51ÊÓƵ

Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context

This topic includes:

• understanding the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of learners, and how this might affect their learning of English
• understanding different learning preferences.

Language analysis and awareness

This topic includes:

• understanding key terminology used in English language teaching, applying this terminology in planning and teaching
• demonstrating a working knowledge of English grammar, lexis and phonology.

Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing

This topic includes:

• understanding basic concepts and terminology used for describing reading, listening, speaking and writing skills, applying this to teaching
• understanding how approaches to texts may vary depending on the purpose, making practical use of this in teaching.

Planning and resources for different teaching contexts

This topic includes:

• understanding the purpose and principles of planning for effective teaching
• selecting and planning the kinds of lessons that are most appropriate for particular learners
• evaluating lesson preparation and reflecting on this for planning future lessons.

Developing teaching skills and professionalism

This topic includes:

• effectively organising the classroom, both in terms of layout and pair/group activities
• making appropriate use of a range of materials and resources
• involving learners of different ability levels, enabling them to feel a sense of progress

What is the difference between CELTA, TEFL, TESOL and EFL?

TEFL/TESOL is an umbrella term that refers to 'Teaching English as a Foreign Language' or 'Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages' and is not a qualification, but a description of the subject matter. Some organisations may offer 'TEFL' or 'EFL' qualifications but you should be careful that the qualification is accredited by a reputable external body (CELTA is accredited by the University of Cambridge ESOL). Make sure you choose a programme that includes actual teaching practice with real students – on the Cambridge CELTA you get a minimum of 6 hours’ classroom teaching observed and assessed by highly qualified trainers.

Who is CELTA for?

CELTA is suitable for those with little or no teaching experience. It is suitable for anyone who wishes to teach English as a foreign language to adults or work in ELT within the UK or overseas. A typical CELTA course will have candidates of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds. Most candidates see CELTA as the starting point of a long-term career in English language teaching. For students working on their gap year, CELTA is a passport to teaching overseas and an ideal way to travel the world whilst developing new skills.

How long is the CELTA course?

At the 51ÊÓƵ, you can do CELTA as a full-time intensive 4-week course, or as an undergraduate module taken over 24 weeks (two semesters). Course content and assessments are the same for both options.

What is the timetable?

The full-time course runs from 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday - please see the fees and dates above for more details. The timetable for the undergraduate CELTA module varies and is made available towards the end of the previous academic year. 

Is CELTA online or Face-to-Face?

Our intensive CELTA course is a face-to-face course, but trainees will be introduced to how online teaching can be different to face-to-face teaching. Assessed Teaching Practice is all completed in a face-to-face classroom situation.

Doing the CELTA face-to-face enables you to really build confidence in your ability to present to a class of learners and develop your classroom management skills. It also allows you to develop your awareness of how aspects such as body language and positioning, and movement in the classroom can enhance your teaching.

The CELTA module for undergraduates may be face-to-face or mixed-mode delivery: half face-to-face and half online.

Is the CELTA course very intensive?

The full-time CELTA is an intensive but very rewarding course of study. You should be prepared to devote five days a week (including evenings) to the course, and to spend time at the weekend on course-related work. It is advisable that you have no other commitments or distractions while studying on the full-time CELTA.

What does the CELTA course cover?

The 51ÊÓƵ CELTA course is designed for people with little or no previous teaching experience. The aim of the course is to introduce you to the principles of effective language teaching and a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners.

The course includes assessed teaching practice, observation of experienced teachers in the classroom and the completion of written assignments that focus on language learners, language awareness and teaching skills. You will receive training and support from fully qualified and experienced ELT professionals. You will also have access to library resources including professional books, publications, multimedia titles and Internet access.

Assessment on the course is continuous and integrated, taking into account teaching skills, the written assignments and professionalism, with each assessed component contributing to the overall grade. Trainees are given feedback by the tutors on their teaching and have at least two tutorials during the course at which they discuss their progress. All tutors working on the course discuss each trainee's progress before deciding on the final grade.

How many trainees are on the course?

Courses run with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 participants.

Are there any age limits?

You need to be 18 or over to start the course. We welcome applicants of any age and background. There is no upper age limit.

Can non native speakers of English complete your CELTA Programme?

Yes, they can. They would need a  C2, high C1 (A or B) level qualification plus good writing skills for the assignments. All candidates, regardless of nationality, are required to undertake an assessed interview task.

What level of English Grammar is expected prior to the course?

As a teacher of English, it is essential that you are able to provide correct models for the students. We do not expect you to know all the terminology at the start of your teaching career, but you are expected to have a strong command of the language, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Do I need teaching experience prior to the course?

No previous teaching experience is required as this is an initial qualification for those who want to go into teaching.

Do I need a degree to do the course?

No. It is recommended that you have educational qualifications that would allow entry to Higher Education, but your previous work experience will also be taken into consideration. Please note however that in some countries a degree is required in order to get a work permit. You are advised to consult individual embassies for accurate information and advice.

Do I need to have knowledge of other languages other than English?

It is not a requirement that you have any other languages. Having experience of studying another language does help you understand the needs of language students a little better, which is why we will give you a little taster of a foreign language lesson on the course.

What is the interview procedure?

We ask all candidates to complete an application form, with a writing task. Once the application has been assessed we will contact candidates for an interview.

While we prefer in-person interviews, we appreciate that this is not always possible. We can therefore conduct an interview online when required.

It is important that we accept candidates who we feel have a good chance of completing the course successfully, therefore we insist that all applicants are interviewed by one of our CELTA trainers. We will want to check that you understand what is involved on the course and that you have realistic expectations of the course outcomes. We also would need to check that your skills are adequate, so you will be asked questions to get an idea of how well you can explain the things you know about language and how you would interact with students.

What are the deadlines for registration for the course?

The registration deadline is six weeks before the course begins. This should be adequate time for you to complete the pre-course grammar and phonology task, which will give you a head start on the course. However, as the maximum number of candidates on the course is twelve, we would advise you to apply as early as you can.