Study Celta English teacher training courses

teacher training CELTA, DELTA, TESOL, CYL

  • You want a career change and have heard about English language teaching. Or, you're already teaching English but it's time to improve your qualification. We're here to help.


Study DELTA in Brisbane Australia Study DELTA in Sydney, Australia Study DELTA in Seville, Spain Study DELTA in Bournemouth

Is CELTA a TEFL qualification?

'TEFL' or 'TESOL' are general terms sometimes used to refer to qualifications for English language teachers. CELTA is the best known and most widely taken initial 'TESOL/TEFL' qualification of its kind in the world. It has also in the past been known as CTEFLA. You may also hear mention of the 'RSA certificate'. Again people are referring to CELTA, as Cambridge ESOL took over RSA certificates and diplomas for teachers in 1988.

Who is CELTA for?

People starting a career in English Language teaching.

You may be looking to begin a long term career in English Language teaching and see CELTA as a springboard into a good teaching post in the country of your choice. You may be a graduate looking for a qualification that gives you a firm grounding in the fundamentals of language teaching practice, together with the confidence to take control in the classroom.

People looking for a career change or career break.

An increasing number of CELTA candidates are professionals who are either looking for a new career path or simply want a short break in their existing career. Perhaps you want the opportunity to live and work abroad?

Whether you wish to teach English for the short or long term, CELTA gives you the training you need to help you adjust to a dynamic and challenging new profession.

People already teaching English but with no formal qualifications.

You may be an existing English Language teacher with no formal qualifications. CELTA will help to sharpen your teaching practice, confirm your ability, and may even lead to internal promotion or a better teaching job.

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What does CELTA involve?

You can take CELTA full time (typically 4 weeks), or part time (typically 12 weeks). Your chosen course will teach you the principles of effective teaching and a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners. You will have hands-on teaching practice, observe experienced teachers in the classroom and complete four practically focused written assignments. There are five main units of learning:

  • 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

You will be assessed throughout the course, with no final examination. An external assessor, appointed by Cambridge ESOL, moderates each course.

There are two components of assessment:

  • Teaching Practice: You will teach for a total of six hours, working with classes at two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance at the end of the six hours.
  • Written Assignments - You will complete four written assignments: one on adult learners and learning contexts; one on an aspect of the language system of English; one on an aspect of language skills; and one on classroom teaching and the identification of action points.

To be awarded the Certificate, you must pass both components. There are three grades - Pass, Pass 'B' and Pass 'A'.

Who recognises CELTA?

CELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers. The Cambridge CELTA has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) at level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework. Cambridge ESOL also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of CELTA globally.

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Am I eligible to apply for the CELTA?

Ideally you should:

  • have a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education
  • be aged 20 or over
  • have a standard of English which will enable you to teach at a range of levels.

Centers may still accept you if you do not have formal qualifications at this level but can demonstrate that you would be likely to complete the course successfully. Equally some centers may, at their discretion, accept applicants aged between 18 and 20.

Non native English speakers can be accepted as long as they cover all the requirements mentioned above and have an awareness of language and a competence in English, both written and spoken, that enables them to follow the course, complete all the assessed elements of the course successfully, and prepare for teaching a range of levels.

For the non native speakers whose competence in English may not be that strong but are interested in taking a course within this field we recommend the English for TESOL Course that we offer in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, Malta, and Bournemouth, England. For this course, the minimum entry requirements in terms of English proficiency is lower and experience is not required.

How do I apply?

CELTA courses are designed by individual centers, based on specifications produced by Cambridge ESOL. StudyCELTA currently offers these courses at 7 Cambridge approved centers located in 5 different countries. (See side menu)

To apply for a vacancy on one of these courses, once you have chosen the location,

Contact the Programmes Coordinator

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What is DELTA and who is it for?

The DELTA is intended for practising ELT teachers with substantial experience. The most widely given reason for taking the DELTA is to open up career avenues to more senior ELT posts for which the DELTA is invariably required. The most common reaction to the course itself, however, is that candidates find it tremendously stimulating and rewarding on the level of personal development. More often than not it provides a new direction and impetus in their classroom teaching as well as in their present and future professional lives.

The DELTA offers you the opportunity to:

  • increase your critical awareness by gaining new insights and a deeper understanding of the principles and practice of ELT to adult.
  • examine your current practices and beliefs
  • apply the results of this learning and reflection to your current professional life and beyond

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Who recognises DELTA?

DELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers. The Cambridge DELTA has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as a Diploma in Teaching ESOL at level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework. DELTA is also integrated into some MA programmes. Cambridge ESOL also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of DELTA globally.

Am I eligible to apply for the DELTA?

The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) 'Syllabus and Assessment Guidelines' stipulate that a DELTA candidate will normally:

  • have a first degree
  • have some formal training in ELT
  • have a minimum of two years full-time (1200 hours) teaching experience of ELT to adults within the last five years
  • have a range of teaching experience involving work in different teaching contexts and experience of teaching learners at different levels
  • have a level of awareness and competence in English sufficient to complete all components of the course
  • be at least 21 years old

How do I apply?

DELTA courses are designed by individual centers, based on specifications produced by Cambridge ESOL. StudyCELTA currently offers these courses at 4 Cambridge approved centers located in 3 different countries.

To apply for a vacancy on one of these courses, once you have chosen the location, Contact the Programmes Coordinator

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With these qualifications, will I be able to find a job?

At a regional and national level demand may fluctuate but globally and overall there has been a sustained high demand for English language teachers. CELTA certification is the very best choice to enhance a new teacher’s employability. Our CELTA/DELTA graduates have consistently found teaching work worldwide.

The course includes workshops dedicated to helping you find the kind of work that you want, which includes providing you with names and addresses of schools, resources for job search and skills development on the Internet, and interview preparation.

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Where are our students are trained?

Through our network of partner training centers we are able to offer teacher training programmes in 5 countries and 7 different cities. You can choose to be trained in Australia (Brisbane & Sydney), New Zealand (Auckland), Malta, The United Kingdom (Bournemouth) or Spain (Seville & Barcelona). Each of these locations has been strategically chosen.

The EFL industry in Australia and New Zealand has been in really good shape for the last few years, and every year, thousands of overseas students come to these countries to take their English courses. The number of English language schools opening in these countries has undergone a dramatic increase.

Most of the past trainees that took their teacher training courses in Australia or New Zealand found jobs in these countries or made the move to Asian countries (e.g. China, Japan, and Korea) where they had job offers lined up before they left.

Spain is the perfect location for those seeking to complete their courses and look for work opportunities in Europe afterwards. The living costs in Spain (especially in Seville) tend to be lower than in Australia or New Zealand, and completing your teacher training course there also brings you the perfect opportunity for you to learn some Spanish (ask for information about our Spanish + CELTA course special packages) . Most trainees who have taken their courses in Spain ended up getting jobs in Spain or other countries within Europe.

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