CELTA

About the course

CELTA
- About the course
- Ways to take CELTA

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Course topics

You will cover five main topics as part of your CELTA course:

Topic	What’s in the topic
Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context	This topic includes: understanding the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of learners, and how this might affect their learning of English understanding different learning preferences.
Language analysis and awareness	This topic includes: understanding key terminology used in English language teaching, applying this terminology in planning and teaching demonstrating a working knowledge of English grammar, lexis and phonology.
Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing	This topic includes: understanding basic concepts and terminology used for describing reading, listening, speaking and writing skills, applying this to teaching understanding how approaches to texts may vary depending on the purpose, making practical use of this in teaching.
Planning and resources for different teaching contexts	This topic includes: understanding the purpose and principles of planning for effective teaching selecting and planning the kinds of lessons that are most appropriate for particular learners evaluating lesson preparation and reflecting on this for planning future lessons.
Developing teaching skills and professionalism	This topic includes: effectively organising the classroom, both in terms of layout and pair/group activities making appropriate use of a range of materials and resources involving learners of different ability levels, enabling them to feel a sense of progress.

How you will be assessed

You will be assessed throughout the course and there is no final examination. The two types of assessment are:

1. Teaching practice	You will teach for a total of 6 hours, working with adult classes at a minimum of two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance.
2. Written assignments	You will complete four written assignments (each 750–1,000 words). These focus on: analysing and responding to adult learner needs analysing language for teaching purposes teaching language skills reflecting on classroom teaching.

1. Teaching practice

You will teach for a total of 6 hours, working with adult classes at a minimum of two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance.

2. Written assignments

You will complete four written assignments (each 750–1,000 words). These focus on:

analysing and responding to adult learner needs
analysing language for teaching purposes
teaching language skills
reflecting on classroom teaching.

Preparation

You can find a wide range of official Cambridge English support materials from Cambridge Assessment English and Cambridge University Press. Support materials include coursebooks and practice tests and include materials in both print and digital formats.

The CELTA Course includes a range of material and helpful advice about CELTA.

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Results

To get the CELTA certificate, you must meet the criteria for both the teaching practice and written assignments. You can pass with three different grades: Pass ‘A’, Pass ‘B’ and Pass.

Download the CELTA syllabus (176KB) for more details of the course topics, types of assessment and certificate grades.

How to register

You can apply for a CELTA course at one of our approved centres.

Before contacting your centre, please check you meet the following criteria:

Are you 18 or over?
Do you have a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education?
Is your English good enough to teach at a range of levels? (Minimum CEFR Level C1–C2 or above.)

If you do not have formal educational qualifications at the level indicated above, centres may still accept you, if you can demonstrate that you would be likely to complete the course successfully.

Find out about ways to take your CELTA course