CELTA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does CELTA stand for?

Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults

Why Cambridge?

The certificate is issued by the University of Cambridge in the UK.  Language centres around the world, such as INSEARCH, are approved to run courses leading to the award of CELTA.

How is CELTA different from TESOL?

Certificates and diplomas in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) are run by universities as postgraduate courses.  They are usually from 1 to 2 years in duration and appeal to people who wish to gain a formal teaching qualification that enables them to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) in primary and secondary schools.

What does the course consist of?

There are 2 components: planning and teaching and classroom related written assignments.

What can I do with a CELTA?

CELTA qualifies you to teach English to adults in many countries.  Because of its practical nature, the course is internationally recognised by language centres and graduates are in high demand worldwide.

Does CELTA by itself enable me to teach adults in language centres in Australia?

No, you also need to have a degree (or equivalent), plus one year of classroom experience.  (The experience requirement can be waived if you gain a higher than average grade on the course.) 

How are grades determined?

Candidates are assessed on their practical teaching which begins on the first day of the course. Practice teaching classes are arranged and candidates are assessed by their course tutors.  There are also written assignments throughout the course. 

What grades are there?

Pass A,   Pass B,   Pass,   Fail

I don't have a degree.  Can I do the course?

Yes, but you may have restricted employment prospects in Australia.

Is the course demanding?

Yes, the full-time course is very demanding.  It requires total commitment for 4 weeks.  A typical day is from 9.30am to 5.30pm here at INSEARCH and then at least 3 hours of lesson preparation/assignments each night.

Can I do the course by distance (correspondence)?

This is not possible because of the practical nature of the course and the method of assessment.

What are the minimum entry requirements?

Candidates must be at least 18 years old; have an awareness of language and a competence in both written and spoken English which will enable them to undertake the course (determined by a course tutor at interview)

What is the selection procedure?

A written application followed by an interview which includes a language awareness assessment. Allow 1.5 hours for the interview and assessment. Telephone interviews can be arranged for applicants who live outside the Sydney region.

My first language is not English.  Can I do the course?

Yes, if you fulfill the entry requirements.

What support does INSEARCH provide in finding a teaching position?

As INSEARCH is the only university-based CELTA centre in Sydney, and also because of its off-shore centres, INSEARCH has a high profile in the field of TESOL and training. As a result, many local and overseas language schools contact us to recruit teachers from our CELTA courses. We maintain regular contact with past trainees, pass on job information and act as referees. INSEARCH also recruits directly for its own off-shore centres.