About the teacher training centre
Torquay International School was established in 1972 and is the oldest EFL school in Torquay. In 2019 we were affiliated to International House.
IH Torquay offers a wide range of General English courses for adults and young learners. We also offer Discover Devon 50+ and ESP courses.
And as well as these language programmes we offer teacher training, specifically the CELTA. Stuart Gale runs the teacher training department. Stuart has extensive experience working as a Teacher Trainer, including on CELTA courses. He was Teacher Training Director at IH Bangkok and has worked at IH London on F2F and online courses for several years. He has worked for the British Council on Teacher Training projects all over the world.
The advantage of taking the CELTA at a busy language school is that all trainees will have the opportunity to see qualified teachers in action, and ask them what a life in teaching is like.
What is the CELTA?
The CELTA is a TEFL qualification which prepares you to teach English as a foreign language. You don’t need any existing English language teaching experience or training. It’s usually a 4 or 5 week full time course (but you can also take it part time).
Standing up in front of a class for the first time is a daunting prospect, so you need to make sure you have the skills you need to teach effectively. The CELTA prepares you for the classroom in these ways:
- Taught sessions on methodology, lesson planning, language analysis and language skills. (In total, you’ll have 120 hours of input.)
- The opportunity to observe experienced teachers in a real-life language classroom situations – so you can see the different skills and techniques they use.
- Teaching yourself – with helpful and detailed feedback from your tutors. This practical experience is invaluable when you start your first job.
You’ll have to complete some written assignments as well, but when it’s all successfully completed you’ll be ready for your first job and first students!
Read more about the CELTA here
CELTA at IH Torquay
The Teacher Training tutors at IH Torquay have a wealth of experience from all over the world but at the same time enjoy teaching in Torquay. The school is small enough to have a family feel to it but large enough to be able to provide a professional service similar to schools 10 times the size.
To date we have a largely younger intake on CELTA courses with trainees being in their 20’s and 30’s but we accept trainees from all backgrounds and all ages. Age should be no restriction as it is quite normal these days to change career later in life.
CELTA is designed for native speakers and non-native speakers and on any one course it is typical to have trainees from the UK as well other countries.
We feel that we are competitively priced compared to other schools in the UK and accommodation is cheaper than other places too, particularly cities such as London, Bristol and Portsmouth.
Note: We ask for a non-refundable deposit of £600 to secure your place on the course.
Tutors at this training centre
Stuart Gale
I feel that as a Teacher Trainer or manager in EFL you have to continue teaching in order to appreciate the needs of both students and trainees. I still enjoy teaching a range of classes from primary to adults.
Lucy Gubbin
Lucy started teaching English as a summer job when she was 17 and never really stopped! After teaching in Spain, she did a PGCE in TEFL/TESL and then later an MA in Applied Linguistics. In 1995, she became a CELTA trainer and then went on to work as Head of Teacher Training
Her advice for new trainees on CELTA courses is to come prepared. It’s a very intensive course, and taking the time to work on language analysis and to complete the Cambridge pre-course task before starting can be a great help. This, together with being organised from Day 1, can make the workload seem more manageable. Good luck!
CELTA student testimonials
I thoroughly enjoyed the CELTA course. Coming from a family of international teachers, the course was recommended to me by my Uncle who is CELTA trained teacher. He has taught in many different countries including the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Portugal. Therefore, I had high expectations of what the CELTA course would entail and the career prospects that it would open. The course at International House fulfilled my high expectations. It was incredibly well organised and run by tutors with lengthy experience both teaching English and teacher training. I felt very engaged throughout my studies and challenged during my Teaching Practice sessions. This combination meant that I was always excited to start a new day of both learning and teaching. It is only a 4 week course which makes it more adaptable to a busy lifestyle as you need to dedicate yourself to 4 full weeks of studying, therefore you do not need to stop working for years to become a qualified English language teacher. After just 4 weeks you will graduate the course more confident in your teaching ability, academic knowledge and aware of the extension of career options that are now available. Our tutors have taught in a combined 20 + different countries, teaching English to teens and adults in professional sectors such as business, law, the military and diplomacy. I thoroughly recommend this course to people with no previous experience in teaching and experienced teachers alike. My fellow trainees all had different amounts of experience teaching before we enrolled on the course and we all passed the course confidentiality and are now in various different roles teaching English. Two of us have continued to work at International House as we obtained jobs here the week that we graduated. Tamara Furness April 2023
The CELTA course at International School Torquay was an amazing experience. The course instructors were knowledgeable and passionate about teaching, creating a supportive learning environment. Their expertise and constructive feedback greatly contributed to my growth as a teacher. One of the highlights of the course was the emphasis on practical teaching. I had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in real classrooms, allowing me to apply the theories and techniques learned. The feedback sessions provided valuable insights and helped me improve my teaching skills. The course curriculum was well-structured and comprehensive, covering a range of teaching methodologies. As someone who had been teaching for 6 years before completing the course I wasn't sure how much I'd learn, but those doubts turned out to be completely unfounded and it was one of the most enriching experiences of my professional life. Jonjo Harrity April 2023