Cambridge CELTA Certificate Course: Barcelona, Spain
I was working as an elementary school teacher in a New York City suburb. I wanted a change, to travel, to learn Spanish and to learn more about English as a language, too.
I really enjoyed the CELTA course in Barcelona, particularly the parts which involved looking at language, and it was especially useful to me to consider how to present it to adults. Like most teachers, I now find myself with classes of both teenagers and adults.
If you ask me what qualities do you need to be a teacher?
I think you have to keep an open mind, and it's as much about being a 'people person' - being a good listener and being able and willing to help people, to help them understand - as anything else. For me, that's the satisfaction of being a teacher.
-- Carolyn, USA / CELTA Barcelona, Spain
Read more testimonials about CELTA in Barcelona, Spain
CELTA Course general information, Barcelona
The CELTA course is the original "TEFL" course and provides initial training leading to a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). It is intended for those without previous experience who wish to enter the profession and for teachers with no previous training in this field.
Success in the CELTA Certificate has enabled many candidates to obtain their first teaching position: the CELTA course that we offer in Barcelona is highly regarded by employers as providing sound initial training and a strong basis from which to develop as a teacher of English.
CELTA Course content
The CELTA course covers the following syllabus:
- Language Analysis and Awareness
- The Learner, the Teacher and the Teaching/Learning Context
- Planning for Effective Teaching
- Classroom Management Skills
- Teaching Procedures and Techniques
- Resources and Materials
- Professional Development
- Classroom Observation
- Teaching Practice
CELTA Teaching Practice
Teaching practice is an integral part of the course. This is organised in small groups of 5-6 trainees with volunteer students at two or three different levels. After each teaching practice session an evaluation of the session is led by a course tutor. At the Center in Barcelona, trainees are expected to liase within their groups outside course hours in order to plan teaching practice classes, according to guidelines provided by course tutors.
CELTA Course Assessment
Trainees are continuously assessed in all the syllabus areas, including written assignments, and with particular emphasis on their teaching ability and potential. At the end of the course successful candidates receive the Cambridge Certificate and a Progress Report.
CELTA Entry Criteria for Barcelona
- Candidates must be at least 18 years old at the start of the course.
- They must have a standard of education which would allow entrance to higher education in their country (i.e. University entrance / High School completed).
- They must have an awareness of language, and a competence in English, both written and spoken, that enables them to follow the course.
- They must also have the potential to develop into effective teachers.
CELTA Length & Timetable in Barcelona
You can take a CELTA course in Barcelona either full, part-time or online blended:
- Full-time over four weeks:
- CELTA courses have a minimum of 120 contact hours, plus a further 80 hours plus for required outside of classtime tasks, including assignments and lesson planning. The full-time CELTA course offered in Barcelona is very intensive and requires a full-time commitment. It is not possible or advisable to hold even a part-time job while on the CELTA course.
- Part-time over four months:
- The 120-hour-plus part-time CELTA course is specially designed for people living and working in Barcelona.
CELTA Full Time Timetable (4 weeks)
Sessions are held Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.30pm including teaching practice. A typical day on the full-time CELTA course offered in Barcelona is as follows, although there are sometimes variations:
- 9-10.15 Input session 1
- 10.15-10.45 Break
- 10.45-12-15 Input session 2
- 12.15-13.00 Feedback on previous day's TP and assisted lesson planning
- 13.00-14.00 Lunch break
- 14.00-16.15 Teaching Practice with real students
- 16.15-17.00 Initial feedback on TP and assisted lesson planning
CELTA Part Time Timetable (4 months)
Sessions are between 9.00am and 2.30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, including teaching practice.
A typical day on the part-time CELTA course offered in Barcelona is as follows, although there are may be variations:
- 9-10.45 Input session
- 10.45-11.00 Break
- 11.00-11.30 Feedback & assisted lesson planning
- 12.00-14.00 Teaching practice with real students
- 14.00-14.30 Feedback & assisted lesson planning
CELTA Online-Blended Course
Course format
Note that this is a blended learning course: it is not 100% online as trainees have to attend a minimum of 10 face-to-face sessions at the Training Center.
These face-to-face sessions will involve coming to the Center once every two weeks on a Friday mornings during the 20-week duration of the course.
The University of Cambridge requires candidates on all CELTA courses, whether online or face-to-face, to teach for a total of six hours during the course. This teaching is observed and assessed by course tutors and is divided into 10 separate teaching slots for each candidate, requiring attendance at the school on the ten occasions mentioned above.
The online component
Candidates should be prepared to spend a minimum of five hours a week online to work on interactive tasks, participate in guided video observation and forum discussion.
There will also be online tutorials with the main course tutor.
All input is delivered online and can be completed in the candidate's own time within deadlines set by the course tutor. The online materials are available to each candidate throughout the course, enabling easy self-study and revision.
Assessment
Please note that the online CELTA is assessed and moderated according to the same criteria as fully face-to-face courses and leads to exactly the same qualification.
Timetable
Candidates will attend Teaching Practice (TP) classes once every two weeks on Friday mornings on a minimum of ten occasions.
The morning is broken down as follows:
- 09.00—09.45 Discussion with TP tutor
- 09.45—12.00 TP
- 12.00—13.00 Feedback
Who is the course suitable for?
This course format is probably best suited for those who are resident in Eastern Spain, particularly Catalonia, who can manage to travel to the school on the ten occasions required over the 20 weeks the course lasts.
For some of you this may mean staying overnight in Barcelona on a Thursday in order to be able to attend IH on the Friday morning at 9.00 am.
(In comparison, our alternative four-month part-time face-to-face course involves your coming to class on around 30 occasions).
Note that you do not need advanced computer skills to take the online CELTA course: the ability to use email and the internet and have basic typing skills is all that is required.
CELTA Course Fees and Dates 2013, Barcelona
| Full time | Part time | Online/Blended* |
|---|---|---|
| January 11 – February 7 (Friday Start) | March 4 – June 21 | Oct 4 (2013) – Mar 7 (2014) |
| February 18 – March 15 | November 4 – February 21, 2014 | |
| April 2 – April 29 | ||
| May 2 - May 30 | ||
| May 31 – June 28 | ||
| July 1 – July 26 | ||
| July 29 – August 27 | ||
| August 28 – September 27 | ||
| October 4 – October 31 | ||
| November 12 – December 10 | ||
| *Blended learning course: it is not 100% online as trainees have to attend a minimum of 10 face-to-face sessions at the training center, so it is only suitable for candidates living within the Barcelona area. More about this course | ||
CELTA Course Fees (full-time / part-time) 2013
Price 2013, including Cambridge registration fee: 1,630€
CELTA Course + Spanish Course
The Teacher Training Center is also linked to a long established (i.e. 1972) Spanish language school in Barcelona , the school is located in the same building as the training center.
If you are planning to look for teaching work in Spain or South America after completing your course, and your Spanish language skills are limited, we suggest you to consider taking a Spanish language course before or after completing your teacher training course.
The most popular Spanish course being offered is the 'standard' Spanish course; it consists of 20 hours tuition per week with classes normally held from 09.30-13.30, Monday to Friday.
The Spanish course is offered at any level , with international groups of students with other language learners.
| Duration | Enrol for as many weeks as you like before or after your teacher training programme. |
|---|---|
| Timetable | Monday to Friday, 09.30 to 13.30, with a twenty-minute break. |
| Number of hours |
4 hours tuition per day |
| Size of classes | 7 average, with a maximum of 10 |
| Levels | All levels , from complete beginners to very advanced |
Start dates
New courses start every week.
If you already have some knowledge of Spanish and you are not an absolute beginner, you can start your course on any Monday of the year (except public holidays *).
* In 2012, in the weeks of April 9, May 28 and September 24 our Spanish classes will start on the Tuesday due to public holidays.
* In 2013, in the weeks of April 1, May 20 and June 24 our Spanish classes will start on Tuesday due to public holidays.
If you have no previous knowledge of Spanish, please, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it about specific starting dates, there are two possible starting dates each month for the “total beginners”.
Prices 2012 & 2013
- 1 week: €205 / 2 weeks: €410
- Discounted price per week when booking 3 or more weeks: €195
Please note The course is full-time: it is not possible to combine the course with regular teaching.
What's included in the price?
The price of the course includes booking , the pre-course level test, all course materials, our programme of social and cultural activities , our student card (and the discounts it entitles you to) and access to all the school's facilities , including free Internet usage.
Note that there is no registration fee for our courses or any other hidden extra costs.
How to apply for CELTA Course in Barcelona
If you believe you cover the minimum entry requirements for the CELTA course offered in Barcelona ask for the CELTA application package indicating the CELTA course starting date that interests you the most.
Prospective trainees must complete the CELTA application pack and return it via email to the Programmes Coordinator. The CELTA applicants need to include an updated copy of their CV.
CELTA Applicants who have satisfactorily completed the CELTA application package for Barcelona will be invited to attend an interview shortly after this date with the main course tutor, face to face at the Training Center, or on the telephone (at their own cost) if you are not residing within the Barcelona region.
After the interview, all successful applicants will receive an offer of a place on the CELTA course of their choice immediately, if there is a place available.
After receiving an offer of place, you will have one week (7 days) from the moment they offer you the vacancy to pay a deposit in order to secure your vacancy on the course.
Remember that you should not make any payment until you have received an offer of place (by e-mail).
6 weeks prior the course commencement you will have to pay the balance.
The demand for vacancies on the CELTA courses offered in Barcelona is very high. Applicants are advised to apply at least two to three months before the start of a course, although there are occasionally places available due to last-minute cancellations.
How to pay for your CELTA course in Barcelona
Payments (deposit & balance) can be made directly to the School via Bank Transfer, Bank Cheque, VISA or MASTERCARD.
Please note that you will be responsible for any bank charges or credit card transaction fees, even if you have already paid bank charges in your 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 EUROS.
Cancellation Policy
In all cases of cancellation the School will retain 10% of fees paid to cover administrative costs.
In the case of cancellation six weeks or more before the course starting date, 20% of the total fee will be retained. With less than six weeks' notice, 50% of the fee will be retained.
If cancellation occurs in the final ten days before the starting date the total fee will be retained.
However, in certain exceptional circumstances the School will consider transferring the fees to another course. No transfer is made if notice is insufficient to allow for the finding of a substitute candidate.
