TEFL Online Pro

1.1 International language standards – 1.2 Learner types – 1.3 Learner categories

Paul Murphy

!!! Read this paragraph first !!!

It is essential that students thoroughly read through all module content before completing each End of Module Quiz. This is how the course was designed, and this is how you will gain the most out of your course studies.

You can complete a maximum of two modules per day.

Please also be advised that there are two (mandatory) lesson plan coursework assignments contained within the course – coursework that you must submit to TEFL Online Pro (info@teflonlinepro.com).

Wishing you success on the course and in your future teaching English career! 🙂

In this Learner Levels/Types first course module, we will be taking a look at (1.1) International language standards, (1.2) Learner types, (1.3) Learner categories. It is essential that you thoroughly read through all the information presented within this module, before then completing the Module Quiz and proceeding to the second module. If you have any module-related questions, please contact your personal tutor through the CONTACT LESSON TEACHER button. Good luck and we hope you enjoy completing your first module! 🙂

(1.1) International language standards.

Let’s begin with a simplified table, which illustrates the main learner levels:

There are in fact seven learner levels, with Proficient (C2) being the most advanced level, but this level is often left out of learner level graphs as it is a very rare level for students to attain – even many native English speakers who have lived their whole life in an English-speaking country would not be described as holding a proficient level of English. We will briefly look at this proficient level in this module, but the focus will remain on the learner levels as listed in the diagram above.

At this stage, you might also be wondering about the letter and number above each level and the answer to this question is that these are learner levels as set out by the The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) which is an international standard for describing language ability.

So whereas it is perfectly acceptable to describe a student as being at Intermediate level, schools which do follow the CEFR grading system will describe your same student as being at B1 level.

The CEFR system was developed as a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across the European continent, but it is also becoming more often adopted within countries outside of Europe. Essentially though, it is just another way of describing each language level and in our opinion holds little additional benefit from the more traditional form of categorizing students.

OK. So now you have a general idea of the different learner levels, let’s take a look at each one and see what the criteria are for assigning a particular level to a particular student:

A0 Starter (Beginner)

Students at this level should know these grammar basics:

They should also have an awareness of these basic vocabulary terms:

A1 Elementary (Breakthrough)

Students at this level have a basic ability to communicate and exchange information in a simple way, and can read basic notices and instructions. Students at A1 Elementary level can also:

A2 Pre-intermediate (Waystage)

Students at this level have an ability to deal with simple, straightforward information and begin to express oneself in familiar contexts, and can understand the general meaning of a simplified textbook or article, reading very slowly. Students at A2 Pre-intermediate level can also:

B1 Intermediate (Threshold)

Students at this level have an ability to express oneself in a limited way in unfamiliar situations and to deal in a general way with non-routine information, and can understand basic instructions and messages, for example, computer library catalogues, with some help. Students at B1 Intermediate level can also:

B2 Upper-intermediate (Vantage)

Students at this level have the capacity to achieve most goals and express oneself on a range of topics, and can scan texts for relevant information and grasp main points of text. Students at B2 Upper-intermediate level can also:

C1 Advanced (Effective Operational Proficiency)

Students at this level have an ability to communicate with the emphasis on how well it is done in terms of appropriacy, sensitivity and the capacity to deal with unfamiliar topics, and can read quickly enough to cope with the demands of an academic course. Students at C1 Advanced level can also:

C2 Proficiency (Mastery)

Students at this level have the capacity to deal with material which is academic or cognitively demanding, and to use language to good effect at a level of performance which may in certain respects be more advanced than than that of an average native speaker. Students at this level can also access all sources of information quickly and reliably. Students at C2 Proficiency level can also:

(1.2) Learner types.

OK. Great. We now understand the seven main learner levels and we can see the gradual progression from A0 Starter all the way up to C2 Proficiency.

But what about learner types? How do different learners approach learning a language, and what are the different teaching methods by which learners can excel?

There are seven learning styles which can be used in your lessons, depending on the learning needs of your student(s) and these are:

Aural learners focus primarily on music and sound for their learning. Information is often best acquired through discussions, mini-presentations and verbal lectures.

Logical learners prefer using logic, reasoning and systems. They often have a keen sense for numbers, problem solving and sequence association.

Physical learners are curious kinesthetic learners who prefer using their body, hands and sense of touch to explore the world. These learners can exert hyperactive behavior and tend to have trouble sitting for long periods of time, but with the right strategy you may be able to calm down and motivate these classroom firecrackers.

Social learners rely on their verbal skills, and are always concerned about applying what they have learned in interactive settings and group learning streamlines the learning experience of social/interpersonal learners.

Solitary learners are independent learners who are able to work alone and with minimal directions from the teacher. Solitary learners are often mistakenly labelled as the shy ones in the classroom, but can often become extroverted when provided with the opportunity.

Verbal learners learn best through words, regardless of whether they are communicated in speech or writing. When learning something new, students who belong to this category prefer hearing a detailed explanation over viewing a physical, visual demonstration.

Visual learners prefer utilizing the medium of images and pictures in the classroom setting – the preferred learning media methods of visual learners. They thrive on seeing classes come to life, and are often found sat at the front of the class – getting a full view of their teacher’s body language and facial expressions – to avoid distractions and visual obstructions.

(1.3) Learner categories.

There definitely isn’t only one learner category and when you begin teaching English abroad, you will be presented with many types of student categories: each with their own distinct characteristics and each affecting the teaching dynamics of the classroom setting.

Depending on where it is you choose to teach English, you might find yourself teaching children, teenagers or adults. And you might find yourself teaching English to individual students or small/medium/large-sized groups. And lastly, you might find yourself in a face-to-face classroom setting, or you might be teaching online via your computer, tablet or telephone.

This final section of the first module aims to briefly cover each of these teacher settings/learner categories, addressing the positive and negative attributes of each teaching/learning environment. This is an introduction to teaching these age groups and we will cover these in more detail later in the course.

Please do remember that the Professional 120-Hour International Online TEFL Certification Course comes with two additional Teaching Business English and Teaching Young and Younger Learners units, and we will be delving much more thoroughly into these subjects upon the first 12 modules having been completed.

Teaching children

Teaching children classes are typically divided into either teaching Young Learners or teaching Very Young Learners. Very Young Learners can range anywhere in age from three to six years old, and Young Learners are defined by the seven to twelve years of age demographic. If you have children or know someone who has then you will be painfully aware of their extremely short attention spans, so it is essential to get them moving through the usage of games and activities and to divide your class time into multiple segments of class learning exercises. Very Young Learners are usually absolute beginners, so ensure that you also introduce music into your classes whereby you utilize the aural learner approach. Children develop at different rates of maturity, and as your children’s ages progress, they might not be so open to singing along to your chosen song or accompanying you on the guitar if you choose to use this instrument as a teaching medium. Please remember that these are young minds in development, so carefully choose your words when praising or criticizing student performance. The main focus of teaching children should first and foremost be to teach them the language, but as a role model, you must also ensure that you encourage them with motivation and confidence.

Teaching teenagers

Teenagers are going through a difficult time of their lives: their bodies change and they start becoming more conscious of their place within social hierarchies. When teaching teenagers, you will need to find the sweet-spot balance between presenting compelling activities which will motivate them, but also choosing your materials carefully so as not to insult their age group with materials attempting to appear cool or cliche-related to their age demographic. Please also remember that you never know what is happening in the lives of teenagers outside of the classroom, so never pre-judge a student’s behavior. Try not to fall into the inevitable trap many new teachers do of overly trying to come over as hip or cool with your teenage students in an attempt to relate to their age group. Your teenage students will respect you far more if you authentically respond to them as young adults, and teaching this age group can be extremely rewarding as you see real progress. Plus, for many teenage students, they acknowledge the real need to learn English and this understanding of the importance of English in the world, and how it can affect their future, is a huge motivation factor.

Teaching adults

Adult learners are sometimes child learners in adult bodies as some might not have been in a classroom setting since school and often unconsciously readopt the student role of yesteryear. Of course this is a terribly vague stereotype which won’t apply to all your adult students, but it is important to note that some of your adult students will be comparing your teaching style with teachers they had at high school. Adult students come from all walks of life. They might be university students looking to fine-tune their language skills as a necessity of their college curriculum studies, they might be businesspeople having their lessons paid by their company and therefore not always the most motivated of students, they might be students who need English for special purposes – for example, for that foreign holiday coming up to the USA – and they might simply be Joe Public who may attend weekly classes simply for something social and educational to do on a Wednesday evening.

Teaching one-on-one (individual) students

Individual English lessons are a fantastic opportunity for your student to quickly improve their language skills, and for you as their teacher to really be able to identify their learner needs and tailor your lessons to their specific needs. Because individual lessons cost the student more in terms of course fees, you will usually find yourself teaching these classes at business locations, with the classes paid for by the company which employs them. The issue with individual classes is that it makes for a very intense course and we always recommend meeting the student before the first class to see whether you will both be compatible in this classroom setting. One of the huge advantages of taking on individual students who work for companies is that they are notorious for cancelling lessons last-minute due to other business engagements; meaning you get paid whether they attend or not. The other positive is finding out about the student’s company and widening your knowledge base. As an example, one of our graduates is currently in the Central Europe, teaching English to students at the Coca-Cola company, and he has become fascinated with his individual lessons and very happy with all the free samples which come his way 🙂

Teaching groups

We define a group as being more than one student in a class and during your teaching career it can be almost guaranteed that you will find yourself teaching small, medium and large groups. With small groups, there is the freedom to be more hands-on with your students by treating the class similarly as you would an individual lesson. As the class sizes grow, you will need to utilize your teacher skills and classroom management skills in arranging students into smaller working groups and introducing activities which involve the whole class. Again, we will be covering this much more in depth later on in the course.

Teaching online

Teaching English online is a booming industry and takes away all of the legwork required when traveling between classes in the more traditional method of in-person teaching. The other positive is that you can teach wherever suits you best, and the hours are often flexible too: all you need is a laptop, tablet or phone. The only real negative is that you lack a support base which a traditional school provides, and some online teachers do miss the human contact element. We feel though that teaching online is definitely the way forward in the future. While some teachers do teach groups online, it is more customary to teaching English online to individual students.

Teaching private students

Teaching private students is a great way to supplement your teaching salary and many teachers do take on private students for this very reason. After you have been teaching English for a while it is inevitable that you will be approached for private tuition. Just make sure you won’t be stealing a school’s client as they heavily frown on this type of behavior. The negatives of teaching private students is that they often cancel classes last minute and unless you have an agreement whereby you are paid for cancelled classes, you’ll often find yourself losing out on an hour or two of paid teaching work and with your schedule for the day interrupted.

Congratulations on reading through the first module!

Now it’s time to take the Module 1 Quiz, after which you will gain access to the second module.

Important! We recommend reading through the first module again to ensure that you are fully prepared to take this quiz.

Click on the VIEW THE LESSON QUIZ button to proceed to the Module 1 Quiz…

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