Orientation

Q: As a new tutor, do I have to attend an ACLE Orientation?

A: Absolutely yes. ACLE requires all new tutors to attend an orientation in Sanremo - Italy, regardless of previous qualifications.

Q: Can I choose the site where I attend orientation?

A: Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate these requests.

2012 Orientation Dates:

To give you an idea the following dates have been proposed and will be confirmed in 2012

All tutors attending the May or June orientations, need to be available until at least July 8^thor 15^th

A five-day orientation course starting May 28^th in Sanremo. Tutors must arrive by the 27^th of May by 6 p.m. If you decide to arrive a day earlier, you still must reach Sanremo no later than 6 p.m.
A five-day orientation course starting June 4^thin Sanremo. Tutors must arrive by the 3^th of June by 6 p.m. If you decide to arrive a day earlier, you still must reach Sanremo no later than 6 p.m.
A five-day orientation course starting June 11^th in Sanremo. Tutors must arrive by the 10^th of June by 6 p.m. If you decide to arrive a day earlier, you still must reach Sanremo no later than 6 p.m.
A five-day orientation course starting June 18^th in Sanremo. Tutors must arrive by the 17^th of June by 6 p.m. If you decide to arrive a day earlier, you still must reach Sanremo no later than 6 p.m.
A five-day orientation course starting August 13^th in Sanremo to be confirmed.

Orientations are held in Sanremo, Italy, where ACLE’s head office is based. Sanremo is a bustling coastal town 30 minutes from the French border. During orientation, you will meet other tutors from around the world and prepare for the summer. Directly after orientation, successful tutors will be sent to their first camp, either on Friday night or Saturday morning, depending on the distance you will have to travel. The orientation fee is 200 euros. Included in the fee are your 5-6 nights accommodation (prior to departure for camp), all meals and the TEFL course.

Once hired, it is mandatory that you attend one of the orientation courses in Sanremo. Please refer to the above dates and ensure that you are able to attend one of the orientation courses.

ACLE’s introduction to TEFL is an intensive but fun course, with a high level of involvement and interaction expected from everyone. You’ll learn a plethora of ideas, make new friends and eat plenty of good food! The topics that will be covered during the orientation include discussions and hands-on activities in these areas:

An introduction to the ACLE philosophy and methodology
The power of theatre and play in learning, including ideas and instructions for creating drama sketches
How to communicate verbally and non-verbally with Italian children (speaking speed, intonation, pronunciation, the association of language and action/object)
How to grade your language according to the syllabus and the comprehension level of the students
Teaching materials for the Summer/City Camps
How to create lesson plans that balance games, drama and student workbooks
Major grammatical structures
Language games and songs for children
How to utilise and assess the children’s workbooks
How to assess the children’s oral language skills
Key TEFL concepts such as repetition and error correction
How to manage challenging situations that could arise concerning the children, the host families, Italian culture, etc.

Tutors who successfully complete the Introduction to TEFL Course and at least two weeks of practical tutoring experience at camp will be sent a certificate in October. Tutors who perform to standard will also receive a reference letter.

In the unlikely event that after orientation we consider you to be unsuitable to work at ACLE Camps, you will not be liable to pay the course fee and no further commitment will exist on either your or ACLE’s part. We take no responsibility for any costs incurred as a result of travelling to Sanremo for the course.