There are few more picture perfect locations in which to get CELTA qualified than the beautiful Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula on Mexico’s Atlantic Coast. It is an area full of golden beaches, pristine coastline and rich in culture and Mayan history. CELTA course tutor Marta Conesa gives us the lowdown on what it is like taking your CELTA course in this magnificent setting…
What makes Riviera Maya such a magical place?
Playa del Carmen (or “Playa” as the locals call it) is in the heart of the Riviera Maya and is the ideal place to spend a month taking the CELTA. Although no longer the sleepy fishing village of earlier decades, this bustling beach town still remains laid-back with a casual local vibe.
It has all the advantages of a Mexican Caribbean resort with white sand beaches, a turquoise-blue sea, a huge range of bars, restaurants and places to stay, so when you’re not studying, there’s plenty to do and see!
The school is located right in the heart of Playa, just steps away from the beach, but is a quiet oasis of tranquillity set back from the main street with air conditioned classrooms and a shady courtyard full of exotic trees.
What will the course days be like for a CELTA trainee in Riviera Maya?
A typical day starts at 10am-12:30 where candidates practice teach lessons to local students, followed by a feedback session for the lessons that were taught from 12:30-1:30pm.
You’ll get about an hour and a half for lunch (plenty of tasty restaurants to explore within walking distance of the school) and we return at 3-6pm for an Input Session where you will learn the theory, methodology and techniques for teaching to try out in your teaching practices.
Afterwards, we’ll take a quick break and you’ll meet with your tutor for Guided Lesson Planning to help you plan and prepare for you next teaching practice and we end the day around 7pm.
Of course you’ll have weekends off to take advantage of everything Playa has to offer (or take a 40-minute bus ride into Cancun), or catch up/work ahead on your CELTA course.
What would you say makes taking the CELTA at Riviera Maya unique?
In addition to being on the Caribbean coast and surrounded by rich Mayan history, it’s the relaxed beach town atmosphere that makes it more like a “study vacation” rather than the intensive course that it is.
You’ll also be working with experienced and knowledgeable tutors who support you throughout the course to ensure you have the best CELTA experience. For them, teaching is not just a job but a passion, which you will certainly benefit from!
Tell us about the featured packages that are available:
The CELTA in Riviera Maya is available at a very competitive price, I think one of the best prices around in the CELTA world! The CELTA programme only is offered at $1,690 USD. However, there are also three packages for candidates who want to combine the CELTA programme with the ‘study vacation’ experience:
Package 1. “Basic CELTA” for $2,650 USD
Includes the CELTA programme, social activities* for 1 week as well as the 5-week accommodation with breakfast
Package 2. “CELTA + Spanish immersion” for $2,820 USD
This one includes the CELTA programme, social activities* for 1 week, 1 week of Spanish immersion and the 5-week accommodation with breakfast
Package 3. “CELTA + Spanish chill out” for $3,043 USD
Includes the CELTA programme, social activities* for 2 weeks, 1 week of Spanish immersion and the 6-week accommodation with breakfast
*Social activities include per week: a city tour, a cooking lesson, a cocktail night and Latin dancing lesson.
What is the accommodation like? Is it part of the course price?
Of course, if candidates choose any of the Riviera Maya packages, the price includes the accommodation in our beautiful residence, located two blocks from the famous Fifth Avenue in Playa del Carmen and our white-sand beaches.
Our rooms have double beds, a private bathroom, a desk, TV, air-conditioning, a small fridge and free Wi-Fi.
There is a shared kitchen where students can cook their meals. In Our Student´s Residence we do have 24hr Reception.
What are the course facilities like for the Riviera Maya CELTA course?
Playa del Carmen is a small town located less than an hour south from Cancún airport, in the state of Quintana Roo. The Riviera Maya centre’s building is located one and a half blocks away from the breath-taking beach and half a block away from Playa del Carmen’s famous 5th Avenue. There are 10 spacious classrooms, all with air conditioning. There is also a beautiful garden where you can have lunch or relax while studying or preparing your lessons. Of course, Wi-Fi is available in the whole building.
So you can become an English teacher and discover our unique cultural heritage, meet lots of welcoming people and spend time chilling on our white sand beaches.
What advice would you give someone if they are considering taking a CELTA course and teaching English?
If you’re looking for a job that allows you to travel around the world (or work from home), teaching English is one of the few jobs that is always in demand – even in English speaking countries, and CELTA is the gold-standard in the industry. As it carries the Cambridge name, it is an internationally recognized English teaching certificate sought out by many employers.
If you have zero teaching experience, the CELTA will give you a solid foundation to build your teaching practice on top of. If you have some teaching experience, you will no doubt learn new methods and approaches, and even if you have many years of teaching under your belt, you will get expert advice on how to hone your skills.
And what sets the CELTA apart from most other TEFL courses is you’ll get to put theory into practice as you get practical experience teaching real students!
Click to find out more about preparing for the CELTA
Apply to take the CELTA face-to-face via Riviera Maya, Mexico today!
If you are looking to embark on an exciting career where you can teach around the world, the CELTA course via Riviera Maya is a great place to start! You can apply for the CELTA through our online form. There are no application fees and the form form usually takes five to 15 minutes to complete.
Do you have any questions about taking the CELTA? Get in touch with a member of our team today!
Check out TEFLwork for opportunities for post-CELTA jobs