CELTA - FAQs

What is the CELTA?

The CELTA is an initial qualification for people with little or no previous teaching experience and opens up a whole world of exciting teaching opportunities.

Because it is awarded by Cambridge ESOL, part of the world famous University of Cambridge, you can rely on its quality and recognition.

The CELTA can also be taken as Module One of the Certificate in Further Education Teaching Stage 3 with the Certificate for ESOL Subject Specialists, which is a qualification for teachers who want to specialise in teaching English in Further, Adult and Community Education in England and Wales. Over 10,000 people successfully complete a CELTA course each year.

How does the CELTA relate to TEFL/TESOL?

'TEFL' or 'TESOL' are terms often used to describe qualifications for English Language teachers. The CELTA, the best known and most widely taken initial TESOL/TEFL qualification of its kind in the world, was previously known as CTEFLA and the 'RSA certificate'.

Who is the CELTA for?

People starting a career in English Language teaching

You may be considering a career in English Language teaching and view the CELTA as an entry into a good teaching position in another country, or you may be a graduate wanting a qualification that provides a sound basis in the fundamentals of language teaching practice and gives you the confidence to take control in the classroom.

People looking for a career change or career break

Increasingly, CELTA candidates are professionals either looking for a new career opportunity or wanting a short break in their existing career. Many seek the exciting opportunities of living and working abroad. Whether you wish to teach English for the short or long term, the CELTA gives you the training you need to help you adjust to a dynamic and challenging new profession.

People teaching English without formal qualifications

The CELTA can also be a useful qualification for teachers who have little previous formal training. The CELTA sharpens your teaching practice, confirms your ability, and may even lead to internal promotion or a better teaching job.

People who want to work in Further, Adult and Community Education in England and Wales

The CELTA is also Module One of a two-module course leading to the following qualifications:

These qualifications meet the UK government's teacher training requirements for people who want to work in this sector.

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What does the CELTA involve?

You can take THE CELTA full time (typically four to five weeks), or part time (from a few months to over a year). (ILA offers a 4-week full time course).

Your chosen course:

There are five main units of learning:

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:

1. 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.

2. Written assignments

You will complete four written assignments: one focusing on adult learning; one on the language system of English; one on language skills; and one on classroom teaching.

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

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Who recognizes the CELTA?

The CELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English language teachers. The 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 the CELTA globally.

Is age important?

The minimum age for candidates is 18 at the start of the course. There is no upper age limit. Because of the very intensive nature of the course, participants need to be in good health.

I don't know grammar - is that a problem?

Candidates need to demonstrate a competence in English, both written and spoken that will allow them to follow the course and complete all the assessed elements successfully. We also recommend purchase of a grammar text(s) and completion of the pre course task as preparation for the grammar components of the course.

Can I work / study / travel while I do the full time CELTA Course?

Owing to the intensive nature of this course, we strongly advise candidates to postpone any other commitments or trips until course completion. The course will require your uninterrupted attention for the duration. The intensity of the course can be a shock for some.

What are the requirements for attendance on the course?

Attendance of 120 hours is mandatory.

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Can I take time off? What happens if I'm ill?

100% attendance is one of the requirements for successful completion of the course. If a participant is forced to miss part of the course because of ill health, a doctor's certificate will be required. Extra work will need to be submitted to the tutor to ensure the criteria are met.

Is this the same as the TESOL/TEFL course?

TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are umbrella terms for the industry. The Cambridge CELTA is a TESOL and TEFL course. When comparing the Cambridge CELTA to a TESOL course at university, one of the main differences is that the CELTA is very practical in nature, where the university courses tend to be more academic and are designed for you to work at the tertiary level.

Please note: as the Cambridge CELTA is taught in 35 countries the CELTA is the qualification that is instantly recognised overseas.

Is there a “CELTA way” that you’ll only teach on the course and that you’ll never teach again after the course?

The techniques and approaches that you learn on the course are all designed for immediate practical use in the classroom. We will not recommend anything ourselves as trainers or put something in an input session that we would not use ourselves in the everyday classroom.

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There are plenty of people teaching overseas who don't have the CELTA. Why is it a good idea to get it?

Completion of the CELTA means that when you walk into a 'real' classroom for the first time, you will have some experience. You will have a clear idea of what is expected and how to best support your students in their learning.

Most quality EFL schools around the world recognise the Cambridge CELTA as a prerequisite for employment. Quality schools tend to offer higher standards of professional support, pay and conditions than other schools. It is necessary to contact individual embassies to establish visa requirements.

What’s the average pass rate for the course?

The global rates are as follows: 92% of candidates successfully complete the course, 4% at pass A level, 25% at pass B level, and 63% at pass level. 3% of candidates fail and 5% withdraw during the course. These statistics are taken from the Cambridge ESOL website.

What if pass but I don’t get an A or B? Is a pass good enough?

It’s very important to remember that it is an achievement in itself to get through the very intensive four weeks of the course! While an A or B may affect your employability in your first year of teaching immediately after the CELTA course most employers will just be interested in whether you have the CELTA or not. It is also important to bear in mind that the CELTA is a launch pad for your further development as a teacher as you will continue to develop your teaching ability after the course.

Can I fail the course?

Yes. The application process is rigourous and we will only accept candidates who we think will successfully complete the course. This is a Cambridge requirement. Halfway through the course you will have a face to face tutorial and be given a clear indication of how you are progressing. If at any point during the course you are failing or not doing as well as expected you will be given a clear indication by your current tutor what you need to do to a achieve pass standard.

Why do people fail the course?

The first, and perhaps main reason, is stress. Not getting enough sleep, poor health (not eating properly, drinking too much), and other commitments outside the course (family, love life, work, social life). Secondly, poor time management skills (if you’re up till 4am every day you’ll end up a wreck by the halfway stage of the course). A third reason, for candidates who already have teaching experience, is having what the CELTA syllabus considers to be “bad teaching habits” that candidates find difficult to change. Fourthly, we expect your teaching to show a gradual improvement over the four weeks as you gradually incorporate the material from the morning input sessions into your classroom teaching. Not showing this in your classroom teaching may mean that you will not achieve a pass standard by the end of the course. Finally, the CELTA course does require a great deal of time, energy, and hard work so a lack of commitment on behalf on the candidate may also mean a fail.

Why does the course cost US$1500?

Class size is kept to a maximum of 6 trainees per tutor. The course fee includes the Cambridge ESOL assessment fee. The fee for the course reflects the high tutor-trainee ratio and the fact that the course requires international moderation and controls.

Do I have to pay the whole US$1500 in one go?

To ensure your place on the course you will need to pay a 500 USD deposit within a month of the date on the letterhead of your acceptance letter. The balance of 1000 USD needs to be paid before one calendar month of the start date of the course. If you are applying within a month of the start date of a course then you will need to pay the entire fee in one payment.

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What qualifications do your teacher trainers have?

All our teacher trainers have extensive classroom teaching experience with a variety of age groups and levels. They have all previously been EFL teachers and held positions of responsibility and management positions in the field of education. They have at least a first degree, the CELTA (or equivalent) and the DELTA (or equivalent). They have been trained by certified CELTA teacher trainers, assessed by a Cambridge ESOL certified assessor, and are officially approved by Cambridge as certified CELTA ESOL trainers. For further details please see the section of the site entitled The Trainers.

Do I have to have an interview in Ho Chi Minh City?

Candidates who apply from outside Vietnam can be interviewed over the phone. You don’t need to call us: we will arrange a suitable time with you and call you. Candidates in Ho Chi Minh City will need to come into the school for a face to face interview. Candidates inside Vietnam will ideally be interviewed face to face at the school but a telephone interview can be arranged. All candidates must be interviewed as part of the application process.

What are the stages to the application process?

Firstly you need to read through the content on the website very carefully and/or download the information pack, and read through this and decide whether you would like to apply. After doing this you need to download the application pack and complete the application form and task. It can be completed by hand or electronically. This should be done carefully and thoroughly as we will base our decision on whether to offer you an interview on your written application. Next you can either e-mail it to us, send it by post, or drop it off at the school. The next stage is to be offered an interview, which can be done face to face or over the telephone. The final stage is to be formally offered a place on the course.

What books can I read about Teaching English as a foreign language?

When you are accepted onto the CELTA course you are given a recommended reading list in your formal acceptance letter.

Is the CELTA course eligible for student loans?

Not usually. All prospective applicants who require information on loans or grants should request information from the appropriate authorities rather than the centre which is running the CELTA.

Is the course fee refundable?

Only in very exceptional circumstances and solely at the discretion of the Teacher Training Manager and the Director of Academic Programmes at ILA Vietnam.

Do I need to have teaching experience in order to attend the course?

No. The CELTA course is designed as a pre-service course for people with no previous teaching experience.

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Can I do the course if English is not my first language?

Yes. All applicants must have an awareness of language and a competence in English; both written and spoken that enables them to follow the course. These are the Cambridge regulations. Candidates whose first language is not English may be given additional tasks at the application stage.

Do I need to be able to speak a foreign language?

No. Some centres may give preference to candidates who have experience of learning a foreign language but this is not a course requirement. Experience of learning a foreign language will be an asset on the course as it will help candidates to be aware of how learners learn a language and the difficulties they may face.

Can I do the course by correspondence?

No. The CELTA is a practical teaching course with its emphasis on continuous assessment of classroom practice. Therefore it is not suitable for distance learning.

Will the CELTA prepare me for teaching children?

Some of the approaches and techniques learned on the CELTA can be used directly, or adapted for Young Learners. However, classroom management issues will be very different with this age group. As children (pre-teenage learners) learn in a completely different way so only some of the techniques will be relevant. A YL CELTA extension course (2 week course) provides teachers with a solid grounding for teaching children and teenagers, particularly in the areas of classroom management and types of activities and approaches that will be of interest to these learners. We will be offering this course in 2007

Does ILA provide accommodation?

ILA will introduce trainees to a guesthouse when they first arrive if required. This will be based on the requirements of the trainee (e.g. aircon, private bathroom) and will be for the first night only. After this you will need to arrange accommodation yourself. We will also provide you a list of accommodation to select from so that you can arrange your accommodation before you arrive. (See accommodation section of the Information Packet).

Can I find accommodation near the school?

All the accommodation referred to in the accommodation section is around a 15 – 20 minute taxi ride away from the school.

Does ILA arrange airport pick up?

Yes. We will pick you up and take you by taxi to your chosen guest house or hotel. We provide this service free of charge.

What kind of visa will I need to get and how will I get it?

We will arrange a three month tourist visa for you to pick up at the airport. A single entry visa will cost US$25 – 35 and a multiple entry visa will cost 50 USD. You will need to pay this fee in USD on arrival. You can also arrange the visa yourself by contacting your local Vietnamese consulate; this will enable you to clear immigration more quickly.

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Can I work for ILA after the course?

After the course you can apply for a job with ILA. However, completion of the course does not automatically guarantee you a job with ILA, and CELTA graduates must apply for a position through our Recruitment team. ILA's hiring requirements are avaialable here, and please note the materials necessary for aqcuiring a work permit.  These materials should be obtained before you leave your home country, and are required by the Vietnamese Government for all expatriates wishing to get a work permit.

If I work for ILA will ILA pay back the course fee?

No, ILA does however offer CELTA graduates who go on to teach at ILA a $750 USD start up allowance.

After completing the course what kind of students can I expect to teach?

In countries in which English is not the native language you can expect that roughly a third of the students in a language school will be teenagers, and a third primary or pre-primary age, so after you graduate it is highly likely that you will not exclusively be teaching adults. The global market for EFL is changing so that the balance of students is shifting towards younger learners. Some schools may also specialize in exclusively teaching younger learners.

At ILA our adult students have very high expectations and therefore we would not want to place recent CELTA graduates in this demanding classroom situation unless we were confident that they would be able to deal with the classroom pressures. For this reason we will only employ very recently qualified CELTA graduates in our adult department who have achieved pass A or B standard. Others with a pass grade will, however, be able to transfer to the adult department after an initial 6 month period provided there are vacancies and provided that they have fulfilled all necessary professional development requirements.

How can I find a job in English language teaching?

Cambridge ESOL provides details of future employment and professional development opportunities to all candidates and all successful graduates. In the final week of the course there is a continuing professional development session in which this subject will be addressed.

What are the costs of living in Ho Chi Minh City?

Please see the section called Life in Vietnam, and in particular the costs table.

How much is it to travel around Ho Chi Minh City?

The best way is by taxi as it is much safer, if slower, than travelling by motorbike taxi. The meter generally starts at US$1 and a trip of about 10 minutes would not cost you more than three dollars. For further details about living in Ho Chi Minh please see the Life in Vietnam section.

Is there computer access at ILA? Do I need to bring a laptop?

There are currently 6 computers that will be available for use for CELTA trainees. If you have a laptop then we would advise you to bring it as it will give you the freedom to work outside the school. We will also provide a printer as well as USB access.

What’s computer access like in Ho Chi Minh City?

There are lots of Internet cafés which have ADSL. Prices are generally not more than US$1 per hour. Some hotels and guesthouses offer this for free. Lots of Internet cafés offer cheap international calls over the Internet. You will be able to work in an Internet café, send your work to your e-mail account and then download it and print it out at ILA.

Do I need to bring any of my own materials?

The school has an excellent range of teaching resources. However, you may want to bring along a couple of examples of an authentic reading or listening text, which you may decide to use in the classroom or for one of the written assignments. Examples of listening texts include your favourite film or TV program, travel programme etc. Examples of reading materials include magazines, newspapers, tourist brochures, leaflets etc.