Student Centered Learning

STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING

 

Student Centered Learning is relatively new concept in Western Education where the process of learning is focused on the individual rather on what is best for the learning institution. The origins of modern “assembly line” productivity in school’s was cultivated and refined during the industrial revolution to disseminate information and skills that might produce students who would be productive members of society based on the precepts that students would primarily become obedient workers and soldiers in the military.

 

 Later, top European preparatory school in England and Germany held their roots in this kind of tradition.  

One of the exceptions was the controversial figure of Austrian philosopher/reformist Rudolf Steiner, who’s “Waldorf holistic” and “imaginative approach” was influenced by Johann Goethe who felt that “Thinking … is no more and no less an organ of perception than the eye or ear. Just as the eye perceives colours and the ear sounds, so thinking perceives ideas.”

As controversial as Steiner’s method’s appeared during that era, today his principals are highly regarded for the focus on the individual and are recognized as the growing trend in teaching English through a process known as “differentiation.” Much of what motivates students is how learning relates to them as individuals. This concept is now held along -side such modern “constructivist” educators as Italian physician Maria Montessori  who laid the foundation for “discovery” or inquiry based models of study  and more recently Harvard scholar Howard Gardner who cultivated the idea of “multiple intelligences,” which provided the impetus for a modern student centered approach.

 

No relation to the founder of Paradise TEFL programs Dr. Stephen Gardner, albeit some similarities in their educational understanding and holistic approach toward the acquisition of teaching English as a Foreign (EFL), Second (ESL) or Additional Language (EAL).

Dr. Stephen founded Paradise TEFL with the goal of making the teaching of English easily comprehensible, relevant and fun. The terminology around the titles may vary as in the cases of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) but in fact the student’s needs to learn English (the widely recognized language of business and IT) remains the same.

ENTER PARADISE TEFL

 One of the unique advantages of the Paradise TEFL program is personalized service. At Paradise TEFL we avoid the one size fits all business model and recognize that just as each student our graduates teach will have their own learning styles, needs and modalities that foster understanding and retention, the same is true of our clients.

Our aim is not to pretend that we are more prestigious than the rest, just more applicable, more useful and more relevant than the “big name” programs that taut their “Cambridge” and “Oxford” connections to as a precedent to inflate their costs to the prospective teachers around the globe. The fact is you don’t need to have a four year degree from a prestigious university or CELTA or TRINITY TEFL in order to be an effective teacher, just a desire to listen, learn and share/ assist those in need of what you have to offer.

 

At Paradise TEFL Chiang Mai, our aim is to make the whole certification experience as practical, hands on, time efficient and cost effective as possible. Check out this video page constructed by our Administrative Director and Founder, Dr. Stephen and his explanation for how we aim to keep the focus on you the prospective teacher, and how to make your TEFL/TESOL certification experience as student centered as possible.

 

 

 

Whatever methods or plans of action educator decides to take, in general, the more advanced certifications a TEFL or TESOL Teacher holds, the more opportunity they possess in terms of their marketability and increased number of employment options.

For a limited time, Paradise TEFL Certification Program offers these advanced certifications such as TOEFL, IELTS, and TEYL at the SAME PRICE as the basic TEFL/TESOL certification!

The advanced course provides additional English Language teaching certifications and is offered in tandem with our site courses in and Chiang Mai Thailand, and Mexico as well as a special summer course in Portland, Oregon or as a complete series of online modules some with a virtual practice teaching option. In order to become a TEFL Trainer, you should have already completed a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA course first in order to be eligible and teaching experience is necessary. (Our Basic TEFL on-site program provides 2 to 3 weeks of hands on observed teaching practice to help our teachers to effectively develop their skills).

All courses are fully accredited and you will receive a certificate of completion, which is internationally recognized and accepted when you graduate from the course. Many of those who already have experience as TEFL instructors are finding that becoming a certified TEFL trainer is another opportunity and feather in their cap in terms of meeting the demand of TEFL instructors (who are leaving their home countries and working abroad) by teaching others how to teach TEFL effectively.

Graduates with these additional certifications have the advantage of substantially increasing their marketability and employment status. Improve your chances of getting a good job with a higher level of pay by enrolling today!