The CELTA course is an intense month of work and study. During the course, you won’t have much time for anything else so it is important to be prepared before you start so you can be focused during the course and absorb as much information as you can.
In this blog, we have some tips on suitable preparation and the right mindset to make the most of your CELTA course.
Get some teaching and TEFL experience
To gain a place on the CELTA course, applicants will have to prove their abilities and drive to enter the world of English teaching. For some trainees, this will include gaining teaching experience. If you want to do the CELTA but have no experience, you can try volunteering at schools or through community centres. Time in the classroom will help you get to understand classroom management from the point of view of the teacher.
If you don’t have experience, try watching some example classes online. There is a wealth of resources of teachers delivering classes and sharing their lesson ideas on YouTube or dedicated TEFL teaching sites. This will be especially useful in demonstrating how language teaching works.
Address your worries
What worries you most about the CELTA? This could be public speaking or explaining grammar. You should focus on these worries in advance. Try to get some experience in public speaking – maybe there are opportunities at your current work for some practice. If you are worried about grammar, do a bit of research and buy yourself a grammar book in advance. You can check the CELTA Cambridge syllabus to see the elements that will be covered by the course.
Don’t stress over grammar
Preparation is good – it’s helps familiarise you with the course and reduces the chance of any surprises. But it is important not to go overboard with preparation. Don’t try to learn all the grammar of the English language in advance of the course. A useful guide is to complete the pre-interview tasks for the CELTA in order to familiarise you with the types of material you will be teaching and get yourself some reference books to support your learning and teaching.
Key textbooks
It is better to get yourself some copies of key text books, become familiar with them and then you have them as a reference in the classroom. Some of the best known include:
- English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy - A straightforward combinations of grammar explanations and practise exercises.
- Practical English Usage by Michael Swan - The most comprehensive guide to English language and a key reference book for the classroom.
- CELTA Trainer’s Manual by Scott Thornbury - If you want to read one book to prepare specifically for the CELTA course, this is the best one.
Research potential jobs for after a CELTA
The CELTA is a stepping stone to getting a job in the TEFL world and this means it is important to look into their work options even before the course starts.
Teachers are likely to have a location where they would like to teach in mind and before the course, they should do their own research into the visa options, salaries and school options amongst other factors.
A CELTA can provide a route into the market for TEFL jobs, but the most successful teachers will have a plan as to where they want to work and how they are going to work after the CELTA course. This can also provide the opportunity to leverage any networks available through the CELTA course provider, trainers and teachers.
We also have job positions at International House schools available on this website – see here.
Conclusion
The CELTA course is intense, but it offers great opportunities for an exciting career. Enjoy the course and don’t let difficult episodes get you down – all teachers have been there. Follow the advice here and do some pre-course preparation to approach the CELTA more confidently and successfully. Good luck!