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*** From the pen of professionals… ***

Thursday, March 15th, 2007

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

Amanda GAMBLE
CELTA tutor
International 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 something

Which 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 LEACH
CELTA Trainee
International 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 AYKANAT
CELTA Tutor-in-training
International 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.

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