Why a Trinity CertPT in Teaching Lexically?

The Trinity CertPT in Teaching Lexically is the official title of our course for this level 6 qualification . Some of you may wonder how that works and whether out assessment is different to other ones listed on the Trinity website.

Same assessment with Teaching Lexically content

The short answer to this is no. All the different courses use the same assessments and follow the same criteria in terms of grading them. The focus is on evaluating published material, adapting material to your learners, writing material for your learners and assessing the success of your class with this material. (Note that ‘materials’ might be a task in a task-based approach or a stimulus for Dogme).

So if you take a course on young learners, of CLIL, or materials development, or teaching lexically, you will simply focus on these areas through the assessments.

Trinity CertPT stands out

This approach actually helps the Cert PT stand out against other qualifications such as CELTA o DELTA.  Initial courses often somewhat hide the principles that are driving them. For example they may present a particular view of language (grammar plus words) or take a particular approach (PPP) without really making clear that this might not be THE way (see my previous post on rules and tools).

Diplomas usually provide more context – for example through ‘experimenting with other approaches. However, setting these apart, it leaves the question what is the main approach which is being assessed?

Following the method that fits with your beliefs

Effectively, a diploma qualification in their assessment may restrict you from developing along the lines of your developing beliefs and principles. What if you want to follow through as a task-based teacher, or a lexical teacher, or community language teacher. How do you improve within those practices? How do you get recognition of that?

Of course, not all initial training or diplomas are alike. Some are better at being open about principles and beliefs. Some tutors may be better at nurturing skills and showing how they can align with assessment. But the CertPT offers a model to do that more clearly.

What’s the Teaching Lexically in the CertPT

Firstly, our approach sets out a way of evaluating material. It’s laid out in our courses Plan smarter and Teaching low levels. Broadly, they focus on the difference between outcomes (completing a task involving genuine communication) and aims (teaching of grammar rules and lexical sets).

Secondly, our understanding of language as being lexical helps you analyse the language needs for these tasks. A theory of how we make language stick and the impact of language levels show you how to adapt and add value to materials . And all the time you are basing your work on your current teaching context.

Focusing on your interests within Teaching Lexically

The nature of the CertPT’s assessments also mean you can focus on particular areas you want to develop. So if you feel you aren’t making the most of listening materials, you could do our course on Teaching Listening Better. You can then use our ideas as the basis for your materials evaluation, adaption or creation. Alternatively, you want to write al lesson that incorporates mediation or develops class dynamics.

Support for success

When you join standout premium you don’t just get access to these courses and our archive of webinars and mini-courses. Every month you can test your ideas through our workshops focus on planning and language or creating materials. As well as this support for success you get a one-to-one tutorial to help you progress.

Find out more about Teaching Lexically and the CertPT

We have a free preview on the course page. It gives lots more details on our CertPT’s objectives and how our courses help you meet them.  If you want to test the waters first, why not try Standout premium first and do one of our courses. We offer a 15% discount to existing pemium members for the assessment module.