About the teacher training centre
IH Johannesburg has been open and in the same location, in the area of Braamfontein, for 25 years.
Braamfontein is near the city centre and is considered a student town with many colleges and two universities in the vicinity. It offers students the opportunity to embrace vibrant city life in a multicultural, relaxed, yet highly professional environment.
At IH Johannesburg students can learn English in an exciting environment that embraces the multiculturalism and the vibrancy of city life - or they can study to become a teacher. Our facilities cater to the learning needs of every student, with over 50 computers, tablets, access to e-learning materials and internationally recognized course materials. We pride ourselves on offering small classes and plenty of individual attention. For language learners we offer all Cambridge suite exams, and OET tests (Occupational English).
Students studying to become a teacher can take the internationally renowned CELTA.
Many of the team at the school have been there for many years, and directors are actively involved in the day to day running of the school. Its a good place to study and work.
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 with IH Johannesburg
IH Johannesburg has been running CELTA courses for over 20 years. We have a pool of dedicated and professional tutors who are dedicated to their students.
We run, on average, 6 courses a year and generally accept a maximum of 12 candidates to each course. You are guaranteed personalised support.
The training centre is well equipped with not only spacious classrooms, but also a comprehensive library, a computer room and printer, photocopier and a canteen.
Our CELTA trainees range in age from early twenties to mid-fifties so you will always find someone to connect with. Generally people are from South Africa and neighbouring countries, but we are proud of welcoming numerous nationalities from Argentina and Saudi Arabia to beyond. We look forward to welcoming you all!
Tutors at this training centre
Annie da Silva
Natalija Cameron
I want my trainees to have fun teaching! Enjoy every minute of it! I enjoy working with all my students. I love what I do, I love teaching people and I bring lots of patience, understanding and good humour to the classroom.
Alessia Milanese
CELTA Student Testimonials
It is near impossible to put my CELTA experience at IH Johannesburg into words. Merely thinking about it makes me emotional and nostalgic. Annie, Natalijia and Alessia (my CELTA tutors) were absolutely amazing when it came to supporting us in our journey - from lesson planning to reflective sessions and even taking it upon themselves to help us develop on a personal level.
The input sessions were fun, intriguing and insightful - equipping us sufficiently to take on the task of teaching a class of our own. Observing IH Johannesburg's experienced teachers was phenomenal! Seeing all that we'd learnt, in theory, come to life is something I will remember forever.
Doing my CELTA at IH Johannesburg has taught me much more than just the best teaching system in the world (in my opinion, at least). It has also shown me that there is nothing that can beat the feeling of standing in front of a class of eager students and imparting knowledge whilst being passionate, kind and fun!
Words will never be able to do justice in expressing how grateful I am to the staff and masterminds behind the institution. Thank you!Naseebah Kathrada
After 15 years in the corporate world, I decided to change careers, and spending two months in SE Asia, gave me the notion that I would enjoy teaching English. I completed my CELTA at IH Joburg in February 2019 and the experience was so much more than expected.
Having done some research, I was anticipating that the course would be intensive, a lot of hard work, and time heavy, but it was also an epic adventure, rewarding, and absolutely manageable. The tutors were extremely knowledgeable and supportive, they also each offered something unique to the learning experience. The environment at IH Joburg is dynamic and cosmopolitan, and this is reflected in the broad range of students that are attracted to the school.
We were teaching from Day 2, and this full scale immersion set the tone, and the pace for the 4 week learning journey. The course was rigorous and demanding, but I received valuable feedback every step of the way, and was therefore able to adapt and adjust as needed. My cohort was also incredibly supportive, coming from different backgrounds and different teaching experiences. Knowledge sharing was beneficial, and peer-evaluations were insightful and useful.
Every aspect of the course was engaging and interactive, and I am impressed by how much I learnt and retained, in such a short space of time. Aside from the methodology and general teaching know-how, my confidence was also nurtured and I was able to start teaching as soon as I left the centre. I’ve been teaching adults - from beginner to advanced levels - ever since.
Leanne Rencken