Author: Ed Itor

NEAS Communities of Practice

Posted on | by Ed Itor

Communities of Practice (COPs) play a crucial role at NEAS Australia in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development among English language teaching (ELT) professionals. Some key reasons for their importance are:

1.     Expertise Development: COPs bring together individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise. By sharing their experiences, resources, and innovative teaching techniques, members can enhance their skills and knowledge in ELT. This contributes to the overall professional development of educators and promotes excellence in teaching.

2.     Quality Assurance: NEAS Australia aims to uphold high standards in ELT. COPs provide a space for educators to discuss and align their practices with NEAS quality benchmarks. Through collective problem-solving and continuous improvement, community members can contribute to the refinement and enhancement of teaching methodologies, assessment practices, and program design.

3.     Networking and Collaboration: COPs facilitate networking and collaboration opportunities. Educators can connect with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and build partnerships. This collaborative environment allows for the creation of joint projects, research initiatives, and resource development, fostering innovation and advancing the field of ELT.

4.     Peer Support and Mentoring: COPs provide a supportive environment where educators can seek guidance, advice, and mentorship from their peers. This support network encourages professional growth, boosts morale, and helps educators navigate challenges in their teaching practice.

May 2023

NEAS Professional Development

Posted on | by Ed Itor

NEAS PD programs are designed to provide ongoing training and support to ELT professionals, ensuring they stay updated with the latest methodologies, best practices, and advancements in the field. 

NEAS PD programs are developed in consultation with industry experts and offer a range of topics, including language teaching methodologies, assessment strategies, technology integration, and more. Participants can deepen their understanding of effective pedagogical approaches, exchange ideas with peers, and reflect on their teaching methods. NEAS PD caters for different levels of experience, allowing both novice and experienced ELT professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge, with the aim of improving student outcomes.

ELT professionals can also gain CPD points, which are a valued component of ongoing professional growth.

May 2023

NEAS QA Framework

Posted on | by Ed Itor

The NEAS Quality Assurance (QA) Framework is a comprehensive system designed to ensure and enhance the quality of English Language Teaching (ELT) institutions, education agents, products and services and individuals. 

The NEAS QA Framework encompasses various elements, including curriculum design, teaching and learning practices, student support services, staff qualifications and professional development, student assessment procedures, and overall management and governance of ELT institutions. It sets out standards and benchmarks that institutions must meet to attain NEAS endorsement.

The framework involves a rigorous process of self-assessment, external evaluation, and ongoing monitoring. Institutions undergo regular QA activities to assess compliance with the NEAS standards and guidelines. The framework encourages continuous improvement and supports ELT providers in maintaining high-quality standards by offering feedback, guidance, and professional development opportunities.

NEAS endorsement signifies that an ELT institution, Education Agent or individual meets the required quality standards and provides assurance to students, agents, parents and other stakeholders. It promotes transparency, accountability, and best practices within the ELT sector, ultimately contributing to the overall quality of English language education in Australia and worldwide.

May 2023

Endorsement News – ELSIS

Posted on | by Ed Itor

Congratulations to the English Language School in Sydney (ELSIS) on its successful completion of a Quality Assurance Management Meeting, which confirms the Centre’s continued Quality Endorsement.

A structured Management Meeting was conducted as part of an Onsite Visit by the assigned NEAS Quality Assessor. Management Meetings are integral to the ongoing Quality Review cycle. The review exercise covered core areas of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework and additional areas of significance for the Centre. ELSIS has been providing quality English language education for over 30 years and offers a range of courses, including General English, English for Academic Purposes, and Exam Preparation courses. With over 20 teachers employed across two shifts, the Centre has seen a rapid increase in enrolments from students around the world, including Colombia, Brazil, Thailand, Argentina, Korea, Japan, Spain, and Mongolia. Located in the heart of Sydney, ELSIS is dedicated to providing students with high-quality language education.

May 2023

Endorsement News – Academy of English

Posted on | by Ed Itor

NEAS congratulates Academy of English for successfully completing a Quality Review Activity. 

Academy of English sits under the Academies Australasia Group, a listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange. Academy of English attracts students from a range of countries including Mongolia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Colombia. The college currently offers General English, EAP and IELTS classes in the morning and evening. Furthermore, students have the option to participate in self-study focused language support classes and practice testing. 

Teachers are allocated to classes based on their experience and qualifications and are supported with regular professional development. Teachers provide consistent feedback to students and students expressed their satisfaction with the way teachers gave feedback and made corrections during class. The students also appreciated the ease with which they can communicate with teachers and Academic Manager regarding concerns and complaints. Students also made positive comments about their experiences going on school excursions. 

Teaching staff strongly felt that they were actively involved in promoting the centre by helping to build its reputation. They spoke about the importance of “building a strong rapport with the students”, “performing our duties well as teachers” and “creating a sense of community for the students to belong to”.

May 2023

Endorsement News – UNSW College

Posted on | by Ed Itor

NEAS congratulates UNSW College for becoming our latest Quality Endorsed Member. A division of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), UNSW College delivers preparatory courses to international students aspiring to attend university. UNSW College’s commitment to international and transnational education is evident in its pioneering efforts, including introducing the country’s inaugural Foundation Studies Program and establishing the first university language centre in Australia. Alongside this, UNSW College provides assessment and research services that assist educational institutions, governments, and organisations worldwide. NEAS is pleased to welcome back UNSW College, which first achieved NEAS Accreditation in 1991.

May 2023

Endorsement News – University of New England

Posted on | by Ed Itor

The English Language Centre (ELC) at the University of New England (UNE) delivers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses for students intending to enter a primary course at the University, for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs. Located in Armidale, New South Wales, the Centre is committed to providing a supportive learning environment that encourages students to develop their language skills and achieve success in their studies and beyond. 

Congratulations to UNE on successfully completing the NEAS Quality Review exercise for 2023! This involved structured meetings and focus group discussions with management, students, teachers and professional staff. Anonymised Health Check surveys were used to develop areas of focus for the conduct of the Quality Review, and comprehensive stakeholder feedback was triangulated and mapped to key Principles and Drivers of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework. As part of this onsite assessment, the Centre forwarded videos of recent lessons, and this proved to be useful in observing how the courses are delivered and how the students interact with their teachers and the learning content. For more information on the Quality Assurance Framework, please refer to this section of the NEAS website: https://neas.org.au/resources/neas-quality-framework/.  

Students in the Focus Group all agreed that the course was enjoyable and was helping them with their future studies. Students also advised that they were “very happy with my teacher” and that the teachers prepared “very nice lessons for us”. In addition, students were able to talk confidently about the course rubrics and how the teachers “explained them very well”. Teachers were positive about the amount of support they receive from the Centre’s Director and Academic Manager. The Centre has successfully utilised the application of assessment rubrics, which are drawn from the Learning Indicators and Learning Outcomes mapped to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The Centre has excellent ongoing course evaluation processes in place which incorporate teacher and student feedback.

May 2023

Endorsement News – ELT Support

Posted on | by Ed Itor

Congratulations to ELT Support for achieving NEAS Endorsement as a Quality Product and Service in the Consulting category. As a consultancy group of experienced English Language Teaching (ELT) professionals, ELT Support is committed to supporting ELICOS colleges and other ELT organisations to establish and maintain best practices to benefit the business, the staff and the students. Drawing on the wealth of knowledge of its staff and actively engaging with industry stakeholders, ELT Support ensures its clients receive the most up-to-date and effective solutions that are aligned with their needs.

NEAS reviewed ELT Support’s professional services using Quality Area K of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, which focuses on research, purpose, quality maintenance processes, uniqueness and innovation, and contributions to the ELT community. The diligence of ELT Support’s project management methodology and their ability to customise projects to meet their clients’ direct needs were particularly impressive. ELT Support has also exhibited a strong commitment to stakeholder feedback, which informs a continuous cycle of improvement. The organisation’s staff is commended for their active engagement in industry outreach roles and presenting at industry forums.

For further information on Quality Area K and the NEAS Quality Framework, please visit https://neas.org.au/resources/neas-quality-framework/#area-k.  ELT Support’s achievement of NEAS Endorsement is a testament to their dedication to providing high-quality services to the ELT community.

May 2023

NEAS Endorsement News – TPL

Posted on | by Ed Itor

Congratulations to TPL Education on achieving NEAS Endorsement in the Quality Education Agent category. An Australian-registered education and consultant agency, TPL Education began recruiting international students in 2021 and now has two offices in two countries (Melbourne, Australia and Bangkok, Thailand), recruiting students exclusively from Thailand. TPL Education has partnership agreements with 22 Australian education providers (some of which are NEAS Quality Endorsed Centres). TPL Education is a registered member of the Professional International Education Resources (PIER) platform. It is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA).

NEAS assessed TPL Education’s application using Quality Area J of the NEAS Quality Assurance Framework, focussing on these important principles: the presence of an ethical framework underpinning the practices of the agency and its counsellors; provision of information to stakeholders that is ethical, accurate and consistent; use of governance structures that are effective and transparent; supporting a performance and development culture for staff; implementing systematic risk management processes; routinely obtaining stakeholder feedback to inform the continuous improvement of services. More information on Area J can be referenced here: https://neas.org.au/resources/neas-quality-framework/#area-j.  

NEAS applies a 360-degree stakeholder feedback model in its review processes. Commendably, students interviewed as part of the review highlighted that TPL Education staff were professional, quick to respond and assisted them throughout the entire journey from enquiring about the course to induction into the environment of their target destination. The partner providers and students interviewed confirmed that TPL Education seeks regular feedback from them regarding their services. The interviewed students also mentioned the helpful support services that were offered to them by TPL Education.

May 2023

2024 TOEFL® English-language Researcher/Practitioner Grant Program

Posted on | by Ed Itor

ETS is happy to announce the 2024 TOEFL® English-language Researcher/Practitioner Grant Program. The purpose of the TOEFL English-language Researcher/Practitioner Grant Program is to enable practitioners to become involved in ETS’s efforts to promote English language learning, and to support education and professional development for English-language teachers worldwide through ETS’s assessments and services.

Award Value: Successful applicants will receive funding of US$5,000–$10,000. 

Eligibility: Practitioners who are teaching English in various contexts including universities, intensive English programs, study-abroad programs, primary schools and secondary (middle or high) schools are invited to apply. Prior research experience is not required, but practitioners with advanced degrees in language instruction, or a related field, will be given preference.

Application Process: Applicants must submit an application package via email to TOEFLGrantsandAwards@ets.org by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on July 15, 2023. The application package must include the following:

 Important Dates

  • July 15, 2023 — Deadline for receipt of application materials
  • August 15, 2023 — All applicants notified of selection
  • January 1 – October 1, 2024 — Research projects commence

For full details, please see the TOEFL English-language Researcher/Practitioner Grant Program webpage.

May 2023