Cambridge CELTA Certificate Course:
Cape Town, South Africa

Teacher Training in Cape Town, South Africa

I did CELTA the course in Cape Town because I wanted to teach English in Korea. I found the course very tough but at the same time extremely rewarding. Not only was having the CELTA Certificate the deciding factor in getting me a good job in Korea, it also gave me the ability to teach in front of a class with confidence. I would recommend this course to anyone considering teaching abroad.

- Jonathan Espen, South Africa / CELTA Cape Town

Read more testimonials about CELTA in Cape Town, South Africa

Introducing the Cambridge CELTA course

The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, this is, the CELTA Certificate, is a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) course administered by Cambridge University ESOL. In contrast to other TEFL courses, it is a TEFL qualification which is recognised world-wide.

The CELTA course is recommended to anyone who wants to start teaching English as a foreign language either at one of the many English language schools in Cape Town or abroad.

Why to take the CELTA course?

• CELTA is internationally recognised.
• The CELTA Certificate is an essential qualification for entering the field of TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).
• CELTA is the best known and most widely taken qualification in the field of English language teaching to adults. The CELTA course is designed and closely monitored by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations; and on passing the course, trainees receive a certificate from Cambridge University, as well as a report from the centre detailing the trainees’ areas of strength and weakness.
• The CELTA course is both practical and theoretical with extensive, closely supervised teaching practice followed by both written and oral feedback.
• CELTA Trainers are highly qualified and experienced, and approved by Cambridge University.

Recognition & Regard

Due to the rigorous annual approval process and constant moderation of courses the CELTA is highly regarded worldwide; Cambridge University being well known throughout the world is often requested by employers nationally and internationally.

The CELTA is recognised by:

• TEFL / TESL / TEFOL / TESOL / ELT (English language teaching) employers around the world
• English Language Colleges in Australia ,
• many ministries of education
• government bodies such as the British Council
• TESOL, IATEFL, EA and other major professional organisations.

It is also well regarded by organisations such as JET, and Volunteers Abroad.

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CELTA Course Content

It is a 4 week course, with a very practical approach. A solid grounding is provided in teaching skills and techniques. Emphasis is placed on developing awareness and sensitivity to student needs and also on your general language awareness.

Candidates need to spend about 80 non-contact hours on the course, as well as the 120 contact hours. This is mostly time spent on lesson planning and writing assignments during the course, but also includes pre-course preparation.

There is a maximum of 12 trainees per course, divided into two Teaching Practice (TP) groups, with a maximum of 6 trainees per TP group.

Breakdown of course content

There are four elements:

1. Input sessions

This includes, for example:

• Lesson planning.
• Classroom Management.
• Methodology and lesson frameworks.
• Language analysis from the perspective of a foreign learner.
• Sessions are conducted using the learner-centred methodology that is encouraged in teaching practice, and in these sessions tutors model teaching techniques and concepts.

2. Teaching Practice

Trainees do 6 hours (about 9 or 10 lessons) of assessed teaching practice over the four weeks. This is a key part of the course. The trainees split into smaller groups and teach foreign volunteer students, who often have refugee status. Trainees receive guidance from the tutors in planning their lessons, and after the lessons there is a group feedback session, with oral feedback from other trainees and the tutor. The tutor also gives detailed written feedback on the lesson.

3. Observation of experienced teachers

Trainees observe a minimum of 6 hours of lessons taught by experienced, CELTA qualified teachers. Up to two of these may be guided video observation. This is an opportunity to observe a range of teaching styles and techniques as well as a range of teaching contexts.

4. Written assignments

Based on input and teaching sessions, these are a very practical assimilation tool, which reinforce skills and knowledge development.

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CELTA Entry Requirements, Cape Town

You don't need to have a teaching qualification or experience, but

Trainees should:

• Be 18 or older at the start of the course.
• Have a Matric pass (or equivalent leaving High School certificate) which would enable entrance into tertiary level education (i.e. having gained enough academic level for University entrance).
• Have a good level of awareness and proficiency in the English language (non native English speakers are also welcome as long as they have a high proficiency in spoken and written English)
• Be willing and able to cope with the intensity of the course.

Interested candidates are required to complete a pre-interview task, and may then be invited to a face to face or phone interview (depending on location of the candidate), at which the candidate will immediately be told whether or not he/she has been accepted onto the CELTA course. The interview allows the centre to determine the candidate’s potential to pass the course and allows candidates to get a clearer idea of what the course involves.

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CELTA Course Assessment, Cape Town

How are participants assessed?

Assessment is continuous, and is based on teaching practice and assignments. Progress is communicated to trainees through feedback and grading of individual lessons, through tutorials (at least one tutorial during the course) as well as through feedback on written assignments. Tutors agree on the final grade (Pass A, Pass B, Pass or Fail) in consultation with an external assessor, who visits the centre for a day to moderate grading and ensure that all Cambridge regulations are being followed.

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CELTA Employment Prospects

There is a growing demand for ELT (English Language Teaching) professionals worldwide, and it is becoming more and more necessary to have the CELTA Certificate in order to enter the global ELT profession. Many schools require CELTA as a minimum qualification, and most offer a higher salary to CELTA-qualified teachers.

You will receive general employment advice, and other possibilities beyond CELTA, during the last week of your course, and tutors will give you the benefit of their particular experience. Cambridge work very hard at gaining recognition for CELTA world-wide and it is safe to say that CELTA is now the international ELT industry standard. More and more language schools require teachers to have a minimum of CELTA, and some schools may offer salary incentives to people with CELTA.

Internationally, a CELTA qualified teacher could potentially teach anywhere in the world, though obviously visa requirements vary from country to country. Generally speaking, the more desirable a location is, the harder it will be to find teaching jobs, and vice versa. So for example, schools in Western Europe and North America tend to want fewer, and more experienced teachers and have stricter visa requirements.

That leaves plenty of other places however. Teachers who have done CELTA in Cape Town have gone on to teach in many locations around the world, for example Central Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Far East. The latter two regions are particularly popular as visas are easier to get and large numbers of CELTA qualified teachers are required (and also dollars can be earned!). At the moment, the Middle East, South Korea and Taiwan seem to be popular destinations for CELTA graduates.

In South Africa the industry is generally smaller. However, in Cape Town ELT is now well established and more and more schools are opening here Whatever your plans beyond the CELTA course, if you’re willing to be flexible you will certainly find some teaching work.

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CELTA Course Dates and Fees, Cape Town

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Public holidays 2013: 01 Jan., 21 Mar., 29 Mar., 01 Apr., 27 Apr., 01 May, 17 June, 09 Aug., 24 Sept., 16 Dec., 25 Dec., 26 Dec. Where Monday is a public holiday courses start on a Tuesday.

Apply now!

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CELTA Course Enrolment Procedure, Cape Town

If you believe you cover the minimum requirements to be considered as a candidate for any of the courses mentioned above ask for the application package of the course that interests you.

Prospective trainees must complete the pre-Interview task, fill in the application form and return them to the Programmes Coordinator well in advance prior the course starting date. When emailing the documents, attaching an updated version of the prospective trainees CV is also necessary.

Applicants who have satisfactorily completed the application package and tasks included in it may be invited to attend an interview shortly after this date at the school or on the telephone (at your own cost) or via Skype if you are not located within the Cape Town area.

Successful applicants will receive an "offer of a place" on the course of their choice immediately, if there is a place available.

After receiving an invoice from the School, a deposit, that it is part of the total tuition cost, must be paid within 7 days of the place being offered in order to secure your place.

The balance is due 4 to 2 weeks, at the latest, before the course starts, depending on the date of acceptance.

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CELTA Cape Town + Volunteer Projects in South Africa

We offer the possibility to join a Volunteer Project in South Africa to our CELTA students.

South Africa is a country with abundant natural resources and spectacular scenery. It is a country of fascinating people, rich in culture and history. At the same time it is a country where, for poor communities, daily life can be a struggle, and animals and their habitats are sometimes endangered. Many NGO's throughout South Africa are making an important contribution helping the poor, and helping to protect animals and natural resources.

Most organisations are understaffed and underfunded. Without local and international volunteers, they would not be able to deliver. Working as a volunteer in South Africa you can make a real difference.

Helping people in need or working in nature conservation can be a hugely rewarding experience. At times volunteering can be a real challenge, but you can connect to people and gain an insight into South Africa which would not be possible in any other way.

A number of projects are available in and around Cape Town, and there are also projects available in other parts of South Africa.

There are limits on the number of volunteers each project can accept. Most programmes are available all year round, except for those that are not available during school holidays.

We offer two different type of projects:

Social and Community Projects

For anyone with an interest in working with people, a wide range of NGO's work with communities, helping to improve the quality of their lives. All of these NGO's depend on the efforts and enthusiasm of the people who work for them. Many would not be able to cope without the additional help they get from volunteers, both local and international.

Choose your project out of the following:

• Children’s Village
• House of care
• NOAH
• New Hope Community
• Jeffrey's Bay Kindergarten Project

If interested in receiving further information about these projects in general or one in particular let us know when applying for your CELTA course and we will include a pdf. with detailed information when emailing you the CELTA application package.

Animal and Conservation Projects

Disadvantaged communities are sometimes unable to care for their animals. Without help, these animals could develop illnesses or end up scavenging on rubbish heaps. Animal projects in Africa sometimes involve working with animals for the benefit of people; for instance, healing projects.

If you love animals and nature, and want to volunteer to help, then become an African conservation volunteer by choosing one of the following projects:

Disadvantaged communities are sometimes unable to care for their animals. Without help, these animals could develop illnesses or end up scavenging on rubbish heaps. Animal projects in Africa sometimes involve working with animals for the benefit of people; for instance, healing projects. If you love animals and nature, and want to volunteer to help, then become an African conservation volunteer by choosing one of the following projects:

• African Horizon
• White Lion Project
• Garden Route Elephant Park
• Monkey Sanctuary
• Bird & Primate World
• Shark project
• Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre
• Farm stays

If interested in receiving further information about these projects in general or one in particular let us know when applying for your CELTA course and we will include a pdf. with detailed information when emailing you the CELTA application package.

* Donations

Funding is a major concern for most projects. With every volunteer placement (Cape Town based projects only) a donation is payable that is passed on in full to the project. Therefore volunteers are also making an important financial contribution to their project.

If interested in receiving further information about these projects in general or one in particular let us know when applying for your CELTA course and we will include a pdf. with detailed information when emailing you the CELTA application package.

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How to Pay

Payments (deposit & balance) are to done directly to the Cape Town Teacher Training Center via Bank Transfer (in EUROS, USD or ZAR, depending on your location or where you are from), VISA or MASTERCARD.

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