Cambridge CELTA Course
Cambridge CELTA Course
What does the CELTA Course offer?
The Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) is recognised by the British Council and by a large number of employers and governments worldwide. As a teacher trained by St Giles you will acquire your new skills with one of the industry's most respected and longest established English language schools.
Maybe you are re-thinking your future because of recent world events. Successful completion of a CELTA course will enable you to begin a new professional career after just 4 weeks. Our CELTA trainees are from all different walks of life. Your opportunities are unlimited and we are committed to helping you on your way.
The CELTA Programme
Entry Requirements
No previous teaching experience or knowledge is needed but candidates should have a university degree or a standard of education equivalent to that which is required for entry to university.
Non-first language speakers of English are very welcome provided they have a high level of competence in English: at least C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and preferably C2. Good language awareness is essential.
Our CELTA trainees are of all ages and walks of life but candidates must be at least 18 years old.
When you apply you will be sent a pre-interview task which will test your awareness of the English language. You will also be asked some questions on the process of teaching and learning. Candidates who complete this task to an appropriate standard will be invited to an interview (face-to-face or online). During the interview a St Giles teacher trainer will assess your suitability for the course and you will be asked to complete an additional short written task.
Course Objectives
The CELTA course is a structured and practical introduction to teaching: it will equip you with the professional knowledge, practical skills and confidence you need to start your teaching career. The course will show prospective employers that you:
- understand the principles of effective teaching, how people learn and the roles of teacher and learner
- understand how to analyse language for the purpose of teaching
- have demonstrated the ability to put your new knowledge and skills into practice in a real-life teaching context
On successful completion of the course, you can immediately seek work as a teacher in a wide range of countries across the world, including in the UK and the US.
Course Structure
The CELTA course consists of a minimum of 120 hours of attendance and additional hours of self-study. You will observe qualified teachers at St Giles, you will have teaching practice with groups of students every day from day 2 of the course (on which you will receive feedback from your tutors) and you will complete four written assignments.
The CELTA course has five units of study:
- Unit 1- Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
- Unit 2- Language analysis and awareness
- Unit 3- Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
- Unit 4- Planning and resources for different contexts
- Unit 5- Developing teaching skills and professionalism
Assessment
The CELTA course has two components of assessment:
Component One – Teaching Practice
You will be expected to teach for a total of six hours, working with classes at two different levels of ability. Assessment is continuous and is based on your overall performance during the six hours.
Component Two - Written Assignments
You will be asked to complete four written assignments; one focusing on adult learning, one on the language system of English, one on language skills and one on classroom teaching.
The certificate is awarded to candidates who meet the course requirements and whose performance meets or exceeds the criteria for both components of assessment: your progress will be monitored by your tutors throughout the course. Successful completion is graded as: Pass, Pass ‘B’, Pass ‘A’.
