A Beginner’s Guide to The CELTA Online Course

If you want to start a career as an English teacher and teach around the world, you need a recognised degree. One of the most popular and widely accepted certificates for international English teaching jobs is CELTA.

Offered by Cambridge University, this degree can open the gateway to teaching English anywhere in the world. What is the best part? A CELTA online course can be taken from the comfort of your home. It’s the same course with access to all resources.

This article will talk about all the details of this certification to get you started.

What Is CELTA?

CELTA stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, which is a globally accepted English teacher training program. It is accredited by Cambridge Assessment English and is taken by students in over 60 countries around the world.

The program equips you with the essentials of English teaching and the practical techniques required to teach all age groups. It will also include face-to-face and online teaching techniques with learner groups.

Within a month, you’ll feel more confident in teaching English to anyone. After completing the course, you’ll be able to sharpen and master your language skills too.

CELTA Course Details 

The course is of 120 hours and offers you a variety of ways to take it – online, face-to-face, or a combination of both. Further, you can take it full-time, which will cover four to five weeks, or you can take it part-time, which might take some months to a year.

The minimum eligibility requirements are:

• You must be 18 years and above
• Education sufficient for university application
• Basic English proficiency of CEFR level high C1 or beyond

The course covers a variety of topics –

• English language skills – reading, writing, speaking, and listening
• Language awareness and analysis
• Essential teaching skills and developing professionalism
• Practical teaching techniques and theory
• Understanding learners and learning context

What Else Will It Include? 

The 120 hours of the coursework will include the following:

• Real-life teaching training with a group of students
• 6 hours of teaching practice per student that your program instructor will assess
• Regular teaching practice feedback
• 6 hours of lesson observations taught by experienced tutors
• You’ll be able to watch other candidates teach learning groups

Assessment 

You will be surprised to know that CELTA doesn’t have a final examination. Instead, you will be analysed and assessed throughout the program. The two types of assessment techniques for this program are – teaching practice and writing assignments.

Teaching Practice

You will have to teach for 6 hours with adult learners, where they will have two learning ability levels. The examiners will evaluate you based on your teaching performance.

Writing Assignments 

You will have to write and submit four assignments, 750–1,000 words each, covering the following topics:

• Language teaching skills
• Analysing adult learner requirements and responding to them
• Your reflection upon classroom teaching
• Analysing the language for teaching

The program instructors will let you know about your performance and ways to improve.

Summing Up

If you are a teacher looking to enhance your skills and have no teaching experience, CELTA online will suit you. Besides offering you the ticket to travel the world and teach English, the course will also boost your confidence.

As most employers accept this degree wholeheartedly, it will also improve your employment opportunities.