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TEFL Educator Program

TEFL Educator Program Logo. TEFL is written in the mountains with UT orange as the sky.

 

We collaborate with universities, ministries of education, and global organizations to deliver flexible, high-impact training grounded in current best practices in language teaching and learning.

Partner with the English Language Institute (ELI) at the University of Tennessee to design a professional development program for your institution.

 

Program Topics

Teaching & Engagement

  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Learner Engagement
  • Communication Skills

 

Technology & Innovation

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Language Teaching
  • Educational Technology (EdTech) Tools
  • Online Engagement

 

Flexible Program Formats

On-Campus at UTK

60-hour Certificate

  • Classroom Observations
  • Teaching Demonstrations
  • Curriculum Workshops
  • Campus and Cultural Experiences
  • Access to Online Modules

UTK faculty teaching educators in PanamaOn-Site, In-Country

40-hour Certificate

Our expert trainers travel to your institution to deliver intensive, short-term professional development tailored to your needs. Includes access to online modules.

Zoom training sessionFully Online

20-hour Certificate

  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Communicative Language Teaching
  • Technology and AI integration
  • Engagement-focused Design
  • Access to Online Modules

SAMPLE SCHEDULES

In-Person at UTK Example Schedule
Time Session
8:00 am  Breakfast on Campus
9:00 am Classroom Observation
10:00 am Presentation: Current Trends in SLA
11:00 am Teaching Demonstration
12:00 pm Lunch with UTK Administrators
1:30 pm Cultural Excursion
4:00 pm UTK Campus: Tour of Library

Module One Schedule
Learning Activity Topic
Interactive Learning Module What is Second Language Acquisition? Why should teachers care? What is the role of instruction in SLA? 
Reading SLA Across 10 contemporary theories
Video Discussion Post Connecting SLA Theory to your teaching
Synchronous Class Online Theory-Based Practice: Incorporating data-driven instructional methods into your lesson planning

 

 

Program Instructors

 

Todd M. Beard, M.Ed 

 

Amanda Dascomb, PhD

professional portrait of Nathan Smith wearing a blue button down shirt

Nathaniel W. Smith, PhD

 
Mr. Beard has been in education for over twenty years, teaching and leading program development, multi-agency initiatives, and student recruitment across the globe. He has lead professional development for teachers and developed online courses, modules, and programming for global students. His involvement in international education has included co-authoring the IEP chapter in the NAFSA Guide to International Student Recruitment, NAFSA Region VII leadership team, co-chair of Study Tennessee.

 

Dr. Dascomb earned her Ph.D. in Education from the University of Tennessee and specializes in instructional design and online learning. Her work explores how AI can strengthen student engagement. Prior to joining UT, she taught with Knox County Schools and Tennessee College of Applied Technology and spent a year in Senegal leading preservice and in-service teacher training workshops. 

Dr. Smith is a Knoxville native and a graduate of UTK. After finishing his undergraduate degree in English he went on to complete his Ph.D. in Education at the University of Pennsylvania, with a specialization in pedagogy and cross-cultural communication. He has taught graduate school, college, high school, and middle school, and has done so in a diverse range of international environments, including ten years in Taiwan and two years in South Korea.

 

Build Your Program

Tell us about your goals and we’ll build a program for your institution.

Contact Us to Discuss Your Program