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CELTA

Understanding CELTA: Assessment Criteria

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Are you considering the CELTA program or recently been accepted into one of ILSC’s diverse CELTA courses? If you are, then the world of English language teaching will soon be open to you. That’s great news! But before the adventure can really start, the CELTA course itself needs to be conquered.

Here’s what new and prospective CELTA candidates need to know about the expectations and assessment criteria for the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Cambridge.

What Candidates Learn: Topic Descriptions

During the course, candidates will learn and implement teaching skills across five topics. The topics are assessed through teaching practice and weekly written assignments.

Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
- Cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds of learners.
- Motivations for learning English as an adult.
- Learning and teaching preferences.
- Contexts for learning and teaching English.
- Varieties of English
- Multilingualism and the role of first languages.
Language analysis and awareness
- Basic concepts and terminology used in ELT.
- Grammatical frameworks.
- Lexis.
- Phonology & Features of connected speech.
- The significance of similarities and differences between languages.
- Overview of reference material for language awareness.
- Strategies and approaches for developing learners’ language knowledge.
Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
- Basic concepts, purposes of, decoding of, and potential barriers to Reading and Listening.
- Basic concepts, features, functions, paralinguistic features, and phonemic systems of Speaking.
- Basic concepts, sub-skills, teaching stages, adult literacy issues, spelling and punctuation patterns in Writing.
- Teaching strategies and approaches to receptive and productive skills.
Planning and resources for different teaching contexts
- Principles of planning for effective teaching.
- Lesson planning and effective teaching.
- Self-evaluation of lesson planning.
- Selection, adaptation and evaluation of materials and resources.
- Knowledge of commercial resources, non-published materials and classroom resources.
Developing teaching skills and professionalism
- Effective organization of the classroom.
- Classroom presence and control.
- Teacher and learner language.
- Using teaching materials and resources.
- Practical skills for teaching different levels.
- Monitoring and evaluating learning.
- Evaluation of the teaching/learning process.
- Professional development: Responsibilities and Support Systems.

Two Types of Assessment

In order to successfully complete the CELTA program, candidates are required to meet three assessment requirements: Complete six hours of teaching practice, observe six hours of teaching by experienced teachers and submit a portfolio of all coursework (including written assignments and lesson plans).

The assessment is divided into two types and is continuous and integrated, meaning it’s carried out throughout the course and both components contribute to the final grade. The assessment components are divided broadly between Practice and Theory:

Planning and Teaching

Plan and teach classes of students at the appropriate level and classroom size for a total of six hours.

Written Assignments

The needs of adult learners and learning contexts
Analyzing a feature of the English language for the purpose of teaching.
Teaching specific language skills.
A personal reflection on classroom teaching.

Certificate Grades

Success in a CELTA program is determined on a Pass/Fail basis but certificates are awarded on a graded scale. The grades of Pass, Pass B and Pass A represent a candidate’s performance as satisfactory, good or excellent.

If written work is not completed, completed dishonestly, or if a candidate’s performance does not match all the Pass criteria, they may not receive a certificate.

While it is possible to fail, course tutors work closely with candidates to ensure they satisfactorily achieve the requirements of the CELTA course. After all, the course tutors want to see candidates succeed and the world of ESL teaching is accessible to anyone willing to take a chance and work hard.

The Cambridge CELTA invites you to challenge yourself and explore the world — what are you waiting for?

Does teaching English to adult learners sound like an adventure you can see yourself taking? ILSC offers the Cambridge CELTA as an intensive 4-week program and a flexible online format.

CELTA: A format that fits

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The only thing better than a highly-regarded language training certificate with industry-wide recognition is the flexibility to get it your way. That’s why ILSC’s CELTA program is offered in a variety of formats, allowing you to get certified quickly, flexible, or even (mostly) in the comfort of your home.

One CELTA certificate, Three Formats

People seeking CELTA certification do so for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s a career change and other times it’s a passport to the world, but with a variety of reasons there comes a variety of circumstances. Whatever the circumstances, there’s likely a CELTA program to get you up and running in the TESOL world.

ILSC offers the CELTA teaching certificate in three formats:

Full-time intensive on-campus (in Montreal)
Part-time on-campus (in Toronto)
Online (flexible schedule) (from home, with an onsite practicum in Montreal, San Francisco, or New Delhi)

Each is a little different and tailored to your needs. Here are the details:

CELTA full-time

The full-time intensive format of the CELTA course available in Montreal provides everything you need to start teaching English in only four weeks. The 140-hour course is practical and complete – time is split between input sessions with trainers, classroom observations, and teaching practicum.

Because of the intensive nature of the full-time format, the Full-time program is a good fit if you’re able to take time off work and give dedicated focus to the program. In addition to in-class work, you will also have assignments to complete over weekends and will want to devote time to planning lessons during evenings.

While the full-time intensive CELTA course may be daunting, the short time commitment means you can get into the job market quickly once you graduate. You will also receive information about the best practices for finding work locally and abroad in your final week.

Part-Time CELTA

If you want to study in Toronto, and have other obligations, and it’s not urgent to complete the course right away, you’ll appreciate the more relaxed pace of the 11-week part-time CELTA course. The part-time course offers you the same one to six trainer-trainee ratios, teaching practicum, and employment assistance as the intensive program but with added flexibility.

The part-time CELTA course holds classes in the evening twice a week and Saturdays during the day, allowing you the freedom to work while you earn your certification.

CELTA Online

If you want maximum freedom and flexibility getting your English teaching certification, the online CELTA course is the one for you! The online CELTA course runs over 22-weeks, with ongoing deadlines for assignments and collaborative activities that allow you to connect with other trainees. The course format allows trainees to work when it’s most convenient for you and provides a guiding structure to track progress.

One of the CELTA program’s strengths is how it gets you in front of real, multi-lingual students for teaching practice, and the online course includes this component. All assignments and units are completed online but you will are also be required to attend on-campus teaching practice in Montreal or San Francisco to complete your certification.

Does teaching English to adult learners sound like an adventure you can see yourself taking? ILSC offers the Cambridge CELTA as an intensive 4-week program and a flexible online format.

CELTA for Recent Graduates

Life after university doesn’t have a syllabus. It also doesn’t have a grading rubric to let you know when you’re nailing this thing called life, and while life post-graduation can be scary, it’s full of a wonderful resource: possibility.

A world of possibilities

Traveling the world after university is a popular trope but is often more complicated than it appears. Do you have the savings to galavant around the globe (even on the cheap) or the language skills to put your major to work for you in South Korea or Germany? The good news is you don’t need to, not with CELTA.

CELTA is the University of Cambridge’s highly respected Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults and is the most recognized teaching certificate internationally. With CELTA, the whole world opens up with opportunities from Sao Paulo to Shanghai and everywhere in between.

The CELTA Course

Whether or not you’ve already picked out a destination for your English-teaching adventure, it won’t take long before you’re ready to leave for foreign shores.

CELTA is offered in a variety of formats and covers five essential language teaching and learning topics. Theory-based input sessions with experienced teacher trainers are combined with practical teaching practice—with real students—to ensure you know what you’re doing and how to do it. There’s no preparation for teaching quite like teaching under the watchful eye of practiced instructors.

The intensive nature of the course ensures that your knowledge of how to teach English will soon catch up to your knowledge of where you want to teach.

More than a way to travel

The time you spend teaching overseas with your CELTA isn’t just a means to exploring the world; it can also be an investment in your future.

Working overseas confers a variety of ‘soft skills’ that are increasingly sought after in workplaces back home and abroad. Experience in cross-cultural communication, resourcefulness, and creativity are just some of the skills you’re likely to walk away with. The ability to navigate a variety of administrative and professional bureaucracies overseas is experience not easily ignored by future employers.

Whether your goals are long-term or short-term, putting a CELTA certificate to work teaching abroad can pay off—and pay down student loans, too.

What are you waiting for?

English language teaching remains an evergreen employment opportunity throughout the world, and not always where it’s most expected. China and South Korea draw many teachers, but the best jobs go to the most qualified candidates and a CELTA certificate can help get your name to the top of the pile. Of course there’s also Taiwan, Japan and the growing southeast asian markets of Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines for those looking for a different experience.

Don’t forget about teaching in the Middle-East, South America, and Europe. There’s potential the world over and plenty of options in English-speaking countries as well. More people from more places are seeking language training in the countries they want to live and work in.

Whether it takes you abroad on an international adventure or helps you provide new arrivals with their language skills, teaching English with a CELTA certificate offers global perspective, valuable skills, and experiences you’ll never forget.

Does teaching English to adult learners sound like an adventure you can see yourself taking? ILSC offers the Cambridge CELTA as an intensive 4-week program, a part-time 11-week program, and a flexible online format.

Top Tips from CELTA Trainers

For many, the CELTA program is a new and exciting experience. There’s a lot to learn though, so it’s normal to feel nervous too. Before getting up in front of your first students it’s good to benefit from the advice of those who have been there before. We’ve asked our best CELTA trainers to offer new trainees the tips and tricks needed to have a successful CELTA experience.

Input Sessions

During the CELTA, trainees are both students and teachers. Here’s how to stay on top of the input sessions.

• Review your notes from inputs regularly (evenings/weekends)
• Invest in stationery to help you organize notes (post-its/dividers/etc.)
• Ask lots of questions: whether that’s during group discussions or directly to the course tutor.

Teaching Practice

Standing in front of students can be exhilarating (or terrifying); here’s how to stay focused.

• Keep the weekly criteria in mind – don’t aim for perfection.
• Spend time on the self-evaluation – it can make or break a lesson.
• Come prepared! Look over your guidelines the night before so as to hit the ground running during lesson planning time.

Assignments / Homework

The work doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom; here’s what you need to know to succeed.

• Read and follow the rubric exactly – it’s all there!
• Confirm and clarify with peers and tutors well in advance.
• Proofread!

Time Management

Learning, teaching, homework—CELTA is a lot of work! Here’s how to stay organized.

• Plan for the intensity of the course, i.e. let friends/family know that you’re not available for a few weeks.
• Don’t put things off – plan a lesson over two nights rather than leaving it all until the last minute.
• Have a copy of the course timetable in an easily accessible place.

That’s it!

All that’s left is to take this advice to heart, get started, and to start teaching with CELTA.

Ready, Set, Teach: Lesson Planning Tips

With a completed CELTA program behind you, you’re ready to teach—you did it! Whether the path to a CELTA certificate was intensive or pursued part-time, there are lessons to be planned and language to be taught.

Take advantage of these classroom-tested tips from ILSC’s team of CELTA trainers and go teach some English!

MFP Prep & Target Language

First things first. If a lesson is going to teach students something new, you’ll need a good grasp of the lesson’s target language.

Get a good grammar book.
Being a native-level speaker isn’t magic; go over the finer points of the target language.
Anticipate potential problems.
Try to think from the students’ point of view and plan appropriate concept-checking questions.
Research more than you think is necessary.
The students will inevitably come up with surprising questions.

Organization

Teaching ESL can be a whirlwind, especially overseas. So it’s important to see planning as an investment; a clear, well-planned lesson is a lesson you won’t have to plan again in the future. Stay organized and make your hard work for you.

Make your plan accessible.
Lay out handouts in order, keep board plans next to the board, etc.
Check your tech before the lesson.
If the lesson depends on audio or video content, make sure it’s ready to deliver.
Save all your materials and plans.
Label them clearly and store them in binders or digitally (Evernote, Google Keep, etc.) for recycling and reuse.

Staying Student-centred

Students’ needs are at the centre of the CELTA teaching philosophy for a reason. Students learn better when they can engage with lesson content that connects to their lives while challenging their abilities. Your particular students should be top of mind in your lesson planning.

Limit teacher talk-time.
Get the students talking instead, and avoid as much reference to open class as possible.
Solicit ideas/topics from students during the first class.
This provides a bank of engaging themes the students are sure to appreciate throughout the course.
Support pair and group work.
This allows students to practice the target language more and careful monitoring will help you identify problems to address during error-correction.

What’s next?

These lessons won’t plan themselves, but with skills from the CELTA program and these practical tips they’re sure to be a hit with students. Get planning and have a great class!

Vancouver Meets CELTA

The University of Cambridge’s highly respected and recognized Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults has arrived at Greystone College in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. Whether a layover en route to the world or the destination itself, Vancouver is the perfect place to start a new adventure with CELTA.

Opportunity with a view

Greystone College’s Vancouver campus is equipped to give students a modern and stimulating learning experience both in and out of the classroom. The campus is located in the heart of the city, minutes from the waterfront, and never far from a stunning view.

The Vancouver campus offers not only quality teaching training with CELTA but also ample opportunity for graduates. Vancouver is a popular international destination and has more ESL schools than anywhere else in Canada, making it a great place for language learners and teachers alike.

CELTA at Greystone College

The CELTA program at Greystone College is offered in a flexible part-time format over 11 weeks. The 140-hour course is practical and complete, with trainees’ time split between input sessions with trainers, classroom observations, and teaching practicum with real students.

Similar to other program formats, the part-time course offers the same one to six trainer-trainee ratios, teaching practicum, and employment assistance found in full-time programs.

Flexibility is important for students and those making a career change, so classes are held in the evening twice a week and Saturdays during the day, allowing trainees the freedom to work as they earn their certification.

What are you waiting for?

CELTA prepares future teachers for the TESL world with valuable hands-on instruction and ensures graduates are ready to help diverse language-learners in any context. With its spectacular mountains and stunning beaches, Vancouver is the perfect place to study and explore, and after graduation, Greystone College is there to help with finding a job locally or abroad.

Teaching with CELTA as a Non-Native Speaker

So you want to teach English as a Second Language, in your second language? That’s admirable, brave even, but is it foolish? Not at all! In fact, teaching English as a non-native speaker with the CELTA is more common than you might expect.

Language Requirements

Every CELTA applicant must complete a comprehensive language assessment as part of the CELTA application process. Candidates’ performance on the assessment is the main criteria for acceptance into the program; no one is refused for simply being a non-native speaker!

Non-native ESL teachers aren’t all that rare and can actually make up a good portion of the faculty at language schools in English-speaking countries. A likely, although anecdotal, reason for this could be that native English speakers are attracted to TESL for the opportunities to teach abroad whereas non-native English speakers usually achieve their fluency by moving to an English-speaking country.

Advantages

Finally, there is some good news. Non-native speakers possess a few advantages over native speakers.

1. Technical Grammar Knowledge

Bilingual and multi-lingual candidates consistently have a fuller knowledge of English grammar than most native speakers. This, of course, is because non-native speakers have had a more technical formal education in English, whereas native speakers focus more on language arts and literature throughout their education. Often, non-native speakers have an advantage in communication skills, too.

2. Empathy

Non-native speakers don’t have a monopoly on empathy but they can quickly identify with the struggles and frustrations of their students because they’ve been there. Although this isn’t a formal classroom management technique, knowing when to give students a break or an extra dose of encouragement can really improve a student’s experience.

3. ESL Experience – in Reverse!

This one may be obvious, but if you’ve learned English as a second language then you already have experience in an ESL environment. Non-native speakers who learned English in a classroom setting are likely to have fond memories of activities or approaches they enjoyed. Even negative experiences are helpful in knowing what to avoid or thinking about how to improve approaches to difficult language concepts.

Challenges

Just because it isn’t impossible to complete the CELTA as a non-native speaker doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. These will vary from person to person but are common among advanced non-native speakers of English.

1. Accent

Non-native speakers will have some kind of an accent when speaking English, and that’s perfectly acceptable since many native-speakers also speak with a pronounced accent. In fact, most students are learning English in order to communicate with other non-native speakers, so being exposed to a variety of non-native accents is useful for them.

2. Confidence

It’s very important that students trust your ability to instruct them in the language. Native speakers are able to quickly and confidently respond to many questions because their intuitive grasp of English has been honed over a lifetime. Non-native speakers may not feel as confident, but they can prepare for lessons to build that confidence (completing the CELTA will also help). It’s also encouraging to remember that native speakers make mistakes too—especially with technical grammar!

What are you waiting for?

Teaching English as a second language (TESL) isn’t reserved for those who happen to be born in an English-speaking country. If you have an advanced command of English the CELTA program can open up the world of TESL for you, whether you’re a recent graduate, looking for a career change, or want to liven up your retirement.

The Classroom and Beyond: CELTA Career Opportunities

The classroom is only the beginning

CELTA uniquely qualifies you to teach ESL to adults anywhere in the world but the potential of the Cambridge certification doesn’t end in the classroom. Those prone to career-based wanderlust can rest easy knowing that the opportunities after CELTA can lead down some unexpected paths.

Day-to-day: school administration

Schools wouldn’t exist without dedicated instructors and teachers, but they’re also bigger than the student-teacher relationship. Schools also need effective administrators to ensure teachers can continue teaching.

From ever-helpful receptionists to activity coordinators, school administration takes many forms but always serves to support teachers and enrich the experience of students.

After teaching at one school for a while, teachers will become familiar with how their institution functions and can look for additional opportunities in areas they have strengths or experience. These opportunities can include:

Activity Coordinator
Office manager
Registrar / Student Counsellor

Depending on the size and needs of an organization, opportunities may also include:

Testing Administrator
Homestay Coordinator
Student Internship Coordinator

ESL Services

For the less institutionally-inclined, there remains ample opportunity to contribute to the wider ESL ecosystem. Entrepreneurial teachers can market unique approaches and lessons online to build a personal brand to become a sought-after private instructor, or to land a dream job.

Well-resourced schools may offer opportunities for teachers to develop curriculum based on their passions and interests on a part-time basis. Here at ILSC, we have CELTA graduates who have designed some amazing courses: English through yoga, English through film noir, English through cooking—the possibilities are endless!

Larger schools and education networks are also likely to need support services like copywriting and web development and are inclined to hire candidates who are already familiar with their values and mission.

In their own words: Mona’s path

Mona Sabouri took the CELTA in (2009) and quickly earned a reputation as an effective teacher and a reliable teammate. Mona enjoyed her work but wasn’t content to just show up every day and go through the motions.

“As soon as new opportunities showed up I jumped on them. I like challenging myself and while I appreciate routine for the comfort and feeling of safety it gives me, I need a side project.”

Mona made herself integral to the school’s day-to-day by being available and taking the initiative to help out everywhere she could.

“Once [another teacher] didn’t want the textbook inventory work, I said yes. When we were asked for volunteers to get students involved in volunteer activities I tried to get them involved in activities almost every other session. I never said no.”

Mona was motivated to make the most of every opportunity.

When larger opportunities came up within the administration, Mona was there. She put her experience in teaching, organization, and student life initiatives to work in the post of Program Director at ILSC-Montreal. Now, Mona works at McGill University as a Curriculum Management Administrator, but she’s still thankful for the small steps that got her started.

“CELTA made me realize how much I love teaching. While teaching, I discovered how creative I am and how driven I am by certain things: helping others, challenging myself, bettering myself and by extension, others. I love being that person who finds the silver lining and motivating others.”

Teaching locally with CELTA

The CELTA program attracts candidates with diverse career backgrounds and even more diverse life goals. There isn’t just one good reason to take CELTA, there are many! One common motivation is the attractive prospect of having the freedom to work and see the world at the same time, but what about those hoping to stay close to family, friends, and a familiar bed? Are they out of luck? Not even close.

Teaching abroad is great, but the opportunities sometimes start a little closer to home.

No shortage of choice

The ESL industry is known for booming markets in places like East Asia and Latin America where jobs are plentiful and the barrier to entry is low. Less talked about, but no less accessible to CELTA graduates, are the variety of ESL opportunities at home in English-speaking countries. What’s more, CELTA programs are offered in a variety of flexible formats that allow you to get certified while working, studying, or at your own pace.

Private language schools cater to mixed-language learners from all over the world and can be dynamic and exciting places to work. Apart from private schools or institutions, there are also government programs for new arrivals that require teachers capable of providing lessons to adult learners of diverse backgrounds.

Staying home has its advantages

Teaching abroad is a worthy endeavor but it can also be a challenge. Not all employers are created equal, so the task of obtaining a valid visa, arranging transport and accommodations, and learning local customs may ultimately fall on you. It’s a challenge that’s worth every bit of effort, but for those happy to stay close to home, the international headaches can be avoided without giving up on teaching ESL. Whatever English-speaking country you find yourself in, the local organization of private language schools – such as TESL Canada – will be a great starting point to find a reputable employer.

If teaching locally sounds tempting, consider the story of one CELTA graduate who happily changed his travel plans.

Matthew’s story

Matthew took the intensive CELTA program at ILSC-Montreal in 2013 after returning from a year abroad. He wanted to get a certification that would allow him to travel again and also work at the same time, but he didn’t have any definite plans about where to teach.

After successfully completing the program Matthew was happy to enjoy his hometown for a time, while at the same time ILSC-Montreal was looking for a part-time teacher for evening courses. Matthew says “the whole reason I took the CELTA was so I could travel and work, but I took the job at ILSC to get some more experience and ended up teaching in Montreal for years.”

Matthew eventually moved to the full-time day program and has worked at ILSC-Montreal in various capacities for four years. Is he disappointed with the way things turned out? “I’m happy I stayed. I’ve had the chance to work with great people and to meet such awesome students without the trouble of visas and culture shock.”

But Matthew hasn’t given up on seeing the world yet. “The great thing about this job is, with all the experience at home, when I finally feel like I need a change I can hop on a plane feeling confident there’s a teaching job out there for me.”

The Path to CELTA: Part-time

When it comes to education, we know that no two students learn in the exact same way. For this very reason ILSC and Greystone College offer CELTA certification in a variety of formats. A popular option for those with busy lives is the part-time course. CELTA, or the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, is a training course that gives you both the knowledge and hands-on experience for teaching English to others. If you are looking for a happy medium between an intensive and casual training, CELTA offers a part-time course that provides the same certification and allows you to pursue a career teaching English.

Two Cities

Greystone College offers the part-time course both in Toronto and Vancouver. As multicultural cities with many language schools they are prime locations to learn and become an English teacher. The part-time CELTA course runs for 11 weeks and, like all of ILSC and Greystone College’s CELTA programs offers a one to six trainer to trainee ratio, teaching practicum and employment assistance. The part-time program covers language skills, reading, listening, speaking, writing, developing teaching skills, and professionalism, just to name a few. What`s even better is that the program is open to everyone – there is no experience required!

The Course

Every week, for 11 weeks, students will attend classes during the evening, two times a week, and a half-day on Saturday. This less-intensive structure allows you to work, relax or explore Toronto or Vancouver at the same time as you are getting certified. Throughout the course you will become familiar with the roles of teacher and learner; you will understand principles of effective teaching and will develop a wide range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners.

In addition to this, the online course is still an option if the part-time program work load seems too heavy or doesn’t work with your schedule.

What are you waiting for?

If you`re looking to expand your teaching skills, all while having the freedom to work and live in a world-class city, then the part-time CELTA course is ideal for you. Upon completion of the course you will be able to enter into the work force, obtain meaningful employment and begin your teaching career.

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