Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
John Sigler is qualified to teach English as a foreign language from absolute beginners to advanced levels. This includes, but is not limited to, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation as used in reading, writing, and speaking. However, taking advantage of his previous experience, he focuses on teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) to more advanced language learners, in particular Business English, Financial English and Legal English. His training is based upon using the highly interactive Direct Communicative Method of teaching English, but he also likes to use the Lexical Method – that emphasizes vocabulary over grammar – when this seems more appropriate, especially with lower level students.
When taking on new students he performs an assessment examination and couples the results with the goals of the client (the students themselves or the organization paying for the service) and formulates a teaching plan that is both appropriate for the student's current level as well as the results sought by the client.
Relevant Credentials
The Boland School, Teacher Training Center, Brno, Czech Republic
- One of the most comprehensive TEFL qualifications available [Click here for a detailed comparison].
- Recognized by the governments of the Czech Republic and China, accredited by the TEFL Board, holder of a formal credit transfer arrangement with Anaheim University (California, USA), member of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language and fully meets British Council criteria for employment within the British Council and at British Council-accredited language schools.
The Boland School, Online Training Course, Brno, Czech Republic
- 90-hour online course designed to provide teachers of T.E.F.L. a comprehensive review of English grammar as used in the T.E.F.L. classroom.
- All modules involved a test with a review by a T.E.F.L. professional to analyze and confirm solid comprehension of the material covered.
Fiserv Investment Support Services (Fiserv ISS) Employee Development Group, Denver, USA
- Comprehensive corporate certification for reading and writing professional business English.
- Required qualification for Compliance Specialists and Legal Analysts.
Colorado Free University, Denver, USA
- Course teaching techniques for creating a problem statement, defining goals and objectives, and setting up a project evaluation.
- Focus on proper framing of the grant request, common mistakes made in grant writing, and insider tips on what grant request analysts look for.
Colorado Free University, Denver, USA
- Course teaching techniques and strategies to bring clarity, cohesiveness, and effectiveness to business writing.
- Focus on organizing your work and structuring key documents like memos, reports, and proposals.
Colorado Free University, Denver, USA
- Course dealing with the most common grammatical mistakes that appear in business and financial writing.
- Focus on identifying and correcting common grammatical errors in business writing.
Colorado Free University, Denver, USA
- Course dealing with the utilization of blogs and blogging to promote business.
- Focus on how blogs provide useful alternative to traditional websites for small to medium sized businesses as well as how a blog can boost website traffic, increase sales, and provide a platform for communication with customers.
Relevant Experience
The Boland School, Teacher Training Center, Brno, Czech Republic
- As part of his training, John Sigler taught several TEFL classes, spanning pre-intermediate learners to advanced learners focused on Legal English.
Fiserv Investment Support Services (Fiserv ISS), Denver, USA
- John Sigler volunteered to teach Business English as a supplement to the official Fiserv ISS courses to individuals and small groups having difficulty with the material.
Colorado Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others, Denver, USA
- John Sigler voluntarily trained and tutored local foreign political activists - primarily people with Arabic as a first language - on how to express their sentiments properly in English and coached on how to handle media interviews.
[The] Int'l TEFL Diploma compared to other major TEFL qualifications
| Qualification | Number of Hours | Length | Trainer-Student Ratio | Peer Teaching | Actual Teaching | Final Exam? |
| TEFL Certificate | 20 to 120 hours | 2 days to 4 weeks | Varies | Not generally | Usually 2 to 4 hours, if any | Not usually required |
| International TEFL Certificate | 100 hours | 4 weeks | 18:1 | 4 hours | 4 hours | None |
| C-TEFLa | 120 hours | 4 weeks | 18:1 | None | 10 hours | Written and teaching |
| CELTA | 106 hours | 4 weeks | 12:1 or 18:2 | None | 6 hours | None |
| Trinity TESOL | 120 hours | 4 weeks | 12:1 | 6 hours | 6 hours | Written and teaching |
| International TEFL Diploma | 140 hours | 4 to 4.5 weeks | 8:1 | 10-12 hours | 8-10 hours | Written, oral and teaching |