Teaching Knowledge Test or TKT is a proctored examination conducted by the Cambridge. Just like its other certification and program, TKT has its popular demand in the education sector globally. Now it may get confused or rather misinterpreted as one of the many qualifications that allow a teacher training orientation into the ESOL market. However, as the certification suggests, it tests your basic teaching knowledge.
The test model comprises a total of three modules.
1. Each module has an orientation study wherein the participants are provided with study materials for the understanding of the modules.
2. The participants take the test that consists of 80 MCQs and it is scheduled to be completed within 80 minutes.
3. The tests may be taken together like the same day schedule or in any order. It is not mandatory to take all the tests. If you think the second module suits your area of expertise you can opt for only that module.
In addition to these three mainstream modules, there are other optional ones which are actively available.
However, they are for higher qualifications and would need a participant with a higher level skill in English; preferably upper-intermediate as considered by the Cambridge standards. There is TKT: YL which is for specialized in teaching young learners and based pedagogical strategies.
There is also CLIL or Content and Language Integrated Learning. It is for teaching other subjects in English but not the English Language as a subject. These additional tests also follow the 80 MCQs for 80 minutes pattern.
TKT is provided by the Cambridge ESOL which is a proven best global provider for qualifications in EFL and TEFL certification programs. Nevertheless, there is a thin line between the TEFL and the TKT certifications. A TEFL certification will provide you with the basic knowledge of the strategies and methodologies to adopt while teaching or facilitating your English as a Second Language class. The students present in the class have major mental barriers and may have inquisitiveness towards the language because of linguistic, non-linguistic, cultural and geographical factors.
A TEFL program also helps you to go through the entire process of a language learner’s psychology. In addition to that, the program is divided between theory and practicum. That way you get to observe and experience what is it like to teach a person who is not majorly exposed to the language of the subject. The program has a curriculum that is covered under stipulated hours based on the level you would like to opt for. For example, 120 hours certificate level, 220 hours PG Diploma level, etc.
TEFL can be acquired from various trusted, affiliations and accredited institutes like Trinity CERT, Asian College of Teachers, TESOL Canada, Bridge TEFL, etc. Their entire curriculum follows global standards, so, the program modules are somewhat similar. It solely depends on your budget and the time you can allot to yourself for the program.
Teaching Knowledge Test or TKT is an assessment that you take to check your basic teaching skills. Also, it can be concluded that a B.Ed or a similar teaching qualification can always help you fetch a higher band for TKT. As regulated by Cambridge, a universal approach is maintained where in the content is focused more on the parts where we can relearn new ways to assess and evaluate students, correct errors in a hassle free manner for learners, neutral ways of reinforcement and classroom management, basic phonology for teachers, grammatical nuances which divides the theoretical notions into spoken and written formats and situations where we can exercise various approaches of teaching instead of going the traditional ways.
Teaching qualifications originating in a country usually follows a cultural regime in the course design as well as the delivery. The teachers would definitely learn to teach sensibly but the whole ideas of being sensitive toward the uniqueness of different students are not highlighted. TKT helps you to open that window in a teacher’s mind and look at challenges from various perspectives and have more open minded solutions to solve them.
A TKT assessed teacher would have more multi-faceted attributes and that helps in dealing with learners coming from different language backgrounds. Language shapes the way we think. So it is not apparent anymore that when you learn a different language or you speak a different language in addition to the native language, your mind moulds your thought process in a dual manner. Same goes for the teacher, who has a teaching qualification, he or she is thinking from one perspective told to them. But with a global certificate it clearly helps you to think beyond!
It is not just an exam paper to write, but the whole immersion into the theoretical preparation for the test helps you to become more practical and flexible with your ideas. TKT definitely adds a brownie point to your ESL teaching skill.
Written By : Debalina Chakraborty
