CELTA
Why CELTA?
If you want to become a qualified English language teacher, the CELTA course from Cambridge is the best option for you. It is a globally recognised TESL qualification that will open many doors for your career. You can choose from three different modes of delivery: in-person, online, or mixed-mode. All of them include:
- Interactive sessions with expert trainers who are approved by Cambridge and who are also certified online teaching tutors.
- Six hours of observed teaching practice with adult learners from different levels and backgrounds.
- A supportive and collaborative learning environment where you can share feedback and ideas with your peers and tutors.
- (For online and mixed-mode courses) Additional skills to teach online effectively and confidently.
No matter which mode you choose, you will get the same high-quality training and certification from Cambridge University Press & Assessment. You will also have access to the Cambridge Moodle platform and Microsoft Teams for online communication and collaboration. Don't miss this opportunity to start or advance your teaching career with the CELTA course from Cambridge.
Course Dates
*Part-time (PT); Full-time (FT)
- CA355-O2/2023: Sep 5 - Nov 25, 2023, Tue, Thu, (AM & PM), & Sat, (mornings), mixed-mode, *PT - (COURSE FULL)
- CA355-O1/2024: Jan 23 - Mar 16, 2024, Tue, Thu, (evenings), & Sat, (mornings), mixed-mode, *PT
- CA355-O2/2024: Mar 19 - Jun 8, 2024, Tue, Thu, (evenings), & Sat, (mornings), 100% online, *PT
- CA355-C1/2024: Jun 24 - Jul 26, 2024, Mon-Fri, (9-5 pm), mixed-mode, *FT
- CA355-O3/2024: Sep 10 - Nov 30, 2024, Tue & Thu, (evenings), & Sat, (mornings), mixed-mode, *PT
How to apply
1. Application
- Initial information: CELTA Application Form 2023.
- Complete the Cambridge CELTA Pre-Interview Task 2023.
When we have received both forms, one of the course tutors will contact you.
2. Interview
- 60-minute interview with one of our CELTA tutors. How can I prepare for my interview? Advice from Cambridge.
3. Next steps
If you are accepted on to a course, your interviewer will inform you of the next steps for preparing for the course, further information required, and registration payment details.
Minimum requirements
Candidates must have demonstrated a high C1 (CEFR) level or above of English, i.e., a minimum IELTS 7.5 (with no individual band below 7). Candidates must be 18 or over**.
**In accordance with Languages Canada Classification of TESOL Qualifications, an English language teacher in Nova Scotia must have a university degree.
CELTA Syllabus and Assessment Guidelines (Dec. 2022)
Fees
- Total course fees: $2500.00.
(The course fees include the University of Cambridge entry fee and all course materials.)
The CELTA Course Online - A Trainee's Perspective
Thinking about taking the CELTA 100% Online? Read these reflections from our recent CELTA graduates.
- The 100 Percent Online CELTA Course - A Trainee Perspective - Courtney Church
- The 100 Percent Online CELTA Course - A Trainee Perspective - Rachel Surette
Please contact us if you are interested in receiving updates on the status of these courses.
Key Features of CELTA
- The most widely recognised English teaching qualification in the world
- Provides hands-on teaching experience and observation of experienced teachers that help build your confidence in the classroom
- CELTA can give you the training you need to work and travel the world
- Gives you the essential skills and knowledge you need to teach English as a second/foreign language to adults and older teenagers
- It's developed by Cambridge Assessment English, the world's leading provider of teaching qualifications and courses and part of the University of Cambridge.
Who is CELTA for?
- New teachers starting their career
- First-language English speakers and non-first-language speakers
- Experienced teachers who want to develop their skills
- Teachers who want to travel and teach English
Course Details
- Covers the principles of effective teaching and gives you a range of teaching techniques and practical experience
- Teaching practice, feedback, and observation of teaching are at the heart of the CELTA course. You will receive guided lesson support from internationally recognised and experienced tutors.
- It’s flexible – it can be taken full-time over 5 weeks or part-time over 12 weeks.
*Three out of four English language teaching jobs require a CELTA qualification.
*Source: 600 job adverts for English language teaching (ELT) jobs in over 60 countries, across 27 ELT international industry employment websites from November 2017 to January 2018. Read more.
Testimonials from SMU-TLC CELTA graduates
“I would just say it is the best experience I have ever had in my educational life.”
"This was an extremely demanding course but I am so glad I took it. The instructors were great! Knowledgeable, clear with instructions, helpful."
"My overall experience was very positive and formative. In these 4 weeks, I have come to understand the crafted art of teaching ESL, and can now confidently lesson plan and teach good lessons to the beginner and intermediate levels. Though the work-load is intense, I found that finding a routine really helps to keep the lesson planning and assignments on track. While I was expecting the potential to burn-out after the first two weeks, I found myself becoming more comfortable with the intensity as the course went on."
"Very useful, I now feel confident and excited about my teaching abilities and am impatient to start my teaching career."
"Very happy, pleased, and I feel ready to begin teaching overseas with the understanding of the importance to strive to continually learn from experience and experienced teachers."
"I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from capable tutors, and would highly recommend SMU-CELTA."
About Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Cambridge University Press & Assessment offer a comprehensive range of industry-leading qualifications, professional development, and resources for teachers. Their teaching qualifications and courses are accepted and trusted by thousands of organisations worldwide and are a global mark of excellence that help you start your career, develop as a teacher, and open doors to exciting employment opportunities.
Why do employers trust CELTA?
Course Cancellation Policy
Six candidates are required in order to run a CELTA course. Saint Mary`s University reserves the right to cancel a course if the minimum enrolment is not reached two weeks prior to any start date.
In the event that the minimum number of candidates is not reached, the course will be cancelled and 100% of the applicant's fees will be refunded, or deferred to a later course.
Contact
For more information, please contact the CELTA office or ask a question here:
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FAQs
ELT (English Language Teaching), TEFL/TESL (Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language), TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are terms used to describe the field of English language teaching.
The CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course is the most internationally-recognised language teaching qualification. Qualified Cambridge teacher trainers will take you through the course content, and through a process of active experimentation and reflective observation, as they guide you through the teaching practice, which runs concurrently through the course. Many alternative courses follow a methodology course and then a separate practicum, often with different instructors, who have not received any significant trainer training. We encourage you to look for a course that is:
• externally validated
• locally and internationally recognised;
• internally assessed and externally moderated, for additional quality assurance;
• delivered by trained teacher trainers.
Answer: Before you are invited for interview, you will be asked to complete a written task. This will include a focus on language awareness as well as consideration of other issues related to teaching English. If this written task shows that you have the appropriate level of English and the potential to develop the skills needed to pass the course, you will be invited to interview.
You will have a 1-2-1 interview with one of our CELTA tutors. You will be asked to show how you think about language and learning/teaching English so that the interviewer can confirm that you have the potential to develop the skills needed to teach English, and meet the criteria to pass the CELTA course.
Answer: The course requirement is that your level of English is good enough to teach at a range of levels (up to CEFR Level B2 / upper-intermediate level). This means you should have a level of English at a CEFR high C1, preferably C2 level. We may ask for evidence of this, but there is no Cambridge English Language Assessment requirement for you to have taken any specific language examination. A high C1 CEFR level is equivalent to a minimum of an IELTS 7.5 (with no individual band below 7).
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/167506-cambridge-english-scale-factsheet.pdf
Answer: Yes – the requirement for taking a CELTA course is that you have a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education. However, in order to work in Canada for a Languages Canada accredited school, teachers are required to have an undergraduate degree.
The CELTA course gives you the essential skills and knowledge you need to teach English to adults and older teenagers. You get hands-on teaching practice and observation of experienced teachers, applying your learning in the classroom with English language learners. Many of the skills and techniques you’ll practise on a CELTA course can be adapted and applied to teaching young learners as well.
Answer: There are 4 written assignments on the CELTA course, which focus on:
- analysing and responding to learner needs
- analysing language for teaching purposes
- teaching language skills
- reflecting on classroom teaching.
