Missy Blanchard will be returning to the CELTA Training Center in Honolulu for the September 2 – 28, 2013 CELTA program.
Missy has a BA from Fordham University as well as a certificate in TESL. She holds a DELTA Diploma in Teaching English to Adults and is an approved CELTA Assessor.
A few of the many locations where Missy has trained new teachers in the CELTA include: The University of Texas at Austin, Southern Cross University in Quito, Ecuador; Language Link in Beijing, China; South East European University in Tetova, Macedonia; Akcent International House, Prague, Czech Republic; The British Counsel in Cairo, Egypt and at the International House in Bogotá, Columbia; Dubai, UAE; Belfast, Northern Ireland and Barcelona, Spain.
Besides training new teachers on countless CELTA courses, Missy has taught and tutored ESL in France, the US, and Canada, She has developed curriculum and organized and presented a variety of training workshops. She has trained ESL teachers to teach Life Skills and Presentation Skills courses to advanced learners and has worked as a volunteer teacher trainer for ESL instructors at Neighborhood Centers Inc.in Houston, Texas.
Missy has a wide range of interests. In her free time she enjoys going to the theater, seeing films, reading and running. In the 80s, she studied dance and performed in New York and was a member of Actors Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. She has completed two New York City Marathons. Missy loves to travel alone and with her husband of five years. She has visited over 60 countries and her favorites are port cities where she explores markets and souks, bargaining for textiles to add to her collection. Many here at the CELTA Training Center in Honolulu will remember Missy from her work in 2012. We are pleased that she is coming back.
Amy Schirmer will be coming to the CELTA Training Center in Honolulu for the June 3 – 28, 2013 CELTA program.
Amy has a BSc in Editorial Journalism and a BA in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an MA in TESOL and Spanish from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Amy’s 15 years as a CELTA trainer include instructing in programs at RMIT University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; International House Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Durban, South Africa; Miami and Ecuador; Global Vision International, in Mexico and Thailand; St. Giles in San Francisco; the University of Texas at Austin; ELS in Seattle; ISE in Tehran; and Southern Cross in Ecuador.
She has been a Senior Fellow for the US Department of State, providing in-service workshops and training support for English teachers in public schools in Kosovo and as a free-lance Consultant for projects in Kosovo and Ecuador.
Amy has a wide range of interests including organic farming, a capella singing and has worked as a volunteer crisis counselor for telephone hotlines.
Ellen Hunt Will lead all three sessions of CELTA in 2013 at the CELTA Training Center in Honolulu.
Ellen has over 25 years' experience in the field of English Language Training as a CELTA (main course) Tutor and Assessor, and IELTS Trainer and Examiner, a Director of Studies, course designer, material writer and instructor. She has been a CELTA Trainer since 2004 and a CELTA Assessor since 2010.
She has also delivered training to non-native speakers in China, Vietnam and Singapore. Ellen is an IELTS Examiner and was an Examiner Trainer from 2005 – 2011, responsible for countries in the Americas and China.
Ellen has managed academic programs at the Instituto Britanico in Costa Rica for the Indonesian Australian Language Foundation (ALF) in Indonesia. She has considerable experience in teacher training and development coordinating in-service training in her management roles.
She has developed curriculum and materials for General, Business and Academic English programs as well as English for Special Purposes. She has worked in a variety of settings such as private language institutes, universities, for non-governmental organizations, government ministries and businesses in different countries.
Ellen has a degree in General Education from South Central College in New Haven, CT and is working on a MA in General Education with a specialty in applied linguistics from the Open University in the UK.
Amy Schirmer will be coming to Honolulu for the June 3 – 28, 2013 CELTA program.
Amy has a BSc in Editorial Journalism and a BA in German from the University of Colorado at Boulder and an MA in TESOL and Spanish from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Amy began her teaching career in 1990 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Her 12 years as a CELTA trainer include instructing in programs at International House Queensland, Australia; RMIT University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; International House Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Mexico; Durban, South Africa; Global Vision International in Mexico and Thailand; St. Giles in San Francisco; IH/Sol in Miami, the University of Texas at Austin; ELS in Seattle; ISE in Tehran; and Southern Cross in Ecuador.
She has been a Senior Fellow for the US Department of State, providing in-service workshops and training support for English teachers in public schools in Kosovo and as a free-lance Consultant for projects in Kosovo and Ecuador.
Ellen Hunt will lead all three sessions of CELTA in 2013. Ellen has over 25 years’ experience in the field of English Language Training as a CELTA (main course) Tutor and Assessor, and ILTS Trainer and Examiner, a Director of Studies, course designer, material writer and instructor.
She has been a CELTA Trainer since 2004 and a CELTA Assessor since 2010. She has also delivered training to non-native speakers in China, Vietnam and Singapore. Ellen is an IELTS Examiner and was an Examiner Trainer from 2005 – 2011, responsible for countries in the Americas and China.
Ellen has managed academic programs at the Instituto Britanico in Costa Rica for the Indonesian Australian Language Foundation (ALF) in Indonesia. She has considerable experience in teacher training and development coordinating in-service training in her management roles. She has developed curriculum and materials for General, Business and Academic English programs as well as English for Special Purposes.
She has worked in a variety of settings such as private language institutes, universities, for non-governmental organizations, government ministries and businesses in different countries.
She has a degree in General Education from South Central College in New Haven, CT and is working on a MA in General Education with a specialty in applied linguistics from the Open University in the UK.
While many are focused on Northern Italy or Rome for teacher training, we discover that not only is it cheaper to live and get your CELTA qualification in Sicily, but the quality of the programme and student support is second to none: Reduced numbers, comprehensive pre-CELTA preparation and on course support. After that, the beautful isle of Sicily, with it's fascinating history and clement weather to enjoy.
We talk to Robert Martínez, PHD TESOL Candidate and Teacher Trainer for the CELTA, Delta and Young Learners Programmes in Catania Sicily.
Cambridge Young Learners Extension to CELTA
We asked: What got you into the TEFL industry in the first place? How many years have you worked within the TEFL industry and what have you done with yourself during that time?
Robert: I started teaching English in Colombia 18 years ago and have lived and worked in Colombia, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada. I always wanted to be an educator and so it was no wonder I ended up following my dreams. I love learning myself and so I’ve been very busy in these 18 years and continue to be busy as I’m now working towards a PhD in TESOL.
I hold an MA in TESOL (Merit), Post Grad Diploma in TESOL, Trinity College London Cert ICT, DELTA, CELTA, trained as a Translator and Interpreter (English-Spanish-Italian), Certificates in Moodle, Digital Games in ELT, E-Moderation, Essential Skills for Managers, Promethean IWB Levels 1 and 2. I’m also an accredited Cambridge ESOL CELTA, CELTA Online, YL Extension to CELTA, DELTA and TKT Practical Tutor and Assessor, Speaking Examiner for YLE, KET, PET, FCE, CAE, CPE, ILEC and IELTS. In short, I see learning as a continuous process, enjoy it very much and try to share this enthusiasm with all our trainees and students.
(editors note: Crickey what a study junkie! ...and...We're not worthy!)
We asked: How much teaching did you have behind you before embarking on further study and becoming a teacher trainer and why did you choose this career path?
Robert: I had 10 years of full time teaching experience in the classroom before I started working as a trainer on the IHCYL and then trained up as a Cambridge ESOL Teaching Awards teacher trainer. This was the natural order of things in my career path and since I tremendously enjoy working with and learning with and from others, one thing led to the other.
We asked: How has your teaching changed over time? What are your current interests in teaching methodology?
Robert: Well, it has changed a lot but not radically. I would say it has improved thanks to my experience of teaching in so many different countries and cultures and the wide range of qualifications I have gained so far. I must say that my MA in TESOL research project has consistently re-shaped my views of ELT and teaching and learning. I believe in the benefits of metacognition or learning to learn and so this beliefs system and field remains my main field of study and interest.
By metacognition or learning to learn I mean, that only when we know ourselves as learners and how we best learn, can we actually start learning for life rather than for the task ahead.
It’s important to understand what our own learning styles are and what it is that we already do well (or not) and once these (un)known strategies are identified we can use them to our advantage. There are lots of strategies that can be used and the idea is that these strategies (consciously applied) become skills (naturally applied or without a conscious effort to carry them out). Rebecca Oxford’s Teaching and Researching Learning Strategies offers an up to date account on the subject.
Can I Fail the CELTA?
Yes.
Our advice:
- Make sure you have the decks clear of work and other study as you will be VERY VERY BUSY.
- Forget the chores. Make sure you have the emotional and practical support from friends and family at home - as you will be VERY VERY BUSY.
- Make sure you are in a good state of physical and emotional health to endure long days of work for a month, daily teaching and teaching feedback which may not always be positive. Having said that, Trainers are very supportive on the CELTA course, but they also have to tell you when you haven't done something well!
- Forget nightlife. Put your social life on hold for a bit. If people care about you, they'll understand.
"I kept telling myself "it’s only for a month" as night after night I missed my regular yoga classes because of the study required. One of our tutors shared a comment that CELTA was "the cheapest personal development course around” an accurate description I have to agree with...I liked the intensity of the course, it ensured a person like me who multitasks and juggles life had no choice but to focus and stay focused. The rest of the world managed without my input."
- -Matewiki Karehana, New Zealand – CELTA Auckland, New Zealand
You must complete the course. Candidates who fail to meet criteria in any or all assessed components will receive a Fail.
Being accepted on the course is a clear indication that you have what it takes to pass and tutors will advise you of your progress throughout. However, the work must be done by you to pass. That candidates can fail, ensures the quality and standard of CELTA as a certificate, giving it more strength as a qualification.
The Young Learners market is booming. Why?
Two words. The market.
Let's look at countries like Spain for example - and here we can speak from direct experience.
You'll find that the push for English is happening at an earlier age across Southern Europe as the fight for jobs gets tougher. Parents are enrolling children at "bi-lingual" day cares and English classes start as young as six months old through programmes such as the "Helen Doron Method". Extra currcular classes are offered for children after school and private language schools are very busy.
If you work in countries like this, chances are, half your time will be spent with children from 5 years of age and up. It's not scary and can be a real laugh, but you need to be prepared. Managing a classroom of children and teaching them a language is a whole different ball game to teaching adults. The pace of the class you give, the activities, all have to be focused on children who could be pretty tired after a day at school and may or may not want to be there. You will make the difference to whether the class becomes another chore or something stimulating that will make English more than a subject. Having some useful input into this is invaluable.
In response to requests for 'teaching kids', more and more CELTA courses look at it as part of the course, although CELTA is for Adults, but there are other courses that you can do:
Seville: Young Learners Course
From our Training Centre in Melbourne Australia
The great things about Delta:
- You can do it by studying modules, so it's more flexible.
- Modules One and Three can be done online
- Module Two (which is teaching) is done in situ at a training centre.
- Teaching can be observed when you like, in your own workplace with your own class, depending on the course and where you are
- The DELTA is becoming recognised and even required (in some centres) in Australia for management positions.
- Delta in the UK is a basic requirement for many good teaching and management jobs
- Tailor it to your professional vision: Module Three you can specialise in ESL Management. There's also the possibility of specialising in EAP or Young Learners
CELTA Cambridge Certificate: CELTA course Barcelona, Spain | CELTA course Seville, Spain | CELTA Malaga, Spain | CELTA course Catania Sicily, Italy | CELTA course Dublin | CELTA course Lisbon | CELTA course Bournemouth | CELTA course in Malta | CELTA course Auckland | CELTA course Wellington | CELTA course Cape Town | CELTA Course Adelaide | CELTA course Brisbane | CELTA course Hobart | CELTA course Melbourne | CELTA course Perth | CELTA course Sydney | CELTA Whitsundays | CELTA Course Frankfurt | CELTA Course Lisbon | CELTA Strasbourg, France | CELTA London, UK | CELTA Newcastle, UK | CELTA Oxford, UK | CELTA Toronto, Canada | CELTA Austin, Texas USA | CELTA Miami, Florida USA | CELTA Honolulu, Hawaii | CELTA Mexico City, Mexico | CELTA Cuernavaca, Mexico | CELTA Guadalajara, Mexico | CELTA Riviera Maya, Mexico | CELTA Beijing, China
Delta Modules: Delta Modules Barcelona, Spain | Delta Modules Seville, Spain | Delta Modules Catania Sicily, Italy | Delta Modules Strasbourg, France | Delta Modules Bournemouth, UK | Delta Modules Sydney, Australia | Delta Modules Perth, Australia | Delta Modules Cape Town, South Africa | Delta Modules London, UK | Delta Modules Newcastle, UK | DELTA Modules Toronto, Canada
TESOL and TESL courses: TESOL course Bournemouth | CLIL Course Bournemouth | TESOL course Malta | Cert IV in TESOL course Sydney | Cert IV in TESOL course Brisbane | TESOL course Auckland, New Zealand | TESOL course Wellington, New Zealand | TESOL London | TESOL Newcastle | Cert TESL Canada | TESOL + TKT Perth
CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) Courses: CLIL course Bournemouth, UK | CLIL Oxford, UK
Young Learners courses: CELTA Young Learners Extension Certificate: Barcelona, Spain | Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners - CYL: Seville, Spain | Young Learners Extension Certificate: Catania, Sicily Italy
Formación de Profesores de Español: Curso de formación de profesor de español ELE Sevilla, España | Curso de formación de profesor de español ELE, Barcelona, España | FIPELE Frankfurt | FPELE Mexico City, Mexico | FPELE Cuernavaca, Mexico