Job Discussion Forums

[pratariaMT]

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and have been told that this is a great site to get answers to questions that I may have. I'm researching schools to take the CELTA and have come across The Lewis School in Barcelona. Has anyone heard of it? If so, what comments would you have? From the website it seems like a great school, it also says that it is accredited by University of Cambridge. Also, what about The Cambridge School? Also in Barcelona. I'm overwhelmed with all the info on the web! I need some help from those who have been through this process already. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Maria

[SirKirby]

Yes, the Lewis School is one of your alternatives for a Barcelona CELTA course. CELTA courses can only be run by centres accredited by Cambridge ESOL.
http://www.lewis-school.com/
And their CELTA site:
http://www.tesol-spain.com/

Your alternative in Barcelona would be IH Barcelona (similarly also accredited).
http://www.ihes.com/bcn/tt/index.html

Cambridge School...? I think you must be referring to the Cambridge School in Granollers (about 35km out of Barcelona):
http://www.cambridgeschool.com/menugral.html

In theory, all CELTAs should be the same -- but so much will also depend on those you do the course with, and the tutor/s.

A choice between them...?

Not sure how often the Lewis School actually run courses (is, I wonder -- I have no evidence other than hearsay -- there a danger you might enrol for a course that then doesn't happen ???), which isn't to say it isn't a good centre to take a course.

IH BCN has a good reputation (I know lots of people who have done the course there), and your problem there might be actually getting in, as they often finish up with a waiting list.

The CS also has a good reputation. I can't speak for their CELTA course as such, but it has a great name for being a good place to work, somewhere where they care about their teachers post-CELTA development. That has to be a good sign!

I might -- personally -- go for IH Barcelona rather than the Cambridge School as it's in BCN. Granollers is OK, it's just not so exciting, that's all (pop. around 120,000). And perhaps IH BCN rather than Lewis because of its size and post-CELTA job opportunities (lots of people end up working in other IH centres around the world -- about 150 of them).

[SirKirby]

Not Barcelona, but someone has just Twittered me this alternative -- CELTA in Playa del Carmen in Mexico:
http://www.ihrivieramaya.com/

I've never been but know someone who tutored one CELTA course there: it's an absolutely fabulous place to do a course, but also just to be able to chill out as well after class!

[pratariaMT]

Wow. Thank you so much for the info. My original thought was IH, but I like the idea of a smaller school. Plus, LS is a bit cheaper. Yes, it is CS in Granollers. Again, sounds like a smaller community. What else can you tell me about the town? Is it atleast interesting enough for a smaller city? I do like the idea of a possibility of being hired by them afterwards, yes, a good sign! But, then again, I do go back to IH having more opportunities after! Uugh! I'm sure I just need to make a decision and just go with it. Just nervous about making the right one. I'm also sure that I'm not the first to feel this way.
Oh, here's another question....what about the CELTA interview process - any pointers on that, anyone?

Again, many thanks!!

[SirKirby]

Well, Granollers is quite small, has a very small old centre which is nice, and -- longer term, if you got a job there -- is within easy reach of lovely countryside.

Probably not for a real "city" person, but anyone who didn't want to be in a big city might like it. I'd say that there's probably not a lot of nightlife and that there, but I've never lived there (though I pass through more or less frequently). Not Spain's prettiest city, with mostly new buildings!

Granollers is about 30mins on the train from Barcelona, so the big city lights are also within reach.

If you want to do a lot of socialising and going out and that, Barcelona wins hands down, but it's expensive to do so.

Can't help much with the interview process. Don't the schools specify it on their websites?

I imagine if you're not in Spain, interviews can be conducted by phone...

How serious the interview sounds when you do it I'd say is important. If they sound like they're going to accept you whatever you say, I'd say that's a bad sign !

A good school would want to weed out anyone unsuitable for teaching: not accept your money, in other words, if they don't think you have a reasonable chance of succeeding on the course.

[pratariaMT]

Again, great feedback - thanks! I definately like the sound of being closer to the countryside, but mostly newer buildings - blah! Really, it sounds like I can't lose between those three schools - they all seem pretty good, and accredited at that! The older I get the more nervous I am about making the perfect decision. About the interview process, I figured it would be difficult for the reasons you mentioned - make sense - just wondering if anyone had any tips about it all. Yes, the websites do help some. Are you teaching? How long have you been in Spain? If that's okay to ask. Alright then.....

Thanks yet again!!

[Finglish]

Hi There, I just had my CELTA interview 5 days ago at International House Toronto (Canada). I was sent a pre-interview task that included all kinds of grammar/spelling/how would you teach... type questions. A short essay on what I thought made a good teacher was also included. During the interview, the CELTA Director went over my responses to the pre-interview questions, asking me to qualify them and explain in more detail. The scary part was when he started firing random grammatical questions at me that I hadn't expected. I did well overall, so got in to the program okay. My advice is to study up on your parts of speech, verb tenses and common grammar terms before the interview. Have responses prepared for the questions, "Why do you want to teach?" and "What makes a good teacher?". If you have no teaching experience yet, rely on your experience as a student and think about what your best teachers were like. Good Luck!

[pratariaMT]

Thank you so much Finglish for the great tips. Very helpful and exactly what I was wondering about concerning the interview. I, of course, want to be prepared and to do well (who doesn't, right?!). It has been awhile since I've been in school, so I'm definately a bit nervous, so all the tips, and encouragement helps! I will study up on my grammer and the such straight away! =) Again, thank you very much and Congrats to you on getting your CELTA!!! Have you picked a country yet?

[Finglish]

Hi Prataria,

No worries. I've found my fair share of tips on this forum so I should try to pay it back, right?

I taught in Japan a few years ago, but this time I'm hoping to get a placement in Spain. Thankfully I have an EU passport as well my North American one! Now I just need to overcome that pesky unemployment rate Spain's got...

By the way, anyone out there have info on teaching in the Costa Del Sol?

Thanks!

[spiral78]

Definitely. Grammar.

Spelling brush up = good start.