GENERAL INFORMATION

The Top Private Foreign Language Teacher Training College, Bielsko-Biała is a teacher- training unit licenced by the Minister of Education in 1992.

The Top College is a non-public school with public rights. This means that its students have the same rights and entitlements as their state college counterparts (including 37 % discount on public transport, free medical care, and deferment of army service for male students).

Pursuant to the Agreement of 15th July 2003 the College operates under an academic and teaching supervision of the University of Silesia, Katowice.

The final stage of the College training is the Diploma Examination. The graduates who hold a College Diploma are qualified to work as foreign-language teachers.

The College Diploma confirms that its holder is fully qualified to teach the appropriate foreign language in a nursery, primary, junior-high and secondary school, as well as run a foreign-language course outside the school system (MEN (Ministry of National Education) Resolution of 12 January 1997., ż1, item 2 with subsequent amendments).

By the decision of the University of Silesia Vice Chancellor, dated 23 January 2002, the College graduates have an opportunity to obtain a University of Silesia BA degree in the College, and then pursue a supplementary MA course at the University of Silesia or another university which offers such a possibility.

AIMS OF THE COLLEGE

The primary aim of the College is to train foreign-language teachers in:

• English
• German.

SYLLABUS

The first year of the course focuses on teaching practical foreign-language skill. The second year syllabus covers linguistics, life, history and literature of English- or German-speaking countries, and methodology of foreign-language teaching. The students of the third year write their dissertations on the above-mentioned subjects, learn about the European Union, master their English or German, and expand their general philological knowledge.

YEAR ZERO

Year Zero is an intensive course intended to bring the students' language skills up to the level required at the first year of the College. The course is available for all the candidates who claim an intermediate knowledge level of English or German. It ends with a practical English or German examination. All the students who pass this examination will be exempt from the Entrance Examination for the first year of the College.

To become a student of Year Zero each candidate must:

• submit the required documents (see below),
• pass the qualification examination,
• pay the admission fee.

RULES OF ENROLMENT

The Entrance Examinations will be held in:

• June
• July, and additionally
• September

The Examinations consist of a written test covering grammar and vocabulary (approximately the same level as that of secondary-school leaver's examination in a foreign language) and an interview in the appropriate foreign language. The examination fee must be received not later than one day before the date of the test.

CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION

Each candidate must present their secondary school-leaver's certificate and doctor's certificate confirming their ability to pursue a teaching career, as well as pass the Entrance Examination.

Documents required:

• school leaver's certificate (original or certified copy),
• doctorłs certificate confirming the candidatełs ability to pursue a teaching career and become a student at an institution of tertiary education,
• personal questionnaire*,
• four photographs,
• extract or photocopy of the candidate's ID card (photo page plus information on permanent residence); candidates may also be asked to present the original ID's,
• declaration of the candidate's familiarisation with Payment Regulations and obligation to pay tuition fees on time*,
• College personal file*,
• proof of examination fee payment.

*available in the office

EXEMPTIONS

The following may be exempt from the test and interview:

• students who have passed the final Zero-Year exam,
• holders of the following certificates:
• British Council FCE, CAE,
• Goethe Institut ZD, ZMP.
• Students who have passed the entrance exam to another college or institution of a similar profile.

Any other admission procedure must be approved by the College Head.

COURSE TYPES

The courses taught in the College include lectures, tutorials, seminars, and teaching practices.
Since its very creation, the College has also been running other courses addressed to children, youth, and adults who wish to acquire, expand or update their knowledge in many different fields.

The Centre of Foreign Languages offers the courses of:

• English,
• German,
• French,
• Spanish,
• Italian,
• Russian.

This foreign-language offer also covers preparation to the international foreign-language examinations and specialised language courses.

The Top Private Foreign Language Teacher Training College is a member of the European Federation of Schools (FEDE) which holds consultative status at the Council of Europe. In 2000 The Top College became a FEDE Examination Centre which gave the students of Polish institutions of tertiary education an opportunity to obtain degrees of an international status. A FEDE BA diploma is a confirmation that its holder has the same qualifications as their EU counterpart. It opens the door to a professional development in companies in Poland and abroad.

European Federation of Schools

THE TOP
Private Foreign Language Teacher
Training College
and FEDE OFFICES:

Gen. Wl. Sikorskiego 4
43-300 Bielsko-Biala
tel/fax +48 33 8165169/70
Poland

Karmelicka 3
31-133 Kraków
tel/fax +48 12 4324340/41
Poland

e-mail: college@college.pl; http://www.college.pl
e-mail: fede@fede.pl; http://www.fede.pl