CELTA Teacher Training

The entry requirement is that you are a proficient English language user (between CEFR Level C1 and C2 or above) and educated to the standard required for entry into higher education.

On the part-time course, twice a week (Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 14:30-17:30) for 12 weeks.

On the full-time course, Monday to Friday from 10.00 – 17.30 for 4 weeks.

You’ll be teaching 6 hours in total, you will receive your teaching practice timetable along with the course timetable at the beginning of the course. This will be scheduled two weeks prior to the course.

You will need to do four written assignments, each one being 700 – 1,000 words. They require some reading and research, but also have a practical focus, and complement the teaching practice. You need to pass a minimum of three assignments to pass the course.

Apart from teaching practice and the hours you spend in the centre, you will need to spend about 20 hours a week at home on lesson planning, writing assignments and self-study (although this may vary slightly, depending on the week!)

CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is the name of the initial teaching qualification. TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is the name of the profession, although the terminology is changing and many professionals now speak of ELT (English Language Teaching).

There are many TEFL (ELT) courses offered in the UK but the CELTA along with the Trinity Cert-TESOL (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are particularly well respected by language schools recruiting teachers with a TEFL (ELT) qualification.

Yes. CELTA is both a beginners’ course, designed for those who have never taught before, and it is also suitable for individuals who have previously been teaching English without a formal certification. You will receive ongoing support from your tutors (and colleagues!)

Yes. Many experienced teachers take the CELTA. If you have a CELTA qualification, you can work in accredited language schools across the world. Since the course emphasises group work you may find your experience is useful to others on the course. You will certainly add new techniques to your repertoire and build on your existing skills.

According to Cambridge, if English is not your first language, you should have a strong C1 (on the CEFR scale) level of English. This is equivalent to having passed the Cambridge C1 Advanced exam, or gained a 7.5 IELTS score. However, you do not need to provide formal proof of your level – your language ability will be assessed during the application process to ensure that your English skills are strong enough to cope with the course requirements.

No. It is recommended that you have educational qualifications that would allow entry to Higher Education but your previous work experience will also be taken into consideration. In some countries, a degree is required in order to get a work permit (e.g. Japan). You are advised to consult individual embassies for accurate information and advice.

The CELTA is recognised all over the world and is often a requirement to gain employment in English Language schools. If you want to work in the public sector in the UK you will need to gain further qualifications.

You will be asked to complete some language awareness tasks and a short piece of writing. The interviewer, a CELTA course tutor, will then follow up on points of interest in the task by asking you to comment and expand on your answers. The tutor will then describe what the course consists of, and answer any questions you have. At the end of the interview, the tutor will decide if we are able to offer you a place on the course.

Full-time and part-time fees at MC Academy are exactly the same: £1,425.

Work is plentiful in the UK during July and August. At other times of the year, it is more likely you will find employment if you are willing to be flexible about working hours. Towards the end of the course, you will be given some general advice on looking for work. Tutors can provide references for those candidates that need them.

No. That’s why we interview potential trainees very carefully and provide as much information as possible so that you know exactly what you are getting into!

No. You will be assessed on Teaching Practice (including lesson planning), assignments and professional conduct.

Assessment on the course is continuous and integrated, taking into account teaching skills, written assignments and professionalism, with each assessed component contributing to the overall grade. Trainees are given feedback by the tutors on their teaching and have two tutorials during the course at which they discuss their progress. All tutors working on the course discuss each trainee’s progress before deciding on the final grade.

The possible grades are Pass A, Pass B, Pass, Withdrawn or Fail. It is very rare to get an A and not that common to get a B. The majority of candidates get a Pass.

It is possible to fail – for example, if your teaching has not reached the standard specified by Cambridge, or if you don’t pass three out of four assignments. Candidates who withdraw but do not do so in writing will also be given a Fail grade.

The CELTA is very intensive! Even if you take the part-time course, you will need to make sure you have few other commitments as you will need to dedicate about 20 hours a week to studying, lesson preparation and writing assignments.

On the full-time course, you should be prepared to devote five days a week (including some evenings) to the course, and to spend usually one day of each weekend on course-related work. You should have no other commitments other than the course itself.

No. You must attend 100% of the course. If you have to be absent due to illness, you will need to provide a doctor’s letter. All absences are recorded and must be accounted for.