You already know that CELTA is the most widely recognized recognised English Language Teaching Qualification, accredited by the University of Cambridge. All EFL teaching jobs recognise the CELTA .
You already know that it will open a lot of new possibilities for your career, and you can study it online, face to face, full time, part time and blended.
But what don’t you know about it?
1 You will learn aspects of the English language you didn’t know about
Being surrounded by language experts certainly helps you increase your own knowledge of the language, whether it is your first, second or third. From grammar (did you know about reflexive verbs?), to vocabulary (do you know what grawlix are?) to phonemic translations (ˈkɒfi anyone?); from sentence structure to grammar topics you had never quite fully grasped, you will finish the course much more confident about English and ready for a job interview.
2 You can get a clearer idea of what kind of teacher you want to become
During the teaching practice sessions you will complete on the course and the feedback which follows, you will understand what your weakest and strongest points are as a teacher. You will also be able to find out if are keen on including storytelling in your lessons, if you are the type of teacher who likes to challenge students by eliciting, or of you like to plan real activities to bring lesson objectives to life. You will also start to realise if you would prefer to teach a specialism – for example business English to adults, or if you would prefer to experience the fun and energy of a young learner classroom.
3 You’ll make really strong bonds with your classmates
During the course you will spend a lot of time with your fellow classmates. Whether you do a course face to face or online you will face the same challenges, reach for the same goals and find solutions to the same problems together. They will be with you for the whole process, giving you tips, support and encouragement. This does not have to end once the course is over. It is common to set up a supportive group chat which continues long after everyone has moved into their teaching career.
4 It challenges you out of your comfort zone
Throughout the course, you might find yourself in situations which are out of your comfort zone, often even just because they are new. This experience will allow you to interact frequently with people of all walks of life: not only the students you will teach, but also your trainers and colleagues, who will observe you, give you feedback and help you improve in more ways you can imagine.
During the course, you will sometimes find yourself under pressure, as you are expected to teach, do your written assignments, attend seminars and observations and prepare for your lessons. However, knowing that you have done your best and that you have managed to complete the course will be satisfying and rewarding. You will feel proud of yourself and ready for the next challenge: teaching a full course!
5 You will leave the course with a fresh bag of ideas
When you start your first job after CELTA, you will feel as if you got a head start, as you will have already built an archive of activities, learning games, warm-ups, coolers and entire lesson plans you can reuse and implement in future.
Your trainers and fellow trainees will introduce you to textbooks, grammar handbooks, dictionaries, websites, videos, and new technologies which you will rely on for the rest of your teaching career.
6 You will start to build up contacts in the TEFL industry
Your CELTA class represents your first EFL network. You can find out about new opportunities through them such as jobs, as well as conferences and events you may want to attend.
Embarking on the CELTA course is a great way to reinforce your motivation for teaching. You will get to know a lot about inspiring people. If you are a new teacher, observing your trainers will give you a glimpse of what you could become. If you have never taught before, talking to other teachers might encourage you to modify or change the way you teach. It might also give you ideas for other places you would like to work at and other types of courses (Business English, Exam Preparation etc…). It really is fun!