A - Fundamental Issues in Language Teaching and Learning

The Interuniversity Master, Diploma and Certificates in TEFL by Distance Education Mode represent an innovation both in the field of postgraduate education and in the field of distance education. The programme's practical focus encourages students to reflect on and interpret the relation between theory and practice, to adapt new ideas and strategies to their own contexts, and to test and appraise new teaching techniques in their own classrooms. In the case of the Master, this gives students a foundation for progressing to independent study at the end of the course, leading to a final dissertation (the Practicum/Research Project in TEFL), and, potentially, further studies at the PhD level at any of the universities taking part in this programme.

Who is the programme for?

The programme leading to the Master, Diploma (Especialización) or Certificates (Extensión universitaria) in TEFL is intended for:

• Primary and secondary level English language teachers in public or private institutions.
• Teachers of EFL working in adult education.
• Graduates with relevant qualifications intending to work as English language teachers.

Holders of all degrees, irrespective of subject, can be considered for the programme as long as the following requirements are fulfilled:

1. Academic requirements:

   Master:

   BA Honours (4 years of university studies) in a field relating to Educational Studies, Languages or Social Sciences. Degrees in other areas will also be considered for admission on the MA programme prior to completion of the entry exam.

   If the candidate has ample experience in the TEFL field and holds an Ordinary degree (3-year degree), he/she may be admitted onto the MA course prior to individual evaluation by the Academic Committee.

   Diploma & Certificate:

   University degree is needed in a field relating to Educational Studies, Languages or Social Sciences, except for Certificate A, B and C. Degrees in other areas will also be considered for admission on the MA programme prior to completion of the entry exam.

2. Teaching experience:

   For all the courses in TEFL (Master, Diploma, Certificates) a minimum of one year's teaching experience in ELT at any type of institution or in private tuition, is recommended. For the Certificates, if the candidate has no previous teaching experience, he/she may be asked to do an entrance exam before being admitted onto the course.

3. Linguistic requirements:

   All candidates who are non-native speakers of English will have to provide evidence of having passed one of the following exams:

   Cambridge:

   Cambridge FCE (First Certificate) - grade A. (Grade B or C requires the entrance exam to be taken)
   Cambridge CAE (Advanced) or CPE (Proficiency) - any pass grade

   TOEFL:

   There are 3 versions of this exam:

   • Paper-based test (PBT) is out of a total 677 points, a minimum of 550 points is required.
   • Computer-based test (CBT) is out of a total 300 points, a minimum of 230 points is required.
   • Internet-based test (iBT) is out of a total 120 points, a minimum of 79 is required.

   Michigan Test:

   ECEP (Examination for the Certification of Proficiency in English) - a pass. The Michigan ECCE (Examination for the Certification of Competency in English) is not accepted since the level is too low.

   If the candidate does not have any of the above-mentioned certificates, and if he/she is not a native English speaker, then he/she will have to sit the entrance exam. English certificates from any other language schools will generally not be accepted, but may still be submitted for evaluation by the tutors on the course. If no consensus is reached regarding the qualification, the candidate will have to sit the entrance exam.

   Anyway, having English as an L1 doesn't presuppose that a student has the linguistic level that this Masters demands. So, as a last resort, the company's management team of this programme can demand that the candidates pass a test that proves that they possess the level required.

Why an interuniversity programme?

The TEFL Programme is the result of the collaboration between The Fundación Universitaria Iberoamericana (FUNIBER) and the Spanish and Latin American Universities listed below:

• Universidad Europea del Atlántcio (UNEATLANTICO) (España)
• Universidad de León (España)
• Universidad del País Vasco (España)
• Universidad de Vigo (España)
• Universidad de Mayor de San Simón (Bolivia)
• Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (Ecuador)
• Universidad Santa María - Campus Guayaquil (Ecuador)
• Universidad Valle del Bravo (México)
• Universidad de Piura (Perú)
• Universidad Gran Colombia (Colombia)

FUNIBER has its origins in university projects for collaborative development set in the framework of UNITWIN-UNESCO and EU Chairs and Networks.

FUNIBER follows the conclusions of the World Conference on Higher Education in the Twenty-first Century: Vision and Action (Unesco, Paris, 1998), in which the need for intercultural education based on quality and international co-operation through university networks is proclaimed.

The currently available systems of communication, which facilitate, among other things, quality distance education, provide the universities with a means to extend their offer by bringing areas of higher social demand at the best academic level to the students. The way to preserve these extremes is found in the construction of University Networks.

FUNIBER has developed the TEFL programme, together with the collaborating universities, in response to the demand for continuous education and in order to encourage the ability to act in real contexts.

A team of teachers and specialists in English language teaching, Applied Linguistics and Foreign Language teacher training, is responsible for the making and actualization of the course content and have helped to develop a very comprehensive study programme, which takes into consideration the needs of each geographical area.

Why by distance mode?

These distance education courses can be included in an educational model of a collaborative nature that encourages interaction and provides access to the teaching experience of the participants in the programme, both tutors and students alike, through discussion groups, debates and chats.

The programme designed for the Master, Diploma and Certificates in TEFL has many distinctive features compared to other in-service teacher training programmes:

• It breaks away from the limited reductionist view that is generally had concerning on-line distance education, where the student is merely provided with material and as such only encouraged to engage in individualistic learning.
• Along the lines of the above idea, special attention is paid to the processes that are essential to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the training (collaborative and constructivist learning).
• The materials and the didactic resources have been specially designed to help you monitor and assess your own progress.
• Access is offered to all bibliography that can be considered compulsory readings.
• Efficient and flexible channels of communication are available to deal with your queries (telephone, fax, e-mail, and Internet).
• Students are offered constant support and multiple ways in which to communicate with tutors and peers, both in relation to academic matters and to those of personal interest.
• You can apply your developing knowledge and skills to your work immediately.
• You can combine the programme parallel to your own commitments.
• You do not have to attend classes.
• There is no fixed time table.
• You have flexibility to study whenever you wish.

Distance education stands out as a powerful option in the present and future of our society. Being able to offer quality on-line university degrees provides the universities with the dynamism and prestige that prevents them from remaining static vis-à-vis this new, more democratic, concept of education.