Job Discussion Forums

[tanuki]

I'm not yet a CELTA Trainer (next step when I finish up my current gig), but I have trained on similar courses, and I have a good friend who has been a CELTA trainer for a couple of years now so I've talked a lot about it with her. And I agree with a number of things here, namely:

1. there is an ever-increasing need for training centres to take adequate steps from the start in explaining to candidates that they may well fail. And, further, that if they do, they will not be refunded their course fee

2. a significant part of basic EFL training courses is about is metalanguage.

That is to say, knowing the terminology for various grammatical structures and forms (auxiliary verb, past participle, present progressive, modal auxiliaries (and how they are different from regular auxiliary verbs), etc. as infinitum). And a LOT of trainees just get SO overwhelmed by all this "past perfect continuous this, present perfect simple in the passive voice that nonsense" that they throw their arms up in the air in despair (because as one previous poster pointed out, it's a pretty stressful context: being continuously assessed and critiqued (and depending on the aptitude of your trainers, possibly "criticised" in the common parlance sense) for an entire month, day in day out").

I'm sure that there are plenty of EFL teachers who, when they get into their own classroom, don't feel a burning need to blurt out all this metalanguage at every available opportunity, but you DO need to know it--even if just to understand the textbook (which you can bet your little cotton socks thinks knowing all this terminology somehow magically helps learners know how to USE it--but that's another rant ).

So, ya hafta learn it, like. And if you don't, they'll fail you.

3. Why do you have to do it at this training centre? There are PLENTY of others out there. Plenty. I don't know how much research you did on this particular training centre, but from your posts [aussiechick] you sound pretty savvy. But if it doesn't feel right for some reason, then eject! Do further research on a reputable training centre (not saying this one isn't, incidentally, just making the point that there are too many cowboy operations out there and two and half grand (geez! is it that expensive now? eek!) ain't chump change--as you well know).

4 (kind of a 1a & 3a combined). Expect to get the same legal disclaimer at any training centre--although perhaps more tactfully and professionally.


Hope that helps, if you haven't already made your decision.

Cheers,
Tanuki

[sandyhoney2]

I've been lucky, I suppose. Where I'm presently doing the CELTA, the trainers are fantastic. I can't say that I prefer one over the other, because they both offer feedback and advice that I can use.

I'm entering Week 4. I'm exhausted. I've had all "s" grades with one "aps". I'm starting my weekend with two assignments due on Monday, a 60-min TP on Monday (which the Cambridge Assessor will be observing), and then my final TP on Thursday.

Since we haven't heard from the OP, I'm assuming she is taking the course, and is probably in the same situation as I am.

I have two years of ESL experience already. Knowing I was going to resume teaching again, I wanted to be better prepared. Plus, the CELTA usually means more money in some places. It has been a very useful past three weeks, and although I am fairly certain that I will pass, there is always that nagging doubt that prompts me to keep the midnight oil burning.

Buy Scrivener's book Learning Teaching and read it prior to taking a CELTA. It will help you hugely.

[originaloli]

I'd be careful when listening to Fluffyhamster. Obviously this person has an axe to grind on the subject of CELTA courses. The comical rhetoric makes it hard to take debate seriously. Personally, I found my CELTA course invaluable. I won't pretend that it was perfect, nor can I say that I agreed with my tutors the whole time. However, generally it was excellent and I think it will stand me in good stead for the future.

As far as my fellow trainees were concerned, I was shocked by the lack of grammar skills (myself included) throughout the group. Despite our oft-shocking incomprehension, as we passively knew the grammar, we grasped the points well. The trick was teaching them. Understanding grammar is a breeze for native speakers. I found (and continue to find) it very illuminating to talk to non-native speakers about grammatical points, as their perspective was (and is) different to mine. The point of this is, it's not good enough to say "because it is". I understood the difference between past simple and present perfect the minute it was shown to me. I would. I've been speaking English my whole life. Trying to explain what the difference is to someone with no MT equivalent and not much English, well, that's another kettle of fish entirely.

Finally, not everyone passes. A reality check has to be made. Fairer to warn you now rather than bring it up halfway through. You're not paying money for a certificate, you're paying it for teaching time and to line the pockets of the centre's managers. You have to put the work in. I think passing weak students is more indicative of a cowboy organisation than anything else. I run training at a voluntary organisation (totally unrelated to teaching) and we always let people know we have concerns as soon as is practicable. It's a difficult position to be in and the school needs to be protected. They're covering their backs and good on them. As you said, Aussiechick, it's not bothered you too much. I don't think it's unprofessional at all. If anything, it shows you have a thick skin and can accept criticism and work on your weaknesses. That will be a seriously useful ability for the course, so, most importantly of all,

Good Luck Aussie Chick!

[fluffyhamster]

I have an axe to grind about lots of things, not just the CELTA. Anyway, bully for you Originaloli that you found your CELTA course 'invaluable' - who knows, maybe it really was! The main (and good) thing though is that you sound like you've been looking beyond it.

[Jeff Mohamed]

Hi, Aussie Chick.

The letter the center sent you is not unusual in its content, although it certainly could have been better expressed. Most CELTA centers send a warning letter to applicants they are going to accept but about whom they have some reservations. In your case, it seems that the center was concerned about your level of language awareness and knowledge.

What I do find surprising is that the issue was not raised with you during your interview. If I have concerns about some aspect of a person's CELTA application, I discuss these concerns with the person during the interview and suggest ways in which the person might address these concerns before the course. I then give or send a letter accepting the application but mentioning the concerns. This seems to me to be a reasonable approach.

Jeff Mohamed