Testimonials

"I completed the SIT TESOL certificate in New York City in December of 2009 and currently teach at Rennert New York. The certificate program was very challenging and intense, but exciting and enjoyable at the same time. I chose to take the extensive option, which met three evenings a week and two all-day Sundays over the course of ten weeks. This enabled me to continue working during the day. It was definitely a challenge to complete all the work while working full-time, but for me it was the best option and I was successful.

One of the best aspects of this program is the practice teaching, which begins almost immediately with real ESL students. As a student teacher, I had an immediate opportunity to test out the theory we had just studied in class. There is a strong focus on peer and self-evaluation, which encourages student teachers to learn and grow immensely from each teaching experience. I continue to use the self-evaluation techniques honed during the course as I continue to grow as a teacher.

My teacher trainers were excellent and exemplified the SIT teaching methodology and philosophy in every lesson they taught. In this way, we student teachers learned the course material while also observing the teaching techniques we were studying in action. The communicative student-centered approach makes learning fun and exciting, while also fostering the optimal environment for learning.

The course was definitely intense, even more so than I had anticipated, but I can honestly say that I use what I learned in the certificate program every day that I teach. The techniques really work and I've even used some of the materials I created for my student teaching in my actual classes. When I reach a point where I feel stuck or a lesson hasn't gone as well as I've hoped, I think back to the fundamentals of the course, sometimes even going back to my course binder, and it almost always helps me solve the problem. In addition, the alumni listserv is a great source of information and support, as are my colleagues at Rennert, many of whom are also SIT alumni.

Becoming an ESL teacher was one of the best decisions I've made. My job is challenging, interesting, rewarding and fun and my SIT TESOL certificate prepared me to have a successful career."