct contact with trainers or mentors in workshop sessions, planning meetings, lesson preparation or review meetings;
• direct contact with students during teaching practice sessions;
• private study and preparation;
• record keeping and personal reflection linked to the maintenance of a professional portfolio.

The content of each of the five components can be described as follows:

Pedagogy Theory

• Teaching and learning a foreign language
• Language teaching methodologies
• The syllabus
• The effective teacher
• Classroom management skills
• Language teaching materials
• Lesson planning
• Teaching receptive skills
• Teaching productive skills (speaking)
• Teaching vocabulary
• Teaching pronunciation
• Teaching grammar
• Responding to mistakes and errors
• Language games
• The assessment of language learners

Language Awareness

• The purpose and nature of communication
• Word classes
• Verb types and verb forms
• The tense system
• The present simple tense and the present continuous tense
• The past simple tense, the past continuous tense, the past perfect tense (simple and continuous)
• The present perfect tense (simple and continuous)
• Expressing the future
• Conditional sentences
• The passive voice
• Gerunds and infinitives
• Modal auxiliary verbs
• Multi-word verbs
• Phonology

Teaching Skills

• Six hours of observing experienced teachers
• Eight hours of assessed teaching practice (*groups and or individual students)
• Sixteen hours of supported lesson preparation time
• Eight hours of post-lesson discussions

Cultural Awareness

• The cross-cultural dimension of language teaching
• The Group Project

Life Skills

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Decision-making skills
• Organizational skills
• Financial awareness skills
• Employment awareness skills
• Legal awareness skills
• Personal welfare skills

Food and clothing

If you do not love Italian food, what on earth are you doing in Italy? Even if you do, however, figuring out w Dress in Italy is typical for a Western country. When teaching, be sure to adhere to the local working culture a Dress in Italy is typical for a Western country. When teaching, be sure to adhere to the local working culture and basic ideas of professionalism. Business Casual is a safe bet.

Climate

Florence’s location in a small basin encircled by hills is a determining factor for its changeable Summers tend to be extremely hot and humid, and winters are cool and wet. The average monthly temperature for July and August is about 73 to 75 °F (23 to 24 °C), with an average daytime high of about 95 °F (35 °C); the average monthly temperature for January is 41 °F (5 °C).

Excursions and cultural highlights

Because the course is so intensive, people can spend their month here without finding the time to see the beauty of Italy. To make the most of your visit here in Florence, we can offer a number of possible excursions to allow you to learn more about Florence and its environs. Here is a list of potential excursions for you to peruse what is offered during your particular course will depend on the season and the interest
Wine Tasting
Offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 515 p.m. Discover the tastes of some of the most famous Tuscan wines and the foods that go with them. Advanced booking required.
Cooking course
Every Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 6:30 p.m. The menu changes every week. Please check in our offices for the monthly menu to decide which course you would like to sign up for.

Accommodation

On request, Via Lingua will book housing accommodations. Please contact the center for more information.