Cambridge CELTA Certificate Course: Toronto, Canada

Teacher Training in Toronto, Canada

CELTA Course Introduction

The Cambridge University ESOL CELTA Certificate is an introductory course in teaching English for candidates who have little or no previous English Language teaching experience. It may also be suitable for candidates with some experience but little previous training.

CELTA is an ELT (English Language Teaching) certificate, which encompasses TESL (i.e. Teaching English as Second Language) and TEFL (i.e. Teaching English as Foreign Language). It is the most widely recognized and respected international certificate in teaching English offered in Canada.

CELTA course key points

• Intensive course which requires a full-time commitment
• Involves a minimum of 120 hours with additional time required for preparation and assignments
• Follows the Cambridge CELTA syllabus and provides practical and professional awareness of learners, language, methodology and materials
• Develops practical ability in classroom management, lesson planning, introduction and practice of new language, and the development of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills
• Is intended for native and non native speakers of English whose English is of native-speaker level
• Provides pre-service training to those with no teaching experience
• Is also suited to those who are already in the profession, but who have no formal teaching qualification

CELTA course aims

• Acquire essential subject knowledge and familiarity with the principles of effective teaching
• Acquire a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners
• Demonstrate their ability to apply their learning in a real teaching context

Candidates who complete the course successfully can begin working in a variety of ESOL teaching contexts around the world.

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CELTA Course Entry Criteria

To be accepted for the CELTA courses in Toronto, 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, the required command of English is that of Proficiency (CPE), IELTS 8.5-9.0 , TOEIC 945+ points,  i.e. close to native speaker's competence.
• 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.

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CELTA Course Structure & Content - Toronto: 4 week full time course or 11 week part time course

The CELTA courses will have a minimum of 120 contact hours including:

• Input
• Supervised lesson planning
• Teaching practice (six assessed hours, teaching foreign students)
• Feedback on teaching
• Peer observation
• Observation of experienced teachers (minimum six hours)
• Consultation time

Candidates will need to dedicate a minimum of 80 hours for the required reading, research, pre- and post- session tasks, assignments and lesson preparation.

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 programs. Units 2 and 3 focus on the content of ESOL teaching programs as well as the pedagogic knowledge required for teaching language and language skills.

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CELTA Course Assessment – Toronto

Assessment overview

CELTA is awarded at the Training Center in Toronto to candidates who have completed the course and who have met the assessment criteria for all written and practical assignments.

The overall assessment aims for each unit are that candidates should be able to:

1. Assess learner needs, and plan and teach lessons which take account of learners’ backgrounds, learning preferences and current needs
2. Demonstrate language knowledge and awareness and appropriate teaching strategies
3. Demonstrate knowledge about language skills and how they may be acquired
4. Plan and prepare lessons designed to develop their learners’ overall language competence
5. Demonstrate an appropriate range of teaching skills at this level and show professional awareness and responsibility

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:

1. Adult learners and learning contexts
2. Aspect of the language system of English
3. Aspect of language skills
4. 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:

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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.

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CELTA Full Time Course Dates & Course Fees - Toronto

Textbooks:

We recommend the following reading materials upon your acceptance into the CELTA program.

• Learning Teaching, Jim Scrivener (Heinemann)
• A Concise Grammar for English Language Teachers, Tony Penston (TP Publications)
• Practical English Usage, Michael Swan (Oxford University Press)Practical English Usage, Michael Swan (Oxford University Press)

Accommodation Options: Full Time CELTA

Apply now!

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CELTA Part-Time Course Dates & Course Fees - Toronto

The CELTA part-time course in Toronto is held Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6:00pm - 10pm during 11 weeks including practicum; Total input = 120 hours

NB: Trainees will need to do 4 observations of professional teachers during morning and/or afternoon sessions over the 11 weeks. This may mean making arrangements with your work place.

Textbooks:

We recommend the following reading materials upon your acceptance into the CELTA program.

• Learning Teaching, Jim Scrivener (Heinemann)
• A Concise Grammar for English Language Teachers, Tony Penston (TP Publications)
• Practical English Usage, Michael Swan (Oxford University Press)Practical English Usage, Michael Swan (Oxford University Press)

Accommodation Options: Part Time CELTA

Apply now!

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Jobs

CELTA is the most requested pre-service teaching qualification by both public and private employers overseas. When checking websites advertising English teaching jobs, you will often see CELTA listed as the preferred qualification.

Employers have confidence that anyone with a CELTA certificate has received effective, practical, real-world training that has prepared them to go directly into a teaching position.

Both Teacher Training Centers in Toronto provide you with the website addresses of major recruiters of ELT teachers worldwide. We encourage you to contact them so the recruiters can then forward lists of current world-wide teaching vacancies.

The Teacher Training Centers in Toronto often receive job ads from employers, specifically seeking their CELTA graduates. These ads are posted on their job boards. While the English Teacher Training Centers in Toronto have also hired many CELTA graduates, they do not guarantee employment -it's your responsibility to pursue the job opportunities you are interested in.

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How to Apply – Part Time and Full Time CELTA in Toronto

1. If you believe you cover the minimum entry requirements to be considered as a candidate for the CELTA course, contact us and fill out our short enquiry form asking for the application package, always, mention the course starting date of your interest. Note: The demand for vacancies on these courses is very high. Applicants are advised to apply well in advance before the start of a course, although, occasionally, there could be places available due to last-minute cancellations.
2. Prospective trainees must complete the CELTA application package and return it to us including an updated copy of their CV long time in advance prior the course starting date. These documents need to be emailed as attachments to us.
3. Applicants who have satisfactorily completed the pre-interview task will be invited to attend an interview shortly after this date at the Center or on the telephone or via Skype if the candidate is not based within the Toronto region.
4. Successful applicants will receive an offer of a place on the CELTA course of their choice immediately, if there is a place available.
5. After receiving a payment request from the Center a deposit of  approximately $500 CAD must be paid in order to secure your place. The remaining amount to be paid before the first class day.
6. The outstanding balance needs to be received at least 6 weeks before the course starts. On receipt of your payment the CELTA tutors will send you documents to prepare you further. Note: There is room sometimes for last minute applications due to cancellations and therefore, room for the possibility of receiving late payments, but always, payments need to be done before starting date.

Contact us

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How to Pay

Full Time CELTA: Payments (deposit & balance) can be made to the Center via:

• American Express, Visa or MasterCard (credit card payments will be processed in Canadian dollars)
• Money orders; Bank drafts
• Certified checks
• Wire transfers
• Personal checks on Canadian accounts only (No U.S. or other currency personal checks can be accepted)

Part Time CELTA: Payments (deposit & balance) can be made to the Center via:

• Visa or Mastercard
• Cashier's checks
• Wire transfers
• Interac 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 CAD.

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Conditions of Enrolment

Fee payment:

Applicants accepted to the course must reserve their place by paying fees according to the deadline noted on their acceptance letter. The deadline is six weeks prior to the course start date although last minute applications are accepted subject to availability.

Last minute applications: For applicants who are offered a place on a course within six weeks prior to the course start date, a payment deadline within the week of the interview will be set.

If applicants fail to pay their fees in full by the indicated deadline, their place will be offered to another qualifying applicant.

Cancellation / Refund:

You may obtain a full refund (minus the non-refundable registration fee) any day before the start of the course, but after the first day, the refund schedule is based on either the Private Career Colleges Act 2005 for the Full Time Course Provider or the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Guidelines for the Part Tme Course.

Selection Criteria, Assessment and Grades

CELTA  is a Pass/Fail course, and if the candidate receives a 'Fail' grade, the result cannot be changed, and that the course fee will not be refunded.

The CELTA Centers in Toronto both require 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.

Both CELTA Training Centers reserve 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.

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