CELTA (Certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages)

The Cambridge English CELTA course leads to an internationally recognised qualification for those who wish to enter the profession of English language teaching to adults, and it is often considered a minimum requirement for employment in language teaching institutions worldwide. It is accredited in the UK by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) at Level 5 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). 

We have two courses and the hours of attendance are as follows:

• CELTA Part-time Blended Learning Course (October to Easter): Mondays 13.00 to 19.00.  (Teaching Practice in college). The online component of the course can be accessed remotely at a time convenient to you. There is a one-week, half-term break in October and February and a two-week break at Christmas.

• CELTA 4-week face-to-face Intensive Course (June to July): Monday to Friday 8.30 to 17.00.

In addition to the scheduled timetable, candidates need to dedicate a minimum of 120 hours to the required pre-course preparation, reading, research, assignment writing, lesson preparation, record keeping, tutorials and observation of experienced teachers.

How will I learn?

The course is very practical in nature. It is divided into input sessions and teaching practice. The input sessions focus on the basic principles and theory of language learning and teaching. The supervised teaching practice sessions are an opportunity for you to put the theory into action.

You will be given guidance and supervision when planning lessons as well as written and verbal feedback on your teaching. During the course you will also have the opportunity to observe experienced teachers and will be required to complete four written assignments which will help you to develop your understanding of English language teaching.

How will I be assessed?

All centres offering courses leading to the CELTA certificate have had their course programme, staffing and facilities approved by University of Cambridge English Assessment. Course assessment is criterion referenced, continuous and integrated. There is no final exam and attendance on the course does not guarantee successful completion. The certificate is awarded to candidates who complete all course requirements and satisfy all assessment criteria.

Detailed criteria for the assessment of teaching practice and written assignments will be given to all candidates at the beginning of the course and reference is made to these criteria throughout the course. Appropriate support and guidance are given and candidates are informed of their progress during the course by written commentary on their teaching practice and written assignments, and via tutorial sessions.

The two components of the CELTA assessment are:

1. Teaching practice

   By the end of the six hours of assessed teaching practice, which take place over several sessions, candidates should have demonstrated successful achievement of all teaching practice criteria.

2. Written assignments

There are four written assignments in total, focusing on the following aspects:

• the learner
• the language systems of English
• an analysis of learning / teaching materials
• reflection on lesson observation, teaching practice and the identification of teaching points

These assignments vary in length and style but the total amount of assessed written work should not be less than 3,000 words. Any written assignment which fails to meet the specified assessment criteria may be re-submitted on one occasion only. The Teaching Practice and Written Assignments are internally assessed by the course tutors.  Each course is also externally moderated by a CELTA assessor who visits the centre, examines the candidates’ assessment portfolios and observes teaching practice. 

Applicants must:

• be at least 18, though it is generally recommended that candidates should be 20 or over;
• have an awareness of language and a competence in both written and spoken English which will enable them to undertake the course and prepare for teaching a range of levels (the recommended level is C2 on the CEFR);
•  have suitable computer equipment, a stable broadband connection with ample bandwidth/data allowance and a level of digital literacy which will enable them to easily understand the technical requirements of their course;
• have, as a minimum requirement, a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education. The centre may use its discretion to accept applicants who do not have formal qualifications at this level if screening suggests they would be likely to complete the course successfully.

In addition, the centre must satisfy itself that:

• applicants have the potential to develop the necessary skills to become effective teachers and to complete successfully the written assignments and the teaching practice assessment;
• the course is suitable for applicants in terms of their experience, background and their career plans;
• applicants are able to attend the whole course

Course Fee: £1,690.00

Fees include all tuition, materials, photocopying, access to college facilities such as the Learning Centre and the Cambridge English CELTA examination fee. 
25% of fees must be paid at enrolment. Enrolment usually takes place within two weeks of interview. Remaining fees may be paid in instalments. Full refunds are not usually given.

How do I apply?

Please click on the ‘Apply now’ icon at the top of this page and complete the online application form. If you wish to do a CELTA course at a different time, click on the ‘Change’ icon at the top of the page to ensure that you complete the right CELTA application form.

In addition, please email the following application documents to the Course Tutor, Simon Smith at ssmith@cavc.ac.uk:

• CV with full details of your qualifications;
• Personal statement of approximately 300-350 words outlining your reasons for wanting to follow the course and why you think you would be a successful teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages. Details about your current occupation, previous work experience, knowledge of other languages and any teaching experience you have had as well as information about your future career plans would be useful in order for us to assess your suitability for the course.
• Scanned copy of your highest qualification, e.g. degree certificate

We recommend that you apply early to increase your chances of securing a place on your chosen course. Places are offered to suitable applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis.

What happens next?

A CELTA Course Tutor will assess your application to check that you meet the entry requirements for the course. Once we have assessed your application, there are 2 possible outcomes:

• If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend an interview at the next available session.
• If you do not meet one or more of the entry requirements, you will be sent an email explaining why the course is unsuitable for you at this time.

What happens at interview?

Applicants will only be accepted onto the course after successfully completing a pre-interview task and attending an interview. The interview session consists of the following:

• a brief introduction to the course;
• a micro-teaching demonstration and a group feedback task with other interviewees;
• a written language task;
• an individual interview with a CELTA tutor.

The outcome of the interview session is sent by e-mail within five working days. The centre’s decision is final.

For further information about the CELTA course and English language teaching, please visit the Cambridge English website at http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/

For a range of videos and webinars about CELTA, take a look at the Cambridge English YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/cambridgeenglishtv/search?query=celta

Why should I do the CELTA course at Cardiff and Vale college?

We are the longest-established Cambridge English CELTA Centre in Wales. We have been running CELTA courses at the college since 2005 and have successfully trained over 400 English language teachers. Our tutors are experienced teachers and trainers; two of them are also Cambridge English CELTA assessors. If you do the course here, you will be able to access all the facilities and services that only a large college such as ours can offer.

What support will you give me with studying and teaching 100% online during the current Covid 19 pandemic?

CAVC already has virtual classrooms in place, so you and your students can learn and teach online in live real-time lessons. We will provide strong tutorial support and guidance along with online course units and input. The college is the first and only Microsoft Showcase college in Wales and has a sector-leading TEL (Technology Enhanced Learning) team to help us deliver the very best online teaching and learning experiences.

I already hold a teaching qualification and have some teaching experience. Will I be exempt from some inputs and / or teaching practice?

There is no accreditation of prior learning or experience for candidates who wish to follow this course. All candidates must attend and complete the whole course in order to attain the award.

What are my chances of passing the course?

Our centre’s grades reflect or exceed national and international comparitors.

Please find the most recent grade statistics at: http://gradestatistics.cambridgeenglish.org/2018/celta.html

Will I be able to get a teaching job with just the CELTA or will I need to do other teaching qualifications as well?

You will be able to find EFL and ESOL teaching jobs in the UK and abroad with a CELTA certificate. However, for more permanent and / or senior posts, you may be required to do additional qualifications such as a PGCE, the Cambridge English DELTA or an MA in Applied Linguistics / TESOL, depending on the sector of education you work in. Candidates usually start with the CELTA and do one or more of the other qualifications at a later point in their careers.

Are there plenty of job opportunities? Will I be able to find full-time work?

There are plenty of part-time, temporary and full-time posts abroad and you should be able to find work fairly easily in a range of countries. Permanent, full-time posts in the UK are more difficult to find. Candidates usually find seasonal employment during the summer and / or hourly paid work during the academic year first; they gradually build up their hours until more permanent opportunities arise.

Where have your recent CELTA graduates found work?

Some have gone on to work in private and public organisations abroad in South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Others have found work locally in private language schools, FE colleges, adult community learning, universities and charities. A few graduates have decided to do a PGCE in primary or secondary education. A minority have remained in their previous employment. Very few candidates are still seeking employment or education placements.

Will I find a job if I have a CELTA certificate but I do not have a degree?

The CELTA graduates we have had who did not hold an undergraduate degree have found work in private language schools and FE in the UK and abroad. However, without a degree you may find it difficult to find work in HE or in an organisation in the UK which is accredited by the British Council. Some countries expect teachers to have a degree including Greece and Spain.

I have booked a week’s holiday during the course. Will I be able to miss some sessions?

The Cambridge English requirement is that candidates attend 100% of the course. Any sessions missed must be made up. If you need to miss one or two sessions during the course, you will need to discuss this with your CELTA tutor at the interview stage. We will do our best to be flexible within Cambridge English guidelines. However, there are circumstances, e.g. during a full-time intensive course or at the beginning of a part-time course where this will not be possible.

I do not have my own computer at home. Will this be a problem?

You can book out computers in our College Learning Centre. However, you will need to have easy access to a computer and internet connection outside college as well.

I have a disability / health condition. Will I get additional support and / or help during my course?

If you have a disability of any kind or a health condition which may affect your progress on the course, you need to disclose this to us as soon as possible, e.g. at the interview stage, so that we can arrange for you to be assessed by one of our learning support experts who will put in place the necessary support for you before your course begins. Early disclosure will help us to ensure that reasonable adjustments are made to enable you to have every chance of success on the course.

Are there any discounts, grants or bursaries available for CELTA candidates?

If you have been made redundant recently, there is REACT funding available. Please see ReAct funding | Careers Wales (gov.wales) for details. You may also be able to obtain a Career Development Loan from your bank. The college is not able to offer discounts to any candidates applying for the CELTA course.

Will I need to buy any books before or during the course and what other resources are available?

All course handbooks and EFL / ESOL supplementary materials can be found in the college Learning Centre, which you can borrow during the course. However, you may wish to purchase your own copy of the most recent edition of Jim Scrivener’s Learning Teaching as candidates find it very useful. You might also find Jo Gakonga’s website and video tutorials very helpful before, during and after your CELTA course. Jo is one of the CELTA JCAs. Her website can be found here: https://www.elt-training.com/

The course books you will use during your teaching practice sessions will be loaned to you. Any photocopies you need to make for your Teaching Practice students can be made in college and are included in the course fee. All the college facilities and the resources you will need to use during your course are also free. 

• The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
• Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
• Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
• Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
• Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
• All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
• Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
• Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.