Curriculum Overview

Experience interactive learning, practical assignments, and personalized feedback from education experts.

Experts from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) created the curriculum for OISE TEFL, employing their globally recognized expertise in the field of foreign language teaching. The course creators from the Faculty of Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto have academic backgrounds in the field as well as domestic and international teaching experience.

Prospective educators will study lesson planning, teaching methods, principles of grammar, and second language acquisition theory, and will develop a portfolio of student-centered activities and helpful techniques for teaching abroad. TEFL Online provides a solid foundation for educators to begin their careers in the classroom.

The clearly defined units guide students through the course in a way that allows for maximum flexibility. OISE TEFL is hosted in a responsive online environment accessible from PCs, notebooks, or mobile devices worldwide. The course is self-directed and teachers move through lessons at a pace that works for them.

Upon completing the course, graduates will hold a professional certificate issued directly from OISE at the University of Toronto.

Unit One - An Introduction to English Language Teaching (20 hours)

Unit One discusses the role of English as a global language and the structure of English itself in comparison to other languages. The unit will examine key hypotheses in first and second language acquisition (SLA) and the role of classroom learning in SLA.

Topics Covered:

  • English as a global language
  • ELT terminology
  • Principles of language acquisition

Designer and Instructor: Andrew Gryfe

Unit Two - Teaching Language Skills (20 hours)

Unit Two covers the basics of teaching anguage skills and systems to English language learners. Students will learn how to prime their environment for language learning and support the development of foundational language skills. Students will also learn about the important components of language assessment.

Topics Covered:

  • The importance of the language learning environment
  • Teaching languge skills: listening, reading, speaking, writing
  • Teaching language systems: pronunciation, vocabulary
  • Principles of assessment

Designer and Instructor: Shelley Chislett and David McCormick

Unit Three - Structuring and Delivering Lessons (20 hours)

Unit Three guides students through the process of developing the components of a successful lesson. Students will learn the elements of effective instruction and assessment. Students will also learn how to identify learner needs and how to choose activities that facilitate productive learning. The unit will enable students to reflect on their teaching and further their professional development.

Topics Covered:

  • Effective lesson planning
  • Identifying student needs
  • Checking students' understanding
  • Tailoring lesson plans to different student demographics

Designers and Instructors: Shirley Hu and Sandra Mills-Fisher

Unit Four - Managing Your Teaching Environment (20 hours)

Unit Four guides covers classroom management and teaches how to adapt to the diverse needs of learners. Students will learn how to exploit the many elements of their learning environment. The unit will examine how preparation - for example, the consideration of physical space, instructions, and checking understanding - can help teachers succeed.

Topics Covered:

  • Principles of classroom management
  • Building rapport with students
  • Elements of effective instruction-giving and checking

Designer and Instructor: Rick Chambers

Unit Five - Resources and Materials (10 hours)

Unit Five introduces methods of selecting, adapting and personalizing materials.

Topics Covered:

  • Selecting, supplementing, and adapting language-learning materials
  • Supporting learners’ use of supplementary and authentic materials
  • Evaluating and using online resources

Designer and Instructor: Shirley Hu and Sandra Mills-Fisher

Unit Six - Digital Technology in the Classroom (10 hours)

In Unit Six, students explore the use of new technologies and meaningful ways in which these can be used to improve language learners’ learning practices. Best practices for language learning via technology - including project-based, mobile, games, apps and more - will be examined.

Topics Covered:

  • The advantages and disadvantages of using computers in language learning
  • Integrating technology - smartphones, learning management systems (LMS), apps and more - into a learning environment

Unit One - An Introduction to English Language Teaching (20 hours)

Unit One discusses the role of English as a global language and the structure of English itself in comparison to other languages. The unit will examine key hypotheses in first and second language acquisition (SLA) and the role of classroom learning in SLA.

Topics Covered:

  • English as a global language
  • ELT terminology
  • Principles of second language acquisition

Designer and Instructor: Andrew Gryfe

Unit Two - Teaching Language Skills (20 hours)

Unit Two introduces the basics of teaching language skills and systems to English language learners. Students will learn how to prime their environment for language learning and support the development of foundational language skills. Students will also learn about the important components of language assessment.

Topics Covered:

  • The importance of the language learning environment
  • Teaching language skills: listening, reading, speaking, writing
  • Teaching language systems: pronunciation, vocabulary
  • Principles of assessment

Designer and Instructor: Saskia Stille

Unit Three - Structuring and Delivering Lessons (20 hours)

Unit Three guides students through the process of developing the components of a successful lesson. Students will learn the elements of effective instruction and assessment. Students will also learn how to identify learner needs and how to choose activities that facilitate productive learning. The unit will enable students to reflect on their teaching and further their professional development.

Topics Covered:

  • Effective lesson planning
  • Identifying student needs
  • Checking students’ understanding
  • Tailoring lesson plans to different student demographics

Designers and Instructors: Shirley Hu and Sandra Mills-Fisher

Unit Four - Managing Your Teaching Environment (20 hours)

Unit Four covers classroom management and teaches how to adapt to the diverse needs of learners. Students will learn how to exploit the many elements of their learning environment. The unit will examine how preparation—for example, the consideration of physical space, instructions, and checking understanding - can help teachers succeed.

Topics Covered:

  • Principles of classroom management
  • Building rapport with students
  • Elements of effective instruction-giving and checking

Designer and Instructor: Rick Chambers

Unit Five - Resources and Materials (10 hours)

Unit Five introduces methods of selecting, adapting and personalizing materials.

Topics Covered:

  • Selecting, supplementing, and adapting language-learning materials/li>
  • Supporting learners’ use of supplementary and authentic materials
  • Evaluating and using online resources

Designer and Instructor: Shirley Hu and Sandra Mills-Fisher

Unit Six - Digital Technology in the Classroom (10 hours)

In Unit Six students will explore the use of new technologies and meaningful ways in which these can be used to improve language learners’ learning practices. Best practices for language learning via technology - including project-based, mobile, games, apps and more - will be examined.

Topics Covered:

  • The advantages and disadvantages of using computers in language learning
  • Integrating technology - smartphones, learning management systems (LMS), apps and more - into a learning environment

Unit Seven - Elective Specialization (10 hours)

In Unit Seven of the 120-hour TEFL course, teachers will choose a specialization. Specializations allow teachers to focus their training on the areas most relevant to their careers.

Areas of specialization include the following:

Unit Eight - Elective Specialization 2 (10 hours)

Teachers enrolled in the 120-hour TEFL course will be able to choose a second specialization. TEFL teachers will choose from the following TEFL specialization areas:

Unit One - An Introduction to English Language Teaching (20 hours)

Unit One discusses the role of English as a global language and the structure of English itself in comparison to other languages. The unit will examine key hypotheses in first and second language acquisition (SLA) and the role of classroom learning in SLA./p>

Topics Covered:

  • English as a global language
  • ELT terminology
  • Principles of second language acquisition

Designer and Instructor: Andrew Gryfe

Unit Two - Teaching Language Skills (20 hours)

Unit Two introduces the basics of teaching language skills and systems to English language learners. Students will learn how to prime their environment for language learning and support the development of foundational language skills. Students will also learn about the important components of language assessment.

Topics Covered:

  • The importance of the language learning environment
  • Teaching language skills: listening, reading, speaking, writing
  • Teaching language systems: pronunciation, vocabulary
  • Principles of assessment

Designer and Instructor: Saskia Stille

Unit Three - Structuring and Delivering Lessons (20 hours)

Unit Three guides students through the process of developing the components of a successful lesson. Students will learn the elements of effective instruction and assessment. Students will also learn how to identify learner needs and how to choose activities that facilitate productive learning. The unit will enable students to reflect on their teaching and further their professional development.

Topics Covered:

  • Effective lesson planning
  • Identifying student needs
  • Checking students’ understanding
  • Tailoring lesson plans to different student demographics

Designers and Instructors: Shirley Hu and Sandra Mills-Fisher

Unit Four - Managing Your Teaching Environment (20 hours)

Unit Four covers classroom management and teaches how to adapt to the diverse needs of learners. Students will learn how to exploit the many elements of their learning environment. The unit will examine how preparation—for example, the consideration of physical space, instructions, and checking understanding - can help teachers succeed.

Topics Covered:

  • Principles of classroom management
  • Building rapport with students
  • Elements of effective instruction-giving and checking

Designer and Instructor: Rick Chambers

Unit Five - Resources and Materials (10 hours)

Unit Five introduces methods of selecting, adapting and personalizing materials.

Topics Covered:

  • Selecting, supplementing, and adapting language-learning materials
  • Supporting learners’ use of supplementary and authentic materials
  • Evaluating and using online resources

Designer and Instructor: Shirley Hu and Sandra Mills-Fisher

Unit Six - Digital Technology in the Classroom (10 hours)

In Unit Six students will explore the use of new technologies and meaningful ways in which these can be used to improve language learners’ learning practices. Best practices for language learning via technology - including project-based, mobile, games, apps and more - will be examined.

Topics Covered:

  • The advantages and disadvantages of using computers in language learning
  • Integrating technology - smartphones, learning management systems (LMS), apps and more - into a learning environment

Unit Seven - Online Teaching and Learning (10 hours)

Unit Seven prepares students for online teaching and helps them overcome the challenges of an online setting.

Topics Covered:

  • Harnessing their working environment and improving their online teaching practices.
  • • Adapting online teaching to diverse learners and learning styles.
  • Gaining awareness of their teaching style and creating a path forward for their professional development.

Unit Eight - Learner-Centred Classrooms (10 hours)

The Unit Eight curriculum focuses on creating educational content driven by students – their strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. How can teachers give students control over content and language output?

Topics Covered:

  • Teaching behaviour structures
  • Introducing cooperative and collaborative learning structures into the classroom
  • Teaching noticing skills and using language exploration activities

Designers and Instructors: Rick Chambers

Unit Nine - Elective Specialization (10 hours)

In Unit Nine of the 150-hour TEFL course, teachers will choose a specialization. Specializations allow teachers to focus their training on the areas most relevant to their careers.

Areas of specialization include the following:

Unit Ten - Elective Specialization 2 (10 hours)

Teachers enrolled in the 150-hour TEFL course will be able to choose a second specialization. TEFL teachers will choose from the following TEFL specialization areas:

Unit Eleven - Teaching Abroad (10 hours)

The Teaching Abroad unit introduces teachers to aspects of living and working abroad. How do contracts and business norms differ overseas? What are common misconceptions about teaching English abroad?

Topics Covered:

  • Researching destinations and work environments
  • Resume and interview preparation
  • Misconceptions and realities
  • Common concerns about teaching abroad

Designers and Instructors: Sara Gogani

Specialized TEFL Curriculum

The 120-hour and 150-hour TEFL certificates include elective specializations, where teachers can tailor their TEFL curriculum to suit their career goals.

Teachers enrolled in the 120-hour or 150-hour TEFL courses have the option to choose two units of specialization. Areas of specialization include the following:

Prepare for the international classroom with a TEFL certificate from a world-leading university

Compare Courses