CELTA is an introductory course for those who have little or no previous English language teaching experience. It may also be suitable for teachers with some experience but little previous training.

With a CELTA certificate, you show employers that you:

• have gained essential knowledge of the principles of effective English teaching
• have developed a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners
• have demonstrated your ability to apply your learning in a real teaching context
• are ready to begin working in a variety of ESL teaching contexts around the world.

CELTA Requirements:

You must:

• be at least 20 years old
• have an awareness of language and a competence in both written and spoken in English
• have the ability to develop the necessary skills to become an effective teacher and to successfully complete the written assignments and the assessment practice teaching.

 

What are the course aims?

The course will enable you to:

• acquire essential subject knowledge and familiarity with the principles of effective teaching
• acquire a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners
• demonstrate your ability to apply your learning in a real teaching context.

Candidates who complete the course successfully can begin working in a variety of ESOL teaching contexts around the world.

CELTA Materials

How does the CELTA course include?

• input
• supervised lesson planning
• teaching practice (six assessed hours)
• feedback on teaching
• peer observation
• observation of experienced teachers (minimum six hours)

Candidates will need to dedicate a minimum of 80 hours for the required reading, research, pre- and post-session tasks, assignments and lesson preparation.

What does the syllabus consist of?

The syllabus consists of five specific topic areas:

CELTA Topic

Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context

What is the topic?

This topic includes:

•  Cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds
• Motivations for learning English as an adult
• Learning and teaching preferences
• Context for learning and teaching English
• Varieties of English
• Multilingualism and the role of first languages

Language analysis and awareness

This topic includes:

• Basic concepts and terminology used in ELT for describing form and meaning in language and language use
• Grammar – grammatical frameworks: rules and conventions relating to words, sentences, paragraphs and texts
• Lexis: word formation, meaning and use in context
• Phonology: the formation and description of English phonemes; features of connected speech
• The practical significance of similarities and differences between languages
• Reference materials for language awareness
• Key strategies and approaches for developing learners’ language knowledge

Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing

This topic includes:

• Basic concepts and terminology used for describing reading skills
• Purposes of reading
• Decoding meaning
• Potential barriers to reading

Listening

• Basic concepts and terminology used for describing listening skills
• Purposes of listening
• Features of listening texts
• Potential barriers to listening

Speaking

• Basic concepts and terminology used for describing speaking skills
• Features of spoken English
• Language functions
• Paralinguistic features
• Phonemic systems

Writing

•  Basic concepts and terminology used for describing writing skills
• Subskills and features of written texts
• Stages of teaching writing
• Adult literacy
• English spelling and punctuation
• Key strategies and approaches for developing learners’ receptive and productive skills

Planning and resources for different teaching contexts

This topic includes:

• Principles of planning for effective teaching of adult learners of English
• Lesson planning for effective teaching of adult learners of English
• Evaluation of lesson planning
•  The selection, adaptation and evaluation of materials and resources in planning (including computer and other technology based resources)
• Knowledge of commercially produced resources and non-published materials and classroom resources for teaching English to adults

Developing teaching skills and professionalism

This topic includes:

• The effective organization of the classroom
• Classroom presence and control
• Teacher and learner language
• The use of teaching materials and resources
• Practical skills for teaching at a range of levels
• The monitoring and evaluation of learning
• Evaluation of the teaching/learning process
• Professional development: responsibilities
• Professional development: support systems

How will trainees be assessed?

There are two components:

Component One: Planning and teaching

Component Two: Classroom-related written assignments (of which there are four in total)

CELTA is internally assessed and externally moderated by a Cambridge English approved assessor, who samples portfolios and teaching practice and who discusses and agrees the grades for all candidates.

1. Teaching practice

2. Written assignments

This topic includes:

You will teach for a total of 6 hours, working with adult classes at a minimum of two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance.

You will complete four written assignments (each 750–1,000 words). These focus on:

• analyzing and responding to adult learners’ needs
• analyzing language for teaching purposes
• teaching language skills
• reflecting on classroom teaching.

What is the assessment framework?

CELTA is awarded to candidates who have completed the course and who have met the assessment criteria for all written and practical assignments. 
The overall assessment aims for each topic are that candidates should be able to:

• assess learner needs, and plan and teach lessons which take account of learners’ backgrounds, learning preferences and current needs
• demonstrate language knowledge and awareness and appropriate teaching strategies
• demonstrate knowledge about language skills and how they may be acquired
• plan and prepare lessons designed to develop their learners’ overall language competence
• demonstrate an appropriate range of teaching skills at this level and show professional awareness and responsibility.

Component One: Planning and Teaching Practice (TP)

You will need to teach a total of six hours, working with classes at two ability levels. Assessment is continuous and based on your overall performance at the end of the six hours. You will observe experienced teachers teaching classes of language learners for a total of six hours, three of which may be on video.

Component Two: Classroom-related written assignments

You will be asked to complete four written assignments, and you will be asked to maintain and submit a portfolio of all coursework including all written assignments and materials related to teaching practice.

The certificate is awarded to candidates who meet the course requirements and whose performance meets or exceeds the criteria in both assessment components.