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vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

For the life of me I cannot find this book below. I have tried downloading it from various sources and have failed.

Success on your Certificate Course in English Language Teaching, Caroline Brandt.

just noel · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 168

TamLu · Joined: 31 May 2013 Posts: 19

Indeed. If it's for CELTA, I can assure you that you won't need that. At least, none of my classmates nor I did.

vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

Well, come on guys don't keep me in suspense. What do I need, and what would you suggest.

Any advice and materials would be most welcome.

I want to take the CELTA in a couple of months' time.

TamLu · Joined: 31 May 2013 Posts: 19

Haha, I'm glad I can finally make a contribution of my own instead of constantly asking for help like a lost lamb.

First off, where are you taking this? At Apollo or ILA? My advice will probably be more accurate if you were to say Apollo as they might run the course a tad differently at ILA.

Secondly, I don't remember using any outside materials that they didn't already have in the library. They should have the resources for you already. As for materials you need, I recommend a binder, with a lot, and I mean a lot of plastic sleeves, or some sort of way to organize a lot of papers, you will be handed a lot of handouts.

As for advice... be prepared to analyze parts of language very deeply, like form, pronunciation (you're going to become semi-familiar with specific phonemes), and meaning, meaning usually being the most important. You'll see what I mean when you get there.

TIME MANAGEMENT IS ESSENTIAL. This goes for inside and outside the classroom. No time management, means everything will fall apart. Be sure not to go under or over time during your lessons. Plan in a lot of detail, being very detail oriented will be your friend in this course. However, don't plan last minute, something always seems to be broken when you're trying to print or prepare last minute. Again, time is of the essence. It's a very manageable workload, you just have to put in the time.

And the last piece of advice I have is get to know your classmates. These will be the bonds that will get you through some tough times, and some great times during the weekend. Also, it will make feedback go by a lot easier, as it's easier to take criticism from your friends I think. That's another thing, be open to feedback. You can disagree with people, just don't let it turn ugly. Hope this wasn't horribly bloated, and I hope I helped.

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

If a guy fresh off the plane in Saigon can get a CELTA and employed within a month (as I saw many iLA recruits do my first month), then you with your experience can too.

TamLu · Joined: 31 May 2013 Posts: 19

Haha, I assume you weren't addressing me Rusty, but I hope I'll be in the same boat as them as well. Wink

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

Not at all. I haven't taken a CELTA yet. Would like to though, because, although the TEFL got me in the door here, I think a CELTA is a bit more bullet-proof, reputation-wise.

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

I always recommend this one- though it is not especially a CELTA book

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Techniques-Language-Teaching-Publications/dp/0906717558

And

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sound-Foundations-Learning-Teaching-Pronunciation/dp/1405064102

which certainly should one be but often is not.

Some of the old standbys are actually less useful IMO.

These two cover pretty much everything you need to start TEFL - except for the psychobabble.

I'm not sure how easy they are to get here though.

Tigerstyleone · Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 181

LOL

Its good to see another member with a sense of humor. We do need some comic relief at times.

vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

Thank you for your replies.

TamLu: Everyone I have spoken to, including doctorate degree holders, have told me that this course is murder. Having as much info as possible before walking into that is a must for me - If there was a way round this course I would take it.

Skarper: Thanks for the links. I have already read the CELTA Course by Thornbury; Learning Teaching, by Scrivener and Practical Techniques, by Lewis, a few months ago now.

Three fears: not getting along with my peers and trainers; grammar, I feel my knowledge of syntax, structure and meaning to be weak. Sometimes I read this stuff and wonder if it is still in English; the work load and stress.

Tiger: It is funny, but if I want to continue this game I have to get it and that is serious.

Rusty: Thanks for the support.

TamLu · Joined: 31 May 2013 Posts: 19

They don't expect you to know all of syntax and grammar before you get there or even during the course. Just know the specific parts of syntax and grammar of whatever you're teaching before you teach the lesson and you'll be fine.

skarper · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 477

There is a lot of information in the course but you are not expected to master it - merely become familiar.

A thing older/experienced people struggle with is this factor. They are used to being good at stuff and when they find themselves making a hash of it they panic and fight back. Bad strategy.

You are expected to utterly mess up 90% of your observed teaching and assignments. It's not like a university course where you can take your time and if you put the effort in you can get top marks (or just dash something off and get let through).

If you keep trying and don't be an ass then you will pass providing you complete every single piece of work - ideally on time. (I think you can hand some things in late but there really is no need).

I think I've said this before on this thread in fact but a CELTA equiv is NOT education. It is training. Do as you are told and you will pass.

Question your trainers and the methods you are taught to use and you will struggle and maybe fail. If they say you need to do XYZ in your next TP then DO IT! Don't argue. Don't try to invent a better way to teach on the wing.

With experience you may feel a certain technique or method will not work in practice. OK - but the CELTA input session is not the time or place to bring this up.

If you want to delve into the depths of TEFL theory and be really creative then you need to be doing an MA or perhaps a PhD.

CELTA is an entry level INITIATION qualification. It has somehow been elevated into more but it remains a very brief, whistle stop tour of TEFL methodology/theory and practice.

It's a good course but limited in scope and also getting a little dated. I'd like it to undergo a major revamp - but it's a cash cow for Cambridge [and Trinity in the case of their Cert TESOL] so they won't fix something that basically works for them.