About the teacher training centre
International House Lisbon is a specialist teacher training and English teaching centre.
It opened its new premises in the Alto dos Moinhos area of Lisbon just three years ago. This is a safe, modern, area just five minutes’ walk to the Metro (Blue line) and very close to the Benfica Football Stadium. The premises are modern, airy and spacious, and not so big you'll get lost there!
The school is managed by Monica and Diana who have also been runing the successful IH Torres Vedras school, just outside Lisbon, for over 25 years. Monica and Diana have a very practical and welcoming approach to their students and staff. They are passionate about their schools and this is evident in the welcome that students and teachers receive. It is a very friendly, warm school with a great heart to it.
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
Full Time CELTA Online with IH Lisbon
For accessibility from wherever you are in the world, why not take a 100% CELTA online with the team at IH Lisbon.
What's special about this is
- Full Time - you'll complete in 5 weeks
- Live online classes with tutors ( not based on self study)
This is a flexible way to take CELTA. It leads to the same CELTA qualification and is assessed and moderated according to the same criteria.
Like the face-to-face CELTA course, CELTA Online has a significant practical component. You will complete 6 hours of assessed teaching practice in groups in an online classroom, from the comfort of your home!
If you are in Lisbon, and travel restrictions allow, we plan to offer some additional free face to face teaching practice at the end of the course as a bonus. This won't be mandatory, but you may find it useful.
Part Time CELTA Online with IH Lisbon
If you want to take your time, and fit study around other commitments, you can take a part time course.
The part-time CELTA with IH Lisbon has Guided Lesson Planning (GLP), some input sessions, Teaching Practice and lesson feedback on Saturdays. These are live, with a tutor (on a video platform like Zoom.) Therefore you should be fully available every Saturday from 09.00 to 17.30 (Portugal time).
Other reading and short tasks you will study yourself on a self-study platform, so you can do this whenever suits you throughout the week. Some tasks are done in pairs or small groups with your fellow class mates, so you’ll have to liaise with them for that. There are usually three or four units of methodology sessions to work through per week, on days and times to suit you.
The Face to Face CELTA at IH Lisbon
IH Lisbon runs an average of seven CELTA courses a year. The tutors (and staff) have years of experience and are supportive and professional. For your teaching practice, the local students are lovely. Some have been taking courses with us for a while, and they know what its like for new teachers.
Your fellow students will be both local and international, with a range of ages and experience. This makes for an interesting group and will start to give you an insight into your future TEFL career.
IH Lisbon has well-equipped facilities, the latest technology, and very experienced tutors. There are three training rooms, a library with access to computers and photocopier, a relaxing waiting area, and a kitchen for essential drinks and snacks!
Tutors at this training centre
Diana England
I love helping my students to have genuine fun communicating with each other in English using lively discussions, roleplays, rather than listening to the teacher, copying from the board or doing rote exercises the whole time. In a similar way, I love the way my trainees learn from each other, and enjoy input and teaching sessions.
Herbie Goulart
To successfully complete the course, I recommend you share queries with each other and the trainers; discuss the day’s content to better shape your understanding of it and build on it; have a positive constructive attitude towards all you do and deal with throughout the training.
Kasia Jakielaszek
To get the most from the course and your TEFL career, keep on reflecting, experimenting with your techniques and never stop learning. Try to enjoy teaching as much as you can – if you enjoy it, your learners will too.
Neil Murray
I hope that my trainees can become more confident and competent in front of a group of learners. I hope they leave equipped with effective classroom management skills and a strong self-belief that they can go on to become great language teachers.
Sally German
The advice I give to trainees for a fulfilling career is to try and work abroad if you can, and always try to work for schools that give development sessions and observe their teachers.
CELTA student testimonials
Taking CELTA at International House Lisbon was the best decision I could have made when I decided to change my career and go into EFL teaching. From start to finish, it was clear and comprehensive, giving a thorough scope of teaching methodology balanced with independent, self-initiated study. The tutors are amply helpful while still allowing trainees to autonomously discover the answers and internalize understanding of the methods taught. I'm so glad I found IH Lisbon and CELTA to start my new career! Emma C Parsons
I liked the course, the way it was handled, how you managed to organize it online, in a way that it seems as if this course was always online. Nicole Giacomarra
First I was a bit worried if it could actually work now that it's done fully online, but the course is very well organized and the instructors are amazing and extremely supportive all throughout. Lolisa Sakurai