The International TESOL Institute's program starts when you receive your educational package. This contains your text materials, course curriculum, forum password, and your TESOL Certificate and documentation.

The course text is H. Douglas Brown's Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. It's a concise, readable, practical text that is well-respected and considered an invaluable tool for novices and experts alike. You can read the review of it at www.amazon.com.

The course has been designed by teachers for teachers, and follows this basic structure:

Basic Principles (I) - Student and Teacher Foundations
Basic Principles (2)- Teaching Across Age Levels
Basic Principles (3)- Teaching Across Proficiency Levels
Basic Principles (4)- Teaching ESL, EFL, and EIL
Techniques - Teaching Listening
Techniques - Teaching Reading
Techniques - Teaching Writing
Techniques - Teaching Conversation
Techniques - Interaction
Techniques - Teaching Grammar and Vocabulary
Techniques - Lesson Preparation
Techniques - Classroom Management

The emphasis is put on practical knowledge that can be applied the first day in the classroom, as opposed to jargon-heavy methodology that makes so many TESOL courses unbearable. Completed in succession, the units strengthen your teaching skills and give sound advice on what to do and what look out for in the classroom.

• Prereading - gives a general idea of the lesson ahead, with suggestions as to which areas to pay special attention to
• Reading - a selection from the text
• Comprehension Questions - to test your general comprehension of key points in the material
• Forum Discussion - provocative ideas and issues you discuss with other teachers online
• Written Excercises - formulating how you will put these ideas into practice in the classroom

Throughout your studies, qualified instructors will be available for questions and assistance. You will be able to e-mail them directly, or post on the teacher forums, which the instructors mediate.