Introduction

The Cambridge ESOL CELTA certificate is recognised worldwide as an excellent initial qualification for teaching English.  It assumes no previous teaching experience and is the minimum qualification needed for entry to the profession.  It is open to all native English speakers; candidates are expected to have a degree, but A Level English or equivalent may also be acceptable.  A good standard of written and spoken English is required.  Non-native speakers holding the Cambridge Proficiency Examination in English (CPE), IELTS 7.0 or equivalent are also eligible to apply.  The programme is open to all applicants aged 18+ at the start of the course.

Course Overview

The course presents a view of the principles underlying language teaching, and deals extensively with the analysis of English from the learners' perspective. Presentation of new language, activities to develop language skills, planning and effective use of resources, syllabus design and timetabling are all covered.

The course is divided into two closely interconnected parts. Input sessions covering language teaching methodology and language analysis are followed by daily Teaching Practice sessions, with feedback from course tutors and other trainee teachers. The course syllabus is designed to enable candidates to:

• Develop an awareness of language and knowledge of the systems of English so that these can be applied in the Teaching Practice
• Develop an understanding of the contexts in which adults learn English, their motivation for doing so, and the respective roles of the teacher and the learner
• Develop familiarity with the principles and practice of effective teaching to adult learners of English
• Develop a range of skills for teaching adults in the classroom
• Develop familiarity with appropriate resources and materials for use with adult learners for teaching, testing, and for reference
• Identify opportunities for theri own future development as professionals in the field

 

You can download the full Cambridge ESOL CELTA syllabus here.

Timetable

The CELTA course is very intensive in nature and outside the timetabled 120 hours candidates will also need to dedicate a further 100-120 hours in the evenings and at weekends in order to complete the required reading, research, written assignments and, especially, lesson preparation.

Study Formats

Full-time

The course consists of 4 weeks of intensive study, Monday - Friday, 9.30am - 5.00 pm, for those who wish to gain their teaching qualification within a short period of time.  On occasions courses may run from 10.30am - 6.00pm - you will be informed of the start time for your chosen course at the interview stage.

Part-time

The course lasts for 12 weeks and meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6.15 - 9.30pm, and on six Saturdays (10.00am - 4.30pm).  This course is intended for those who prefer an extended period of study or who wish to continue earning while they follow a course.
For both course formats additional study and lesson planning will be required at home.

Course Content & Structure (Full-time Course)

Morning sessions - input, covering topics related to teaching methodology, language analysis, lesson planning

• English grammatical structures and their functions
• Modern teaching methods
• Teaching of pronunciation (phonology)
• The teaching of lexis (vocabulary)
• Error analysis and correction
• Classroom resources and textbooks
• A brief study of a foreign language

Afternoon sessions - practical teaching

• Teaching practice in small groups on classes of volunteer foreign students
• Feedback on teaching practice with tutor & colleagues
• Supervised preparation of lessons
• Observation of experienced teachers

The Part-Time Course content is the same but the structure is adapted to fit the different timetable.

Assessment

There are 4 written assignments and 6 hours of assessed Teaching Practice

Lessons from the Classroom Assignment

A collation of what has been learned from teaching practice and observations

Skills Assignment

A focus on the receptive skills of reading and listening and the productive skills of speaking and writing

Focus on the Learner Assignment

A more detailed evaluation of one students language abilities

Language Related Tasks Assignment

An analysis of language for teaching purposes

Teaching Practice

Six hours of assessed teaching practice - you will teach foreign learners and receive feedback from the course tutors. Assessment is continuous and regular feedback on progress will be given during the course.

Employment after the Course

We recruit over 200 teacher each year to fill posts in our London school and overseas locations. Posts are available throughout the year and Language Link gives priority placement to teachers who have trained with us. We have schools in China, Vietnam, Russia and Uzbekistan, plus contacts with various other institutions around the world. For more information on employment opportunities, click here.

Blended CELTA

 * Good Friday finish
** Tuesday start, Saturday finish

Entry Requirements

• University degree or qualification permitting entry to Higher Education (e.g. A Levels, International Baccalauréat)
• A good standard of written and spoken English which enable the candidate to undertake the course and prepare for teaching a range of levels (CPE or IELTS 7.0 or equivalent for non-native speakers)
• Demonstration of the potential to develop the necessary skills to become an effective teacher and to complete successfully the written assignments and the assessment of practice teaching
• Age 18+ at the start of the course
• No previous teaching experience is required
• Due to the demanding, intensive nature of the course, applicants should be in general good health

Application Procedure

Please click on Enrol to apply for your course. We will then invite you for an interview.

Entry to the Language Link CELTA course is not automatic or guaranteed. Applicants will be accepted onto the course only upon successful completion of a Language Aptitude Test and a Screening Interview.

The Language Aptitude Test is designed to assess an applicant's ability to analyse and research systems and functions of written and spoken English. One or more written exercises assess an applicant's awareness of teaching and learning issues.

The Screening Interview (approximately 45 minutes) will further assess a candidate's overall suitability for the CELTA course. In certain circumstances this may be carried out by telephone. The cost of the call is normally the responsibility of the applicant.

1. Fill out the On-line Application Form

2. We will then contact you to invite you for a Screening Interview with our Course Director (a telephone interview may be possible if you live at some distance from London)

3. The Language Aptitude Test has to be completed before the Interview (we will email the Language Aptitude Test to applicants who are unable to attend the interview in person)

Blended CELTA

Study formats

Full time (face-to-face)

Part time (face-to-face)

Blended (face-to-face teaching practice + online coursework)

The Blended CELTA is a 13 week course blending the flexibility of online study with the face-to-face interaction of real classroom experience. You will meet and get to know your tutors and other trainees on Wednesday evening of the first week. Thereafter coursework is delivered through an interactive e-environment involving online tasks, forums and discussions. The assessed teaching practice will take place at our west London school every Wednesday evening throughout the course and additionally on Monday evenings in the second half of the course.

You will need a standard computer with broadband internet connection and a headset with integrated microphone.

For all course formats additional study and lesson planning will be required at home

Contact Us & Location

Language Link - Teacher Training

Active Learning House
4A King Street
London W6 0QA

T: 00+44+ 020+85632273
F: +44 (0)20 7370 1123
E: teachertraining@languagelink.co.uk