Advanced Diploma Of Alexander Technique Teaching

Training Course Prospectus 2012

National Course Code 21918VIC
CRICOS Course Code 068673G
Provider Code for provision of training to overseas students is 02438J - Einstein's Moon Pty Ltd
Registered Training Organisation number 21278
Austudy Approved - Centrelink Institution Reference Number 3P330

The course is accredited by the Australian Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (AUSTAT) and the qualification is recognised internationally by all other national affiliated societies.

The course is the only Australian Alexander training course with government accreditation, with additional accreditation for provision of training for overseas students, who can apply for a three-year student visa to attend the course.

The School is a member of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) and is a member of its Tuition Assurance Scheme for overseas students which protects all fees paid in advance. The school does not take fees from local students in advance.

As one of the largest Alexander Technique training course in the world the school is able to provide trainees with an active visiting teacher program, having top overseas and Australian visiting teachers, whilst the regular teachers here offer a focused application of the basic principles of the Alexander technique. And as an active teaching centre we are able to provide final year trainees with plenty of experience in our student clinic.

Course Aims

Class times

The school runs 36 weeks a year, normally following a nine week term which is as closely aligned to the state school terms as possible. Click here for dates.

The first full time three year component of the course runs for a minimum of 1600 hours. All trainees will attend four classes a week: Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 1pm and Thursday either from 9am to 1pm or 5 to 9pm. Overseas students will also attend school on Fridays from 9am to 1pm and local students also have the option of attending this class. On Mondays and Tuesdays in the second half of the third year class works at the end of school in our supervised student clinic. This program may be altered with sufficient notice when we run full day workshops with visiting teachers. These normally run from 10am to 5pm.

There is also an annual residential course, normally in the first term of the year. Tuition for this is included in the school fees, but trainees will have additional expenses for food and accommodation (normally around $300).

Trainees on student visas will also be required to attend an extra four hours of classes a week. These will normally be on Friday mornings, but from time to time other classes will be available. At times this Friday class will be replaced by day or weekend workshops with visiting teachers. This will allow them to cover sections of the course which local trainees will cover in the fourth, part-time year.

In the fourth year trainees have a range of possibilities to complete the course. Trainees also have the possibility of continuing full time for this final year.

Daily Content of Classes

Each day trainees get a turn with a teacher - that is a individual lesson lasting from 15 to 20 minutes. And apart from the anatomy day we break up into small group classes. These small group classes focus on the development of the individual trainee's use, observation and diagnos tic skills, and verbal and manual teaching skills.  In addition to this each day has a particular focus as follows:

Wednesday: is a day focused around structured movement. At present the day includes a class looking at the application of the Alexander Technique to yoga, as well as a group looking at developing personal and teaching skills.. There will also be some classes for teachers and final year trainees on aspects of running an Alexander Practice, communication skills and research and writing skills spread out over the year.

Monday: is our book day. On this day we have a 40 minute session. This is structured in different ways, but most weeks will involve trainees bringing one short written answer from the choice of a range of written questions given and discussing the reading in small groups. Once a term a short and one longer written assignment are to be completed.

Tuesday: Most Tuesdays we have a short anatomy class. We also frequently invite specialist teachers to run this class

Thursday: is our voice and performance day. This is a day on which outside participants can attend, giving final year trainees lots of experience working with a range of different people, both in individual work and working in groups with activities. Most of these days include breaking up into small performance groups.

Friday: this is a day which overseas students will attend and also other trainees by arrangement who need to make up time or wish to complete the full Advanced Diploma in three years. A wide range of activities and subjects are covered on this day. Attending this fifth day a week will allow trainees on student visas to complete the Advanced Diploma within three years.

Other sessions

• For third year trainees we have a supervised student clinic. In 2012 there will be two one hour clinic in term one and three from terms two to four
  
• During the course we focus on the underlying skills of teaching groups, and run a formal sessions on group teaching in the fourth year (or the third year for those on overseas student visas who are attending extra hours compared to the local students)
  
• Counselling and communication classes
• Professional writing an research skills
  
• Occupational health and safety - this unit is offered over one session once every three years
  
• Professional ethics
• Business skills for running an Alexander technique practice (this will be covered with overseas trainees within the three years they are here, but local trainees will complete this segment in their fourth part-time year in the process of setting up their own practice.)

Diploma of Yoga And Alexander Technique Teaching

Trainees also have the option of undertaking this non-government accredited diploma