One of the advantages of the TESOL Certificate Program is the opportunity to gain real teaching experience while being guided by a mentor. On select Fridays during the on-site portion of the program, students work in teams of 3 or 4 to teach a class in our on-site language school, the Community Language Program. Prior to each teaching session, team members meet with each other and with their senior teaching mentor to create a lesson plan and appropriate materials. Mentors also observe each student in the classroom and provide individualized feedback and support.
Today we would like to introduce you to one of our mentors, Aldo!
Name: Aldo U. ReséndizI have taught a variety of Spanish and English courses for a few years now both in the U.S. and abroad in Latin America and the Middle East. Part of my current work is in community and organizing spaces applying a critical popular education approach to language teaching.
What has been your favorite part of mentoring?
The more time that we spend revising our lesson plans and troubleshooting potential problems, the less time we spend on what went wrong and can actually strategize on how we can do things differently next time. As much as teaching is a calling, it is also a profession that takes years to master. Most great teachers have been in the classroom for many, many years before they become good teachers. Patience and long-term commitment are key.
TESOL Certificate Program 