Cambridge CELTA Certificate Course: Melbourne, Australia
Teacher Training in Melbourne, Australia
CELTA Course Aims
In its form as a 4-week intensive course, the Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults dates back to the 1970’s when it was known as the Royal Society of Arts CTEFLA. In 1988, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) assumed joint responsibility with the RSA for these training courses. The Cambridge CELTA Certificate is the most widely recognised pre-service ELT qualification throughout the world.
- The CELTA provides training to people with little or no previous experience in teaching English to adults and is therefore very practical in content.
- The course aims to increase candidates’ language awareness and develop competence in communicative language teaching as well as an understanding of current teaching methodologies.
CELTA Entry Criteria
Candidates must:
- be at least 20 years of age (applicants over 18 may be interviewed in exceptional cases).
- have a good educational background (preferably of university entrance standard).
- have an excellent command of written and spoken English
CELTA Course Content
The course is divided into:
1. Language Analysis
These sessions:
- develop an ability to analyse language in terms of meaning, form, sound and usage
- mainly focus on grammar and pronunciation.
2. Methodology
These sessions cover:
- different approaches to language teaching
- techniques for presentation and practice of new language
- classroom management
- lesson-planning
- use of commercially produced and authentic materials
- developing listening, reading and writing skills
3. Teaching Practice
- Each trainee is required to complete a minimum of 6 hours observed teaching practice with classes of adult learners.
4. Observation of experienced Teachers
- This involves observing Language Centre teachers for a total of 8 hours during the course.

CELTA Course Assessment
Assessment is continuous and is based on:
- performance in Teaching Practice
- an ability to evaluate one’s own lessons
- the quality/punctuality of written assignments
- lesson plans
- participation in all aspects of the course
- attendance, which is expected to be 100%
It is possible to pass the course at three levels: Pass A - Pass B - Pass
The final grades are awarded by the tutors and ratified by the visiting Cambridge assessor after the course.
Certification
Certificates are awarded by UCLES. In addition, each candidate receives a final report from the Teacher Training Center.
CELTA Full Time and Part Time Blended Courses
In Melbourne, in terms of the CELTA course length and based on the course option and starting date there are 2 possible lengths:
1. The full-time CELTA course is 4 weeks long and consists of approximately 120 hours.
- Courses run Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5.30pm, plus homework and assignments that you will have to work on after class and over the weekends
- Due to its intensive nature, the course requires a high level of commitment. To help ensure success, candidates should be free of any other work or study commitments for its duration
3. The part time blended – online CELTA course is a longer course suitable for people living in Melbourne or nearby (includes on site teaching practice).
- Face-to-face teaching practice and observation (in class): every week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00 to 8:30 pm, throughout the weeks the course runs for.
- The rest of the course to be done online (with the Melbourne CELTA Tutors providing guidance): candidates are supposed to do between 7 and 10 hours per week of online work.
Note: The part time blended – online CELTA course is not suitable if you are working on a full time 35 - 40 hours per week job.
CELTA Full Time Course Dates & Fees, Melbourne, Australia
| 2013 Dates: CELTA Full Time | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7 January - 1 February (Fee: $3,000 AUD) | ||
| 6 - 31 May | ||
| 17 June - 12 July | ||
| 4 - 29 November | ||
| 4 week intensive full time Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm | ||
| Fees from February 2013: $3.100 AUD (Includes the Cambridge Assessment fee) | ||
CELTA Part Time / Blended Online Course Dates & Fees, Melbourne, Australia
| 2013 Dates: CELTA Part Time/Blended Online | ||
|---|---|---|
| 4 February - 30 April (ANZAC Day and Easter make this a longer course) | ||
| 2 July - 10 September | ||
| This is a online / blended course – since in classroom - face to face sessions will be required, this course is suitable for people living in Melbourne or nearby. | ||
| Fees: $3.200 AUD (Includes the Cambridge Assessment fee) | ||
The course is structured the following way:
- face-to-face teaching practice and observation (in class): every week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00 to 8:30 pm, throughout the weeks the course runs for.
- rest of the course to be done online (with the CELTA Tutors providing guidance): candidates are supposed to do between 7 and 10 hours per week of online work
Pre-CELTA Course (CELTA Orientation Course)
If you need to boost your confidence with grammar because you are about to participate in a CELTA course, or even if you are already a teacher and would like to review and expand your knowledge of grammar, these workshops will help clarify and give you a solid language base.
The Pre-CELTA or Grammar courses are offered as 3 Saturdays (mornings 10am – 1pm) block courses three times a year.
Dates 2013
On Saturdays from 10am-1pm:
January 26th, February 2nd and 9th
April 20th, 27th and May 4th
On Thursdays from 5.30pm-8.30pm:
June 13th, 20th and 27th
Pre-CELTA Course Fee
$330 + GST or $110 per session
We provide advanced grammar sessions when requested.
CELTA Enrolment Procedure
- If you believe you cover the minimum requirements to be considered as a candidate for the CELTA course that we offer in Melbourne, email our Programmes Coordinator and ask for the CELTA application package that includes the enrolment form and the pre-interview task.
- Prospective trainees must complete the pre-interview task, fill in the enrolment form and return them including also an updated copy of their CV to the CELTA Programmes Coordinator. These documents should be emailed to the Programmes Coordinator as attachments. It is recommended to this well in advance, at least 8 weeks prior the course starting date is advisable; however, last minute applications may be accepted when the availability on the course allows this.
- Within 5 to 10 days after receiving your application, pre-interview task and CV, someone from the CELTA Department will contact you, at their own discretion, in order to arrange a day and a time to have an interview. For those living outside the Melbourne area, this will be conducted on the telephone and applicants are to meet the cost of this, alternatively, there is also the possibility of using Skype.
- During the interview, which can take up to 1 hour, the interviewer will assess your awareness of language structure and function as well as general sensitivity to adult language learning issues. Enrolment on the course is subject to successful completion of the interview. All applicants are required to have an interview.
- After your interview they will decide if they offer you a vacancy on the course or not; if they do it, you will have one week from the moment they offer you the vacancy to pay a deposit in order to secure your vacancy on the course
- 4 weeks approx. prior the course commencement you will have to pay the balance.
CELTA Terms and Conditions
- The Training Center reserves the right to increase course fees or cancel a course at any time.
- Candidates who have not paid their fees in full by the due date will not be allowed to commence the course.
- Deposits may be partly refundable if a) a candidate withdraws due to unavoidable circumstances, (b) sufficient notice is given (at least a month before the commencement date of the course) and (c) it is impossible for the candidate to transfer to another course.
- Final recommended grades are decided by the tutors, validated by the Course Assessor and approved by Cambridge ESOL. Any query should follow the procedure set out in the Candidates Enquiries on Results and Complaints Procedure (given at the start of the course) and must be made within 9 weeks of the issue of final results by Cambridge ESOL.
- Candidates must inform the tutors in writing before the beginning of the course for which they have enrolled of any pre-existing medical problems (including stress-related conditions) which may have an adverse effect on their performance during the course.
- The course is demanding and sometimes stressful. Candidates who withdraw after the beginning of the course, giving stress-related conditions as a reason, will not be offered a refund of their course fees.
- Candidates who withdraw from the course due to sudden illness or unforeseen personal problems may be given the opportunity to re-enrol in a later course, provided there is a vacancy.
- Candidates are financially responsible for all material borrowed from the centre (e.g. books, CDs, cassette recorders, etc).
- Candidates are responsible for providing their own stationery and teaching materials (e.g. folders, blu-tak, scissors, etc.)
- Application forms, course records and portfolios remain the property of Cambridge ESOL. Portfolios will be held for 6 months only, but may be requested during the three month period after this time.
How to Pay
Payments (deposit & balance) can be made directly to the Melbourne Teacher Training Center via Bank Transfer.
