March, 2007

It was a long long long long day. We had 2 of my colleagues doing their TP’s. Once they were done, we had a “professional development & careers advice” lesson (very very very useful). Then we all checked our folios’ to see if we had anything missing. When we were done with everything, we all went out to Taksim and had dinner together. Our tutors had fish & chips (I guess it’s a British thing hehe). I had the most delicious hot dog in the world. It may have tasted as so, because I received my CELTA certificate with a PASS before I ordered anything!!

Can you believe it? Me and a PASS on the same piece of paper!!! Woooohooooo!

Final 5 words about the CELTA:
Constructive * Effective * Leading * Terrific * Amazing

So, you had the opinion of my colleagues. Perhaps, you’re not yet convinced. To convince youthat the course was worth it (as I claim in my entries), our tutors were kind enough to giveyou all some info. & advice about the course.

AMANDA: CELTA tutorInternational Training Institute, Istanbul

Why is the CELTA a course worth taking?

Anyone who has looked into the TEFL world will see there are hundreds of different courses to take so how can someone who is new to this field decide which course is the best? Different courses offer different things: some can be done online, some won’t break the bank, some are short….. So what should you look for?

A course….* with hands on experience - one where you actually get into the classroom and really practise how to teach* that gives an internationally recognised certificate on completion* that gives you the opportunity to see experienced teachers in action* that gives a balance of practical ideas as well as some of the theory behind teaching* during which you get constant support from your tutors* which you can give and receive feedback on a day to day basis and gets you to reflect* which gets you to think about specific areas of teaching through written assignments* which by the end of it you feel that you can actually go into a classroom and teach somethingWhich course provides all this and more? The Cambridge CELTA…..but there are three important questions you need to ask yourself before applying for this course.1. Can I work as part of a team? This is important because you plan lessons with your colleagues, give them feedback, work together on projects etc. Team work is not only necessary during the course but in your life as a teacher.2. Am I organised? There is a lot of paperwork on the course. If you don’t keep up to date with it all, the course will be difficult. Teaching also includes some paperwork - it’s not all just about being in the classroom.3. Am I open to criticism? You receive constant feedback from your colleagues and tutors. It is important that you can take this feedback on board in a mature way and respond to it in order to develop and progress. After qualifiying, getting regular feedback on your teaching is a great way to develop yourself.If you can answer YES to these three questions, then apply for the CELTA. As well as learning a myriad of things about teaching, you get to make some great friends and have lots of fun along the way.

SHARON: CELTA TraineeInternational Training Institute, Istanbul

I think the CELTA is a great start for those interested in teaching English as a foreign language. With its hands-on approach and emphasis on self-evaluation and reflection, it is challenging, empowering, stimulating and interactive. It’s all about self-discovery and entering the endless, but wonderful cycle of learning and teaching. Doing the CELTA helps give you more confidence to go into a classroom . You’ll develop a greater awareness of the needs of the students and an understanding of the rationale behind classroom activities. You’ll also make some great new friends!

LIZ CELTA Tutor-in-trainingInternational Training Institute, Istanbul

I trained to be an English language teacher 14 years ago, and very quickly after the first couple of teaching practice sessions, I realised I loved it. It was a career change for me, and totally the right one. 14 years on and I still love it & I get a buzz out of seeing other people get the same enjoyment.CELTA is not for the faint-hearted. Whether you are on a full-time or a part-time course, it is intensive. You have deadlines to meet, research and assignments to do and input sessions to attend (& you really can’t afford to miss any). Perhaps the most demanding part is the teaching practice. In these sessions, you are in front of real students who are actually learning English and can put you on the spot by asking you difficult language questions - or by just not understanding what you have asked them to do. Added to this you are being observed by your tutors and peers - all of whom are frantically scribbling notes in order to give you feedback. However, there is nothing better than realising that students are actually using the language that you’ve just presented to them, or when the student thanks you for clarifying something they didn’t understand or for an enjoyable lesson. And when you take a risk and try out a new technique and it works - like magic - then you realise just what you are getting from the course. This is what makes CELTA real and rewarding.

Observing this CELTA course as a tutor-in-training made me realise that when I did my own course, it wasn’t just luck that I had a great group of supportive tutors. As I experienced myself, tutors are trained to ensure that you get the best out of the course. Every input session is presented so that it includes practical teaching techniques and methodologies that are used in the language classroom. If you watch the trainers (as well as listening to them), you will see and experience the real language classroom - even if the topic is something different like “administrative matters”.

In addition to this, the feedback is constructive and motivating. Even if something didn’t go as you’d hoped, you are not “criticised” but encouraged to think through the problem and given practical advice to help you overcome it next time.

All this time, you all had a chance to see how I handled the CELTA. So, just in case some of you might think I’m a nerd (heheh), here are what my colleagues had to say about the course. They can’t all be nerds! hehe..

Scott
Nationality: American
Age: 23

Prior to enrolling in the Istanbul based ITI CELTA course I had completed a TEFL course back in the United States. Compared to the Celta, the TEFL course appeared somewhat impractical. While classroom theory was taught and the course did a reasonable job introducing technical teaching vocabulary, there was a definite lack of teaching practice. What I found most useful about the CELTA course was the evaluation of my own teaching as I was given the opportunity to practice with real students. The theoretical or abstract limitations normally imposed by an instructional classroom environment were removed and I was critiqued on the basis of my real performance as a teacher. In other words, for a total of six teaching practice hours, I became a genuine tutor working with real learners. I believe that this was invaluable to my development throughout the course and that this is an element that should not be overlooked when deciding which type of teaching certification to pursue.Moreover, with specific respect to ITI, the teachers were superb and there was never a lack of enthusiasm or support on their end. The average teacher to student ratio in my CELTA course was 2 teachers for 6 students, which in my educational experience is unprecedentedly low. So it is needless to say that the personal attention was incredible, and I think that every student in the course felt as though they were individually guided according to their needs. After finishing the Celta course I would highly recommend this certification to anyone who is remotely interested in teaching English as a foreign language. Furthermore, I would specifically recommend Istanbul’s ITI as a great company through which to obtain the certificate.
 

Gunseli
Nationality: Australian & Turkish
Age: 32

Do you want to be a teacher? I was so miserable in my “exciting” designer job and had thought about becominga teacher for years, but was scared to make a leap. “Who am I to become a teacher? I’m just a girl from Australia with a funny accent and an interest in art history and design.” But, it turned out that there was nothing to be afraid of and that teaching can be learned if you are dedicated enough. So what’s so great about the CELTA?

1. Well first of all you learn from fantastic teachers who really know their stuff and make their lessons enjoyable. 2. You learn so much in such an interesting way that I guarantee you won’t fall asleep in class. 3. You get heaps of support, encouragement and genuine feedback so you know how you are doing. 4. You learn with a small group of students, only 6,and get to interact, learn together and support eachother. 5. You get to observe experienced teachers and see the techniques they use. This course is one of the best things I’ve ever done.I’m so glad I made that huge decision to teach. But, be prepared for some serious work. Most of the time I thought I was at uni. again with all the paperwork, assignments, lesson plans, handouts etc. At times the course gets so intense that you feel overwhelmed by all the work and at those times you have to forget about doing the housework and be prepared to live on toast and coffee because you don’t have the time to look after yourself It’s all worth it though. I recommend this course for all those who have a desire to teach. 

Ilknur
Nationality: Turkish
Age: 30

I have been a student for 19 years through my 30 years of life. I had no idea about being a teacher so far until the CELTA course started. I was quite acquainted about the theories of teaching as I had had formation at university while I had been studying English Philology; however, I felt quite weird during my first Teaching Practice session and very nervous. CELTA, not only teaches you the teaching theories and techniques in a surprisingly detailed and interesting way, but also gives you the chance to stand up in the middle of an actual classroom and teach to students of various levels of English. Comparing my first TP session with my last, I already feel like an English teacher!

Alev
Nationality: Turkish
Age: 34

I heard of CELTA long time ago and felt that I would give it a try one day, but I just could not give up my career in finance - until last September when I realised that one could be happy only by doing what he/she likes most in life. So I quit my job and enrolled in the CELTA Course. I had the opportunity to learn a great deal from great tutors and peers who were helpful and supportive throughout the course. The input sessions provided us with the basics of teaching and guided us through the vast literature on TEFL. The teaching practice sessions were a great challenge for all of us and we really had to work hard, but the result was satisfying. Through hard work and efficient feedback from tutors and peers, we managed to plan and run lessons, which is a very positive start in a teaching career. One important lesson I got from the CELTA Course is that there is no end to learning in teaching. To be a good teacher you have to be an enthusiastic learner.

Emiko
Nationality: Australian & Japanese
Age: 56First it’s one of my most expensive paper! Considering how long I’ll be working from now(hope 5 years max), AU$500 a year. That’s my motivation to work during the course. Apart from my calculater mind, it was very interesting to me, all sessions were practical and hands-on. Now I’m ready to work anywhere in the globe, in the middle of the desert in China or in the middle of traffic jam in Tokyo. Also I could see update Turkey through four young Turkish women. It was really enjoyable to talk with those educated women about all sorts of things from girlie issues to Turkish society. I learnt a lot. Without this experience, I would have had a different view towards Turkey.

It’s almost good-bye time….. Time flew by so quickly. I have 2 more classes and guess what? One of them got cancelled because we already did all the input sessions for that day! As a result, I have one more day left for the CELTA! Can you believe it? (o_O)

Problem: I hope I don’t forget that we don’t have the course anymore and end up being there in class waiting for everyone to come!! AAah I’m a geek! Hehehe.

However, it will be a great challenge to teach in a class without 7 people watching (5 colleagues and 2 tutors will be missing!). Plus, I won’t have anyone to check my lesson plans

Conclusion: Believe it or not, I feel like I swallowed a bulldozer already (just the same way I felt on my first day of the course!). I was once told that when you lose that feeling, you should change your career.

1. When you’re around people, you see them as potential learners.
2. You carry a pen, pencil, eraser and a notepad with you, wherever you go.
3. You plan out your day just as you would plan out your lesson plans.
4. Your friends think CELTA is the name of a new friend you made.
5. When you’re in your room, you’re surrounded by piles of paper.
6. You learn to use printers and photocopy machines with your eyes shut.
7. You think of the stress of each word you speak.
8. You inhale CELTA, you exhale CELTA.

I’m sure there are many more. These are all the ones that I could remember.

The topic of my entry sounded like The Godfather didn’t it? hehe.. That would be a good name for a movie!Anyway, on the same day as my last teaching practice, we had a visit by Steve Darn (http://www.stevedarn.com/) as our assessor. You may wonder what the deal with assessors’ is. Well, they are there to make sure everything is going in the track set by Cambridge University, throughout the CELTA course. You know… to make sure everything is alright!

Most of us were waiting for someone like… hmmm I don’t know how to put this… but you know! When we met Steve Darn, we all admired him! We all felt relaxed around him and it wasn’t like the classic assessor thing going around in our conversations ANDDDD……….. he was super kind enough to share a couple of words about the course with you! :)

Conclusion: Assessors are cool! They give you great advice and you look up to them! By the way, Steve Darn has some good articles you may want to check out (just Google his name).

Remember my first teaching practice? Aaah*&^%$%^&?

Well, yesterday I had my last TP! It didn’t go as Aaah^&%$! Instead, I felt very comfortable! I can’t believe how much I developed my teaching skills. Monitoring, concept questions, drilling etc. My first TP was for 20 min. and this one was 60 min.! Oh, I think I never told any of you about the teaching practices during the CELTA, have I? Well, it goes like this;

You teach 9 times to students + you get 2 microteaching (each 10 min.) to your peers.

1st lesson: 20 min. to elementary students
2nd till 5th: 40 min. elementary

6th till 8th lesson: 40 min. intermediate

9th lesson: last lesson, 60 min. intermediate

Anyway, where was I? Yes, comparing my first TP to my last one. BIG DIFFERENCE. I learned so many teaching tactics, approaches, strategies, methods, styles… whatever you want to call them.

¨ I feel confident when I’m teaching.
¨ I don’t worry about questions coming from students anymore.
¨ I enjoy teaching grammar.
¨ I can categorize students into their learning styles (and I thought you need to be a psychologist to be able to do that). In addition to that, I learned that I am a kinaesthetic, visual, auditory and a interpersonal learner.
¨ When I’m teaching, I don’t see blank faces anymore.
¨ I learned to listen (yes, I know that is unbelievable).
¨ I know what “synonym” means!
¨ I can handle criticism!
¨ I don’t need pink stuff to help me overcome stress! (I wonder if any of my tutors and colleagues realised that I don’t bring my pink folder, pink pen, pink pencil, pink eraser to class anymore)

I was supposed to prepare for my CELTA Teaching Practice and one of my assignments due the next day. However, I forgot all about it and spent hours watching TV and thinking about the Eurovision contest. It was something like 1:00am when I remembered I have class the next day. “Oh My God!!!” was the only sentence I said to my self for at least an hour. The time was 2:00am and I still hadn’t prepared a word for my lesson plan or assignment! I sat down in front of the computer and started working on it. Finally, I had finished everything at around 7 am (writing my lesson plan, preparing the activities, finding visuals I may need, thinking and searching for the stress on the new vocabulary I was to introduce, preparing activities and their answer keys, writing out my assignment etc.). My class was to begin at 9 am. So, I left the house at 8am and was there on time!

Note: That day ended at 7pm; I managed not to fall asleep or look tired for 10 hours!

P.S. I got an Above Standard for that lesson and a pass on my assignment!

P.P.S. This may happen to you as well. What I kept on telling my self all night was “You’re young and you have energy”! So try to convince your self when you are at a crisis. However, don’t forget your health comes first, so don’t push your luck.

During one of our lessons we all filled out a form that would analyse our learning style.

So, what are the learning styles? Answer: Learning styles are simply different approaches or ways of learning.

What are the types of learning styles? 

Visual Learners:
Learn through seeing…

These learners need to see the teacher’s body language and facial expression to fully understand the content of a lesson. They tend to prefer sitting at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people’s heads). They may think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs. During a lecture or classroom discussion, visual learners often prefer to take detailed notes to absorb the information.

Auditory Learners:
Learn through listening…

They learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through and listening to what others have to say. Auditory learners interpret the underlying meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances. Written information may have little meaning until it is heard. These learners often benefit from reading text aloud and using a tape recorder.

Tactile/Kinaesthetic Learners:
Learn through , moving, doing and touching…

Tactile/Kinaesthetic persons learn best through a hands-on approach, actively exploring the physical world around them. They may find it hard to sit still for long periods and may become distracted by their need for activity and exploration.

What kind of a learner are you? Download this test and find out!

Click Here To Download –> Download File - VAK Test

You’re in a classroom and no one except for one student came. What do you do?
a) Leave
b) Teach

If you don’t know the answer then…
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
Catch a tiger by the toe
If he hollers let him go,
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

The correct answer is to teach. Just like you would teach a private (one to one) lesson. However, in one to one lessons, what can you do when you run out of things to say???

¨ Invent characters for yourself and the student so that there are 4 (or more) people in the class.
¨ Talk about famous people or people they are interested in
¨ Do some project work
¨ Use a reader
¨ Discuss a TV programme you both watch
¨ Use the internet
¨ Watch a film in bits & discuss
¨ Get them to give you a report of the current news
¨ Text summaries
¨ Vocabulary envelope