Cambridge CELTA Certificate Course in Austin, Texas

Teacher Training in Austin, Texas

CELTA Course Introduction

The CELTA is the most widely recognized TESL/TEFL certificate in the world. It is an initial certificate, typically for people with their BAs but also for people with advanced degrees that are not English teaching degrees. The CELTA is highly regarded around the world because of its high standards and rigorous assessments. It is one of the few certificate programs that involves practice teaching.

CELTA caters for a wide range of people. Maybe you've been teaching for a few years and would like to get a qualification. Recent university graduates, people wanting to change job and try something else, travellers abroad wanting to combine getting a teaching qualification with living in a foreign country. These are all people who enrol on CELTA courses.

If English isn't your first language this doesn't pose a problem as long as you can demonstrate that you "have an awareness of the language and a competence in both written and spoken English which will enable you to undertake the course and prepare for teaching a range of levels" (Cambridge guidelines) - see Entry Criteria.

The CELTA course aims to:

• provide you with a sound basis in language teaching practice and give you confidence in the classroom;
• give you the training you need to help you meet the challenge of your new profession, wherever you are in the world;
• provide you with a sound base of modern English teaching that will complement your classroom practice;
• help you learn techniques to improve your interaction with speakers of other languages.
• Once you have gained your qualification you will have the skills and knowledge to teach English at any level to a wide variety of students in almost any country in the world where English is a requirement for work, leisure and life.

Why take CELTA if I already have an masters degree or a teaching degree?

Having the CELTA in addition to an MA gives you an advantage over candidates who have a masters. While there are a variety of masters programs (both TESOL and non-TESOL masters, say English literature, etc), because CELTA training is standardised and monitored by Cambridge worldwide and knwm internationally, employers will know exactly what standard of teaching to expect from a job candidate holding a CELTA.

I have no previous teaching experience.

Teaching experience is not a requirement of the program.

I don't know if I'm suited to be a good teacher.

If your idea of teaching involves a lot of lecturing in front of a class -you have the wrong idea of what communicative language teaching is.

Language teaching is different from most types of teaching. While there is a small bit of explaining that comes from the teacher at the front of the class, much of language teaching involves small groups, pair work, and other activities in which the teacher is not the center of proceedings, but a facilitator who encourages others to communicate.

Language teaching suits a variety of personality types and  extroverts and introverts equally excel at and love teaching English.

I already have teaching experience, so do I really need the CELTA?

Regarding previous teaching experience or teaching qualifications, it depends on what and how you've been teaching and the content of your qualification. Did it include communicative style teaching in the classroom? As that is what employers are looking for. Everyone can learn from the CELTA, it holds up a mirror to how you actually teach. Linguistic theory and teaching theory are all well and good, but teaching  practice with feedback from Cambridge certified tutors is worth it's weight in gold. Experienced teachers find themselves fine tuning their teaching during the course, being made to see and reflect on habits and practices, good and bad, that they never knew they had before.

Having this certificate also enhances your job prospects, regardless of the amount of teaching experience you already have.

Back to the top

Employment as an English Teacher after the Course

Currently, there are lots of jobs available abroad for English teaching, and it seems the demand for English teachers will only increase, not decrease, in the coming years. Nevertheless, as demand for teachers has risen, so has the number of people wanting to teach, so despite the large number of jobs abroad, competition for these jobs is fierce. Any advantage you can gain over other prospective teachers should help you gain a job, or a better job.

Can I teach in public schools in the US with the CELTA?

The CELTA does not count towards becoming certified to teach in public schools in the US. The CELTA should, however, count towards professional development credit for current public school teachers.

Back to the top

CELTA Course Entry Criteria

To be accepted for the CELTA course in Austin Texas, applicants must fulfil the following criteria:

• A minimum age of 20* at the start of the CELTA course
• A good standard of education* (e.g. having gained university entrance qualifications, completed High School)
• Awareness and high level of competence in written and spoken English in order to be able to follow the course and prepare for teaching a range of levels
• For non-native speakers, an excellent command of the English language in all areas.
• No previous teaching experience required

*Applicants who are not at least 20 years old or who have not gained university entrance qualifications may be admitted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator

Do you have to know a lot about grammar?

Knowing grammar is definitely beneficial for being an English teacher, but it is not necessary to know everything about grammar to take the CELTA.Key concepts like subject, verb, and verb tense are good to know so:

• Pre course material will be sent ot you on being accepted to start orientating you toward what you need to know
• You will go over some key grammatical concepts during the course and also be exposed to resources for future teaching.

Back to the top

CELTA Course Structure & Content - Austin

The CELTA course is an introduction to the teaching of English as a foreign language and aims to lay a firm foundation on which a teacher can build as s/he gains experience. A CELTA course involves a minimum of 120 contact hours with tutors.

These are broken down into:

• Practical seminars on methodology and language awareness.
• Supervised teaching practice
• Lesson preparation and planning
• Feedback on teaching pratice
• Observation of experienced teacher

On your course there will most likely be ten to twelve people. For CELTA courses there are always two tutors and no more than six students per tutor.

CELTA Syllabus

The syllabus consists of five units of learning that deal with specific topic areas in the teaching of ESOL:

• Unit 1: Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
• Unit 2: Language analysis and awareness
• Unit 3: Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
• Unit 4: Planning and resources for different teaching contexts
• Unit 5: Developing teaching skills and professionalism

Units 1, 4 and 5 focus on the preparation and delivery of ESOL teaching programmes. Units 2 and 3 focus on the content of ESOL teaching programmes as well as the pedagogic knowledge required for teaching language and language skills.

Back to the top

CELTA Timetable

The CELTA full-time course is held during the working day from Monday to Friday Total input = 120 hours

The day will typically include:

• Input sessions
• Lesson Planning
• Assessesd Teaching Practice
• Teaching Practice feedback

in the evening trainees are involved in continued lesson planning alone or with colleagues, writing assignments or observing classes. Trainees will be informed about class observations in advance.

Back to the top

CELTA Course Assessment – Austin

Assessment overview

• One of the reasons CELTA is popular is precisely because there is no final exam. Evaluation is strictly practical and is based on your ability to plan and give lessons.
• You will also have to write four assignments which are marked. Outside Cambridge assessors are involved in your final evaluation and grade. You must obviously complete the course, and if you do not meet the minimal threshold you can also fail; but we will do our best to help you succeed thoughout.

Assessment framework

There are two components:

Component 1: Planning and teaching

In this component, candidates are required to practice teach for a total of six assessed hours, working with adult learners at a minimum of two levels in classes of the required size. By the end of the six hours of assessed teaching practice, candidates should have demonstrated successful achievement of all the teaching practice assessment criteria.

Component 2: Classroom-related written assignments (of which there are four assignments in total).

This component consists of four written assignments:

• Adult learners and learning contexts
• Aspect of the language system of English
• Aspect of language skills
• Reflection on classroom teaching and the identification of action points

The assignments are internally assessed and externally moderated.

Assessment requirements

To meet the assessment requirements, candidates are required to attend a course and to:

• Practice teach classes of the relevant age group and size for a total of six hours
• Observe experienced teachers teaching classes of adult learners for a total of six hours, two of which may be on video
• Maintain and submit a portfolio of all course work including all written assignments and materials related to teaching practice.

Mode of assessment

Assessment is continuous and integrated:

• Assessment takes place throughout the course.
• Component 1 and 2 contribute to the overall grade.

Back to the top

CELTA Certificate grades

The Certificate will be awarded to candidates who meet the course requirements and whose performance meets, or exceeds, the criteria in both assessment components. Candidates are ineligible for the award in cases where dishonesty or plagiarism is brought to the attention of Cambridge ESOL Teaching Awards.

CELTA is internally assessed and externally moderated by a Cambridge ESOL approved assessor who samples portfolios and teaching practice and who discusses and agrees the grades for all candidates.

A Pass

This grade is awarded to candidates whose performance overall in the teaching practice and in the written assignments meets the specified criteria.

They will continue to need guidance to help them to develop and broaden their range of skills as teachers in post.

Pass (Grade B)

This grade is awarded to candidates whose performance in the written assignments meets the specified criteria and who have demonstrated in their teaching practice a level of achievement significantly higher than that required to meet pass-level criteria in relation to: Demonstration of the criteria for teaching skills and professionalism.

They will continue to need some guidance to help them to develop and broaden their range of skills as teachers in post.

A Pass (Grade A)

This grade is awarded to candidates whose performance in the written assignments meets the specified criteria and who have demonstrated in their teaching practice a level of ability and achievement and a level of awareness significantly higher than that required to meet pass-level criteria in relation to:

• Planning for effective teaching
• Teaching skills and professionalism

They will benefit from further guidance in post but will be able to work independently.

Candidates who fail to meet criteria in any or all assessed components will receive a Fail.

You must obviously complete the course, and if you do not meet the minimal threshold you can also fail; but we will do our best to help you succeed thoughout.

Back to the top

CELTA Course Dates & Course Fees - Austin Texas, USA

Early bird special for Summer CELTA courses

Get a $500 ($1995 total) discount if you register and pay 45 days in advance:

• May 28 (Monday is a holiday)- June 21 - register and pay by April 12
• June 24 - July 19 - register and pay by May 13
• July 22 - August 16 - register and pay by June 7
• October 7 - November 1 – register and pay by August 23
• November 18 - December 13 – register and pay by October 4

Course Texts to buy or borrow: Language Teaching by Jim Scrivener, ISBN 0435240897.

Apply now!

Back to top

How to Apply – CELTA Austin, Texas, USA

• If you believe you cover the minimum entry requirements to be considered as a candidate for the CELTA course, fill out our short enquiry form asking for the application package.
• Prospective trainees must complete the CELTA application form and pre interview tasks and e-mail them back to us.
• Acceptance onto the University of Cambridge CELTA course is not automatic or guaranteed. Applicants must satisfactorily complete the tasks and pass a subsequent interview to be accepted.  Non-native speakers of English must be able to demonstrate that their level of English, both spoken and written, is suitable for the demands of the course. The decision of the centre is final.
• Applicants who have satisfactorily completed the pre-interview task will be invited to attend an interview shortly after this date at the School or on the telephone if the candidate is not based within Austin. Skype can also be an alternative option to avoid long distance phone call costs.
• Successful applicants will receive an offer of a place on the CELTA course immediately, if there is a place available.
• A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space in the course, and the remaining amount by the first class day. You may obtain a full refund (minus the deposit) any day before the start of the course, but after the first day, there is no refund. In cases of emergencies, we allow you to withdraw from the course and use your tuition for a course at a later date provided space is available.
• The school reserves the right to refuse admission to any student or to dismiss any student in the event of misconduct or unsatisfactory attendance or timekeeping or work, without refund of fees.
• No liability is accepted by the school for the loss or damage of property.

Contact us

Back to top

How to Pay

• Payments (deposit & balance) can be made to the Center via: Visa or Mastercard, personal checks, cashier's checks, wire transfers, and cash (in person only)
• Please note that you will be responsible for any bank charges (This includes international students who have already paid bank charges in their own country). So please, when paying make sure that the payment to the School is "free of charges" since the School has to receive the whole net amount in USD.

Back to the top

Conditions of Enrolment

Cancellation Charges and Refund Policy

• In cases of emergencies, we allow you to withdraw from the course and use your tuition for a course at a later date.
• In the case of cancellations made later than four weeks before the start of the course, requests for refund can only be considered if we have been able to fill the place at short notice.
• The deposit and Cambridge ESOL registration fees (when applicable) are not refundable ($300).
• Upon commencement of a CELTA course, the course fee will not be refunded if the candidate decides to withdraw.
• The Training Centre in Austin reserves the right to postpone or cancel any course due to insufficient student numbers or operational problems. In this event candidate will be given as much notice as possible and full refunds will be made.
• Course Fees are not refundable or transferable. We therefore strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive insurance which covers reimbursement of fees.

Selection criteria, assessment and grades

• The CELTA Centre in Austin is a Pass/Fail course, and that if the candidate receives a 'Fail' grade, the result cannot be changed, and that the course fee will not be refunded.
• The CELTA Centre in Austin requires 100% class attendance, in addition to work outside of scheduled contact hours.  As a result, absences, tardiness, incomplete or late assignments may compromise grades on the course.
• Information disclosed in the application must be complete and accurate, including any circumstances that may affect performance on the course.

Back to the top