Our teachers:

Teachers at Bell Switzerland bring a variety of competencies ranging from a pure academic background to a full business background or a mix of both. These backgrounds allow us to be fully in line with the client needs as we speak the same language.

All Bell teachers have a CELTA (or other language equivalent) general teaching qualification. Many have also specialized qualifications such as CELTYL (young learners) or CertTEB (business English). Before starting to work for Bell all teaching staff are asked to perform a trial lesson as a further quality check.

Teachers at Bell come from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds but are all qualified in foreign language teaching, fulfilling the criteria established by both EAQUALS and EDUQUA. The rich mix of personal and professional experience allows Bell to staff group and private courses on a very individualized basis.

Teacher Training and Development

The Bell Schools worldwide share a commitment to excellence in teacher training and development. All Bell teachers are encouraged to take advantage of a wide range of development opportunities in both the UK and Switzerland and to set long-term professional goals.

In Switzerland, we offer an in-house teacher development programme based on expressed or perceived needs of teachers. Teachers dealing with a sector of teaching for the first time (e.g. exam classes, English for Specific Purposes), receive structured support that enables them to extend both their knowledge and their skills.

Observation and Feedback

All teachers are observed at least twice a year by a member of the Senior Academic staff. There is a recorded post-lesson feedback session. The observations are an integral part of the teacher development process, and the results inform the individual or group staff training programme. In addition to being observed by a senior member of staff, teachers are encouraged to observe each other. This provides informal but invaluable support and a healthy exchange of ideas.

Academic Visits

Each year a member of Bell International senior staff visits the schools, focusing both on management and academic issues. This is also an excellent opportunity for academic staff and teachers to receive feedback and stay abreast of current developments in ELT.

Professional Development Interview

Every established and long-term contract teacher has an annual Professional Development Interview (PDI) conducted by a member of the Senior Academic Staff. There is a uniform procedure with a specifically designed standard review form for use with teachers