English Language Institute

English as a Foreign Language Program for International Teachers (EFLPIT)

General Overview

The English as a Foreign Language Program for International Teachers (EFLPIT) is offered to groups by request only and can be customized to meet the specific needs of the group. This program provides training for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers who want to enhance their teaching abilities.  This is an intensive 3-week program and is intended for teachers of English as a Foreign Language who have had a minimum of two years of teaching experience and whose native language is not English.

Dates

  • The EFLPIT is typically a 3-week program but can be customized to meet the schedule and needs of your group.

Classes and Skills Developed

The goal of the program is to help English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers meet the needs of EFL learners in the 21st century by:

  • Enhancing and energizing teaching skills with communicative approaches
  • Exploring the applications of instructional technology to the language classroom
  • Strengthening oral English skills for instructors
  • Deepening understanding of the connection between culture and language in North America
  • Discussing current research in the area of Second Language Acquisition

Classes meet Monday to Friday between 9 am and 4 pm, and include:

  • Second Language Acquisition (SLA): This course will review current research in the field of second language acquisition, focusing on the stages of language learning and reading comprehension/processing.
  • EFL Pedagogy (EFLP): The EFLP course will focus on current pedagogical approaches and communicative techniques for teaching English as a foreign language with a focus on teaching vocabulary, including using technology and designing activities for lexical acquisition.
  • Instruction and Technology in the EFL Classroom (ITEFL): The ITEFL course will offer ideas for technology and corpus-based grammar instruction. Online resources, social media, and multimedia that engage learners and improve instruction will also be explored.
  • Language Enhancement and Culture (LEC): This course will focus on furthering participants' listening and speaking skills in order to enhance teaching abilities. Through materials and class discussions, the connection between American English and American culture will be explored.

Additional course components include:

  • Guest lectures: Professors from the University of Pittsburgh will lecture on second language learning theory and research.
  • Classroom observations: Participants will observe ESL classes taught by experienced teachers in the English Language Institute.
  • Conversation groups: Participants will meet with native English speakers in a small group setting for conversation practice.
  • Final project: In small groups, participants will develop a project designed to implement the techniques and procedures learned in the program. Each group will present its project to program participants on the final day.
  • Certificate: All participants who successfully complete the program are awarded a certificate of attendance.

The cost of the program can include field trips nearby, as well as trips to nearby cities, all led by program teachers and staff.

  • Day trips around the city: Activities may include visits to world-famous museums, places of historical importance in Pittsburgh, or cultural events in the city, such as a picnic or major league baseball game. Visit the ELI's Activities Calendar for a sample of past activities.
  • Day trip to the mountains: Participants will spend a day in the mountains near Pittsburgh, enjoying waterfalls, a picnic, and a visit to Fallingwater, an architectural wonder designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
  • Day trip to Niagara Falls: Visit one of the seven natural wonders of the world in Niagara Falls, New York.

Other optional activities may be available for an additional cost.

Student Visas

  • Do not apply for a student visa to attend this program. The ELI cannot issue I-20s for this part-time program.

Tuition and Fees

  • Please contact us at least five months in advance of your proposed program so that we can provide you with a proposal and pricing details.

Campus Life

Students in the EFLPIT program are part of the University of Pittsburgh and can use all librariesrecreational/sports facilities and computer labs on campus. Students also have access to discounted cultural activities throughout the city.

Housing

Housing options for students in the EFLPIT program include homestays, apartments near the university, student residence halls in downtown Pittsburgh, and university dorms.  

Application Process and Deadline

To apply for admission to the EFLPIT program, applicants must provide:

  • proof of graduation from an English as a Foreign Language teacher education program at a college or university AND
  • a CV in English showing their teaching experience OR
  • a letter from the school or university where they work verifying their employment as a teacher of English for at least two years

Contact us for more information about the EFLPIT program.