THE CELTA CERTIFICATE
The Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language
Teaching to Adults) is by far the most widely recognized international teaching
qualification for teachers of English. It was formerly known as the "CTEFLA"
and as the "RSA Certificate." The 1998 edition of the "ELT Guide" emphasizes
that the CELTA is "the most widely recognized and respected basic TEFL qualification
internationally."
One reason why employers prefer the CELTA over other
TEFL certificates is that they know that all CELTA courses are carefully
monitored. Every CELTA center undergoes a rigorous annual inspection by
Cambridge University. In addition, one full day of every CELTA course is
inspected by a Cambridge assessor.
CELTA COURSES
Our Cambridge RSA CELTA courses, which are taught by
highly qualified trainers, are extremely practical in approach. The primary
aim of the courses is to provide initial training in TEFL. However, the
courses are also very suitable for people who have previous teaching experience
but do not have formal TEFL training or qualifications.
The aims of our CELTA program are to help teachers
to:
- improve their knowledge of American English grammar,
vocabulary and pronunciation
- build a good foundation of classroom management
skills
- acquire and practice a range of effective teaching
techniques
- become familiar with a range of current EFL books
and other teaching materials
- develop a self-critical approach to their own teaching
- evolve an effective and personal teaching-style
- obtain appropriate employment as EFL teachers overseas.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Acceptance into the program is not automatic. Applicants
are accepted on the basis of their performance in a language evaluation task
and an interview. Our basic requirements are as follows:
- Candidates are normally required to have a BA/BS
degree. (This requirement may sometimes be waived.)
- All candidates are required to have some previous
experience of formal or informal study of a foreign language
- Previous teaching experience is not required
- Candidates must be at least 20 years old by the
start of their CELTA course.
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COURSE ORGANIZATION
Our course presents a communicative approach to the teaching of classes
of adult students overseas. Although it has a sound theoretical basis, the
course is extremely practical, and it blends proven classroom techniques
with modern developments in language learning theory.
The course elements include: seminars and workshops; written assignments;
lesson observation; supervised and evaluated practice teaching with classes
of foreign students; discussion and critiquing of practice lessons.
COURSE CONTENT
The CELTA course has two main components: seminars/workshops on methodology
and language awareness in the mornings, and hands-on practice teaching in
the afternoons. The methodology is based on a communicative approach which
involves students actively learning and then practicing English with support
and feedback from the teacher. The afternoon teaching practice sessions
are followed by trainer-led feedback each participant's practice lessons.
The trainers provide support and guidance throughout, while encouraging
course participants to develop independence. The students in the practice
classes are very highly motivated and come from many different countries
and language backgrounds.
During the CELTA course, participants learn to:
- Analyze American English grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation for teaching
purposes
- Develop a good foundation of classroom management skills
- Use a range of effective teaching techniques for the presentation and
practice of new language
- Use a range of current ESL materials and resources
- Plan individual lessons and timetable a series of lessons
- Evaluate the effectiveness of their own lessons and develop their professional
skills and awareness
- Conduct a job search and obtain appropriate employment as teachers of
English to speakers of other languages
COURSE SCHEDULE
Each course is at least 109 class hours. Homework on weekends and evenings
adds a further 70 hours. Each participant also undertakes 35 hours of self-study
before the course, using our unique Pre-Course Assignment.
Our courses last four weeks, and require attendance Monday through Friday.
One day during each course is normally set aside for self-study.
DAILY SCHEDULE
A typical day's schedule:
9:30 - 11:45 Methodology seminars
12:00 - 12:50 Language analysis workshop
2:00 - 4:15 Supervised teaching practice
4:15 - 5:00 Evaluation and discussion
of teaching practice
5:00 - 5:30 Guided preparation of practice
lessons
8:00 - 10:30 Home preparation of practice lessons.
You will also need to set aside about 8 hours each weekend for the completion
of lesson plans and other written assignments.
PRE-COURSE ASSIGNMENT
To help you realize your full potential during training, we provide a unique
self-study Pre-Course Assignment for you to complete at your own pace before
you start your intensive CELTA course. The main aim of this Assignment is
to strengthen your formal knowledge of American English grammar, vocabulary
and pronunciation.
GRADUATE CREDIT
If you want to receive a graduate credit recommendation of 6 semester hours,
you will need to complete one additional written assignment. This can be
completed before or after your intensive course.
GRADING AND CERTIFICATION
Each successful participant receives the Cambridge CELTA with one of the
following grades: Pass, Pass B, and Pass A. Worldwide, over 90% of
candidates receive the Certificate, with 75% being awarded the basic Pass
grade. (This grade is recognized by employers as showing a good level of
ability and potential.)
WHO IS THE CELTA SUITABLE FOR?
The program is primarily designed for people who want to teach English to adults overseas and who have no teaching experience. However, it is also suitable for people who have previously taught English or other subjects but have not had formal training in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Importantly, although the program is accredited by Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, the CELTA is an international certificate rather than a British one. So our course in San Francisco is designed to prepare American teachers to teach American English. Graduates of our program are not only working in over thirty countries worldwide but some they are also using their CELTA qualification to work within the United States in language schools and other ESL adult education programs.
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WHAT YOU WILL TAKE AWAY
Graduates of most TEFL training programs take away from the course only
their own notes and lesson plans, and a number of worksheets provided by
their trainers. If you follow a course with us, you leave with a useful
set of printed materials, all produced specially for the St. Giles / English
International CELTA program. The material, which is regularly updated, is
well-organized so as to be easily accessible both during and after your
course.
PRE-COURSE ASSIGNMENT
This 90-page booklet of guided self-study tasks is designed mainly to develop
your language awareness. Extra pages are given out during the course, so
that the booklet eventually forms a useful language reference book.
COURSE MANUAL
On arrival at St. Giles you receive our 130-page manual, covering TEFL methodology.
It includes explanations, sample lesson plans, lesson preparation checklists,
and practice tasks, as well as a glossary of ninety TEFL/TESL terms. Additional
pages are given to you during the course.
MANUAL SUPPLEMENT
You receive a 40-page supplement to help you when you start teaching. This
focuses on areas such as: beating culture shock, adjusting your teaching
to different contexts, teaching 1-on-1, etc. The supplement contains
actual materials for you to photocopy and use, including: lesson plans and
worksheets for your first classes; tests and needs analysis forms
which will enable you to assess your students' English levels and specific
needs.
POST-COURSE DEVELOPMENT PACK
This unique pack includes practical classroom research tasks to help you
to evaluate and improve your teaching after you have completed your training
course.
PRACTICE TEACHING CRITIQUES
During the course, you will plan and teach a range of different lessons.
As well as providing oral feedback, your trainers will give you detailed
written critiques of your plans and lessons.
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'The manual was so helpful ... The pre-course assignment
was wonderful and thank you for the post-course materials' (Ashley
Smith, January 2001)
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[Contact with Graduates]
OUR FACULTY
Our trainers are all highly qualified teachers who have an MA TESOL or
the Cambridge Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults and who have
taught extensively overseas. Each trainer undergoes a rigorous training
up procedure and is approved by Cambridge University. Each course is taught
by at least two full-time trainers with an average ratio of one trainer
per five program participants. Some course sessions are also led by one
or more of our other trainers and the Director of Teacher Training.
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GABRIELLA MEGYESI, TEACHER TRAINER
BA History and Geography
Cambridge DELTA
Cambridge CELTA
Gabi has been teaching English to speakers of other languages since 1998. She has worked in Hungary, the United Kingdom and the United States, her experience includes general English, Business English and examination preparation classes. She was involved in setting up and running new ESL courses for immigrant students in the UK. She has trained teachers on intensive and part-time Cambridge courses for four years.
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MAUREEN THOMAS, TEACHER TRAINER
MA TESOL
BA French and Journalism
Cambridge CELTA
Maureen has been teaching since 1998 and has worked in Budapest, Hungary and the United States. Her experience includes general and business English, as well as Cambridge and TOEFL exam preparation courses. She is also an approved oral examiner for the Cambridge English examinations board (FCE, CAE, CPE). She was also a Teaching Assistant in an ESL literature class at San Francisco State University and in a general English course at City College San Francisco for one semester.
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PETER VAHLE, TEACHER TRAINER
BA French and Sociology
Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Trinity Diploma in TESOL
Peter has recently relocated to San Francisco after having lived in Spain for 12 years. He started teaching English in 1992 and has been training new English teachers since 1998. He has taught and directed a variety of TEFL certification courses in Spain, France, the Czech Republic and the United States. In 2005, he began teaching the TEFL Diploma as well. Peter’s areas of interest include Listening Skills development, Second Language Acquisition and creating instructional teaching videos. He recently shot and produced a series of videos on one to one teaching featuring Mark Powell.
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CONTACT WITH RECENT GRADUATES
Please feel free to contact these recent graduates of our CELTA program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should be 20 years of age or over, have completed at least two
years of a degree course and have some experience of foreign language study.
(Fluency in a foreign language is not required.) Whether native or non-native
speakers of English, they should demonstrate fluency and accuracy in both
spoken and written English. Acceptance is determined largely by the results
of the applicants' pre-interview language task and the interview. If you
live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, this interview may be conducted
by phone.
'The admissions process (including the requirement for an interview)
immediately gave me a sense that this is truly a quality program;
one that has standards' (Tom Brown, 2001)
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