Job Discussion Forums

[Matt_]

Later today I'll be interviewing for a spot on what I think is the only official CELTA course in Northern Ireland. I applied in September and have been basing my plans for next year around it, however I'm beginning to have doubts about the cost. It'll amount to around or just over �1000 ($1948US) for a seven hour a week course taught over nineteen weeks.

The main reason I want to take it is to learn teaching techniques so that when I head out to Korea next year I won't find myself standing in front of a class of expectant students totally bereft of ideas. However I imagine I could get that from one of the cheaper, albeit non-official TEFL teaching courses.

So, if you did the CELTA did you find it was worth the time and expense? Should I take a chance and just read some books or do a cheaper course for the experience?

[ls650]

IMHO such a training course is very helpful if you have never taught in front of a classroom before. �1000 is a lot of cash, but that's actually a good price for an 'official' CELTA. I paid the equivalent of about �600 for my 4-week full-time certificate. It was a rip-off of the CELTA syllabus, but didn't have the name 'brand'. I've always found it to be sufficient for finding teaching work in Asia and Latin America, but my understanding is that the CELTA name carries a bit more weight in Europe.

[Jetgirly]

If you do it in the place where you ultimately want to teach, it will be worth the money just for the people you'll meet. Having that group of friends who are going through the same experience you are (moving overseas, learning a new language, finding a job and apartment) is invaluable.

[denise]

Is that just for the course itself? I paid less than that for my TEFL course and accommodation in Prague. It wasn't CELTA, though. There are equally good non-name brand courses out there.

d

[efl bird]

yes, I would say that it is worth it especially if you're planning to teach for the foreseeable future.
Also, where I work - British Council- won't accept teachers without CELTA or Trinity TESOL.
Another thing is that a lot of private language schools don't offer academic support so if you have the basic skills gained from the CELTA at least you know that you have been through a rigourous course with some standards.
However, any language school worth it's weight in salt should be aware that the CELTA is only the beginning and that first year is crucial if you want to really develop your skills as a teacher. In fact, I would say that professional development is a question that everyone should ask as a new EFLer at an interview.
Good Luck!

[Matt_]

Well I passed the interview and have been offered a place on the course. I think I'm going to accept it. Thanks for the advice.

[27Bstroke6]

I've just finished a part time CELTA and I've found it very helpful. I wouldn't have had the confidence to try to teach before, but I feel more or less prepared now.

The only negative side to it was due to individual tutors on the course that I did, who couldn't have been more patronising and disparaging if they'd tried. I hope that this was a peculiarity of the people working in this particular establishment but you may encounter it anywhere, if this is to be believed.

They do tell you some useful stuff, and demonstrate techniques that work well in the classroom. You just have to take their relentless superiority with a pinch of salt.

[sheeba]

The only good thing the CELTA offered me was the opportunity to do the DELTA . I was indoctrinated too much in the CELTA to the point where I believed that there was only really a few ways to teach . It didn't give me the chance to use any initiative but of course with no teaching experience it is a little difficult . Experience will count for a lot more than a CELTA . You'll get that by making mistakes when you actually teach .

quote - The main reason I want to take it is to learn teaching techniques so that when I head out to Korea next year I won't find myself standing in front of a class of expectant students totally bereft of ideas.quote

Actually the CELTA helped very little with my teaching in China because I am teaching large groups. The CELTA was mainly geared for 10-12 students . We did talk about large classes for about 10 minutes I think . Is your Korean class going to be similar . If so you'll probably still be lacking in ideas. Culture isn't really addressed in the CELTA - not mine anyway.PPP or TTT techniques that are drummed into you won't really help you in class. You'll probably benefit more with no method drummed into you and learn naturally in class . Teaching methods are often something that you perform without realising and are a result of your deeper beliefs about learning. I'd recommend reading more into Approaches and Methods in Language teaching and having more of a wider knowledge on how to approach a class. You can do this by buying a few books and studying them seriously. Cost you a lot less than the CELTA.

So to move up the ladder to better qualifications it is worth it but if I was just in TEFL for the short term I'd spend my money on something else. Travelling to Asia I'd see more sense in finding courses that target the culture you are trying to teach . Learning their language would benefit you a lot too.[/quote]

[efl bird]

I would agree that the CELTA does pertain towards the PPP side of things, but I also strongly believe that if you don't know anything about teaching then it's safe to stick to a model for the first 6 months at least.
I feel that PPP doesn't help learners learn but it was a useful crutch as a new teacher, but with solid academic support in my first post certificate job, I had the courage and confidence to try TTT/TBL and so on....
Also, I did my Trinity TESOL with experience working for NOVA...all very well and good, but very prescriptive and no language awareness at all. Without doing this course, I would have really suffered with my first job in Warsaw where the learners expect structured lessons and the teacher to be knowledgeable. They don't pay lots of money for a "chat."
Like Sheeba, I have just done a DELTA course which is really where you learn to run...and this is exactly what the CELTA does....learns you to walk before you can run

[wildchild]

Save you money and borrow a book from the library instead; it won't cost you anything. CELTA isn't required in Korea and besides, you'll probably end up having to teach the way a school dictates to you.

[thrifty]

[Matt_]

[sheeba]

[furiousmilksheikali]

This is a good book to get you started and up to date with the terminology the CELTA use.

No doubt some people will have issues with it as they do with the course itself, but if you want to do well on the course then this isn't a bad one to use.

It's called "How to Teach English" by Jeremy Harmer.

[sheeba]

Jeremy is pretty much as simple and straightforward in his writing as Riddel . I too recommend that for a starter but bin it as soon as you pass your CELTA. I gave mine away !