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Gain your Trinity DipTESOL qualification with Europe’s leading course provider – now available fully online
The Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity DipTESOL qualification) is equivalent to a Cambridge DELTA and is an internationally respected, prestigious qualification for experienced teachers of ESOL/EFL. In contrast to the Cambridge DELTA, the Trinity DipTESOL course provides more of a focus on phonology and the option to base your projects on your own particular context.
It is ideal if you are looking for the next step in your ELT career and you are ready to gain an advanced qualification in ELT which will impress employers worldwide. The Trinity DipTESOL course will transform your teaching and help you move into roles such as examiner, coursebook writer, teacher trainer or school manager.
Since 1998, we have trained over 700 teachers on the Trinity DipTESOL course and become Europe’s leading course provider. Even if you are working full-time, the flexible format of this course means it can be integrated into your busy life.
Due to the extensive experience we have delivering this course, we have a deep understanding of the needs of the course participants and the course content is updated regularly so that it remains fresh and relevant. We offer a unique level of support to help ensure that participants stay on-track and assessments are passed successfully.
Our carefully selected, world-class team of tutors are well-known in the TEFL industry and will be by your side to guide you through the course.
Train with us and we will help you reach your full potential and advance your career in ELT.
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The Trinity Diploma in TESOL is for English Language teachers (including primary and secondary school teachers) who:
Wherever you are in the world, you can gain the Trinity DipTESOL qualification. From 2021, we are offering even more flexibility with the format.
Choose from two ways to take the Trinity DipTESOL course:
| Option 1 (Blended)7-month part-time phase: online | Option 2 (Fully Online)7-month part-time phase: online |
7-month part-time phase | In both cases, the 7-month part-time phase is completed online. | |
Unit 1 (Written Exam) | Regardless of which option you choose, this 3-hour exam is the only unit which must be taken face-to-face. You can sit the exam at any centre (e.g., the school where you are currently working), as long as they can provide a quiet room and an invigilator for the duration of the exam. | |
Unit 2 (Research Projects) | In both cases, these projects are submitted online. | |
4-week intensive phase: Units 3 and 4 (Phonology Interview and Observed Lessons) | You will complete these units face-to-face during a 4-week intensive phase in Barcelona, Cádiz, Kerala, or Hong Kong. Oxford TEFL will supply the students for the observed lessons. | You will complete these units during a 4-week intensive phase held online via Zoom. For the unit 4 observed lessons, you can teach your own learners, either in an online class or an offline class live-streamed via Zoom. Alternatively, Oxford TEFL can supply online students for you. |
Your application will be considered if you have a first degree (any discipline) or evidence of sustained academic study which would enable you to cope successfully with the requirements of the diploma.
An initial TESOL training qualification like the Cambridge CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL is highly recommended but not essential.
You must have at least two years of full-time teaching experience or equivalent (960 hours) teaching English to speakers of other languages (ESOL). The experience can be with any age group or teaching context.
You should not have taken more than a year’s break from ESOL teaching prior to interview.
If you do not meet this requirement, we recommend our CELTA course.
Due to the demands of the course, we ask that applicants have a C2 level of English.
You do not need a certification to prove your English level.
However, we have included a table below showing what score would be required to achieve a C2 level of English on different exams:
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Cambridge C2 Proficiency | Cambridge IELTS | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A and no less than 200 in any paper | Grade A, B or C and no less than 200 in any paper | Overall band score 8.5 and no less than 8.0 in any skill | Overall score 115 and no less than 27 in any skill |
Your English level will be assessed throughout the application process.
Our goal is to provide a course which is dynamic and practical and meets the needs of the participants, so your work in our virtual classroom will be backed up with tasks which get you to apply ideas in your own teaching situation. With a team of highly experienced and qualified tutors, the online modules will help you to deepen your theoretical knowledge and practical skills while preparing for the four assessed units of the Trinity Dip.TESOL course:
Once you have completed the 7-month part-time phase, you will be eligible to enrol in the 4-week intensive phase.
During the four weeks, you will complete unit 3 (the phonology interview) and unit 4 (the observed lessons). For more information on these units, see “How will I be assessed?” below.
If you choose our blended study option, you will complete your unit 3 phonology interview and unit 4 teaching practice assessment during a four-week phase in Barcelona, Cádiz, Kerala or Hong Kong. You will deliver your classes to adult students in one of our centres and receive support from our tutors who will be with you in the school.
If you choose our 100% online study option, you will complete your unit 3 phonology interview and unit 4 teaching practice assessment online. You will deliver your classes to adult students using Zoom and receive support from our tutors online. We can provide the students for you, or you can use your own students.
In both cases, there are various options for dates (see “Assessment Dates” section below).
You will attend sessions Monday–Friday. The 4-week intensive phase is full-time, so you can expect to spend a total of 40–50 hours per week.
Due to the high workload, you will need to clear your schedule. If you have other commitments during the four weeks, this will affect your chances of passing.
Unit 4 (the observed lessons) will be completed throughout the four weeks—every day, you will either be teaching or observing another teacher. Unit 3 (the phonology exam) will take place in the final week.
Please note that the sample timetable below is only intended to be used as a guideline—your session will be different.
| Sample timetable for DipTESOL 4-week intensive phase (Monday–Friday) | |
| 9:30–10:00 | Pre-lesson discussion and setup |
| 10:00–11:30 | Teaching practice: observations, unassessed teaching, and assessed teaching |
| 11:30–12:00 | Lesson evaluation and feedback |
| 12:00–13:00 | Break |
| 13:30–14:30 | Group workshop |
| 14:30–15:00 | Lesson planning with tutor |
| 15:00–18:30* | Independent work: writing lesson plans, lesson evaluations, and teaching practice journal |
*This is only an estimate. The amount of time spent on independent work will vary.
Once you have completed the Trinity DipTESOL course and passed the assessments, you will be awarded the Trinity DipTESOL qualification. This is an internationally recognised professional qualification for English Language Teaching. Many UK universities are now offering credits and/or exemptions on their MA and other courses for those who have obtained their Trinity DipTESOL qualification.
This qualification opens doors to other areas of the ELT profession. Our graduates have gone on to become:
Unit 1
You will complete a written exam consisting of a grammar section and two sections with essay questions about teaching and learning. This can be taken in an Oxford TEFL centre or at any Trinity authorised centre (there are currently 45 around the world). If you have chosen to take this course fully online, this will be the only assessment for which you will need to attend a centre. Exams are offered in May, August or November.
Unit 2
A coursework portfolio including three action research projects. The projects involve observation of other trained teachers, reflection on your own teaching and a research project, where you collect data. Work on the portfolio will be completed throughout the course, guided by a tutor with expertise in your chosen areas. You will need to base the reflection task on teaching a group or groups of at least 6 students for 15 hours in total. These projects are submitted online.
Unit 3
In this 30-minute interview with a Trinity examiner, you will deliver a short presentation on a pronunciation activity you have designed and delivered, transcribe a short utterance into phonemic script and have a discussion of the theory and practice of phonology. This unit is usually taken alongside the final externally assessed lesson. This is completed during the four-week intensive face-to-face or online phase.
Unit 4
Assessment of your teaching of five one-hour lessons, each preceded by a discussion of your lesson plan (10 minutes) and followed by a discussion of the lesson with the examiner (20 minutes). Four lessons are assessed by Oxford TEFL tutors, the fifth by a Trinity examiner. For this part of the exam, you will be teaching students in one of our centres. This is completed during the four-week intensive face-to-face or online phase.
Our team of Trinity DipTESOL trainers are experts in their field and qualified to a minimum of DELTA / DipTESOL level, which means they are qualified to train teachers of English. They offer support every step of the way throughout your course and are active contributors to the TEFL industry.
Below you can find the available dates for the Trinity DipTESOL course.
Course Starts | 11th October 2021 | 10th January 2022 | 25th April 2022 |
Deposit Paid (€450) by | 4th October | 3rd January | 18th April |
1st Instalment (€750) by | 11th November | 10th February | 25th May |
2nd Instalment (€750) by | 11th January | 10th April | 25th July |
3rd Instalment (€750) by | 11th March | 10th June | 25th September |
€2,600 EUR*
€2,700 EUR*
$30,000 HKD*
*Please note: Aside from the Trinity DipTESOL course fees, the following will also have to be paid in order to complete the course:
Once you have completed the 7-month part-time phase, you will be eligible to take the Trinity assessments.
The assessments can be completed in any order.
This assessment must be completed in person—there is no online option. The exam can be taken at any centre, as long as they can provide a quiet room and an invigilator for the duration of the exam.
We will contact you 10 weeks before each exam date to ask if/where you would like to take the exam.
Please note that you must complete the 7-month part-time phase before you can register for the unit 1 exam. You will also need to pass a mock exam with at least 55%.
| Examination Dates | Oxford TEFL Registration Deadline |
| Friday, 26th November 2021 | Friday, 8th October 2021 |
| May 2022 (TBC) | — |
| August 2022 (TBC) | — |
| November 2022 (TBC) | — |
You will electronically submit all three projects. There is no set date for submission, but you will need to work with your assigned tutor to complete the projects before support expires. You can request extra support after the deadline for a fee of €200 by contacting Nicola Meldrum.
During the 4-week intensive phase of the Trinity DipTESOL course, you will complete the phonology interview (Unit 3) and the observed lessons (Unit 4).
We will contact you two months before each session so you can tell us if/where you would like to attend.
You must complete the 7-month part-time phase before you can register for the 4-week intensive phase.
Note: Due to the ongoing global situation, all face-to-face sessions are subject to cancellation. We ask that trainees wait until we start registration for each session before making any reservations (transportation, accommodation, etc.).
| Dates | Location(s) |
| 30th August – 23rd September 2021 | Barcelona |
| 25th October – 19th November 2021 | Kerala |
| 10th January – 4th February 2022 | 100% Online |
| 4th July – 29th July 2022 | 100% Online Barcelona Hong Kong |
| 1st August – 26th August 2022 | 100% Online Barcelona Hong Kong Cádiz (TBC) |
| October/November 2022 (TBC) | Kerala (TBC) |
Meet Rubens, one of our expert tutors, as he answers some of the most common questions about the Trinity DipTESOL course . Find out why this course is a great step in your ELT career.
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