Teacher Training – Frequently Asked Questions
Please have a look to see if your question is answered below. If you still don't have an answer to your question, contact us directly or submit a query using the online form so we can help you.
- What makes CELTA better than other EFL programs?
- What is the difference between CELTA and TEFL?
- Do I need to have a university degree in order to take CELTA?
- Do I have to be a native English speaker in order to take CELTA?
- How much time will I need to devote to the CELTA course each day?
- Does the CELTA course include a practicum component?
- Is there an exam at the end of the CELTA course?
- Who teaches the CELTA course at EC?
- How do I apply?
- What are English Canada’s facilities like?
- Can I receive university credit for completing CELTA?
- Where can I stay while I’m taking CELTA in Halifax?
- Is it possible to have a career in ELT (English Language Teaching)?
- What is TESL Canada certification?
- Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
- Language analysis and awareness
- Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
- Planning and resources for different contexts
- Developing teaching skills and professionalism
- TESL training and ESL teaching experience are recognized as main professional measures of Canadian ESL educators
- Teaching credentials are recognized not only province to province but by virtue of their national status, from country to country
- Credentials are recognized by international students when they compare faculty at post-secondary schools and language institutes across Canada before their arrival in Canada. As a result, programs that hire qualified professionals will attract more students
- Qualifications are valued appropriately by government and non-government funders when educators request financial support for awards, scholarships and projects
- Developed through participation and feedback across the ESL field, these standards address the professional context of Canadian ESL educators. TESL Canada recognizes that Canadian ESL delivery varies widely in structure and specifics and looks forward to the continuing development of these standards through feedback and the appeal process.
1. What makes CELTA better than other EFL programs?
CELTA is accepted throughout the world by organizations which employ English language teachers. It is internally assessed by qualified teacher trainers and externally moderated by an approved course assessor who visits the course and submits a report to Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). Cambridge ESOL approves all centres, courses, and tutors worldwide.
The Cambridge CELTA has been accredited by Ofqual (the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework for England. Cambridge ESOL also works with international ELT organizations to ensure the acceptance of CELTA globally. EC's CELTA program is recognized by TESL Canada, and graduates of our program can apply to be granted TESL Canada Professional Level One status. English Canada's program is also accepted as university credit.
For more information visit our accreditation page.
2. What is the difference between CELTA and TEFL?
‘TEFL’ or 'TESOL' are terms often used to describe qualifications for English language teachers. CELTA, the most widely taken initial TESOL/TEFL qualification of its kind in the world, was previously known as CTEFLA and the 'RSA certificate'.
3. Do I need to have a university degree in order to take CELTA?
No. However, you do need to have a standard of education that would allow entry to higher education in your own country.
4. Do I have to be a native English speaker in order to take CELTA?
Many non-native speakers of English successfully complete the CELTA each year. You must have an awareness of spoken language and competence in written and spoken English in order to be accepted on the course. Non-native speakers will be a given a brief English placement test in order to determine their level of fluency.
5. How much time will I need to devote to the course each day?
The 4-week CELTA course is very intensive and 100% attendance is required. A typical day is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and you will need evening and weekends for lesson planning, materials preparation and written assignments. The course is demanding and challenging, but most trainees enjoy and thrive on the work.
6. Does the CELTA course include a practicum component?
Yes. This is an integral part of the course and enables participants to put theory into practice. Scheduled teaching practice (TP) will take place every morning. You will teach for a total of 6 hours, working with classes at two distinct levels of ability, and teach a variety of lessons: grammar, vocabulary, function, reading, listening, writing and speaking. You will have the opportunity to discuss your lessons with your tutor beforehand. A course tutor observes each class of assessed teaching practice and each lesson is assessed based on weekly criteria.
We offer free classes for the ESL community and these volunteer students make up your classes.
The students are all adult learners from a wide variety of language, academic and cultural backgrounds. On the first day of the course, you will be given time to meet and get to know your students before assessed TP begins. A TP class will consist of between five and fifteen students, and may contain students from Asia, South America, the Middle East, Quebec and Europe.
7. Is there an exam at the end of the CELTA course?
No, there is no written or practical examination at the end of the course. Assessment will be made on a continuous basis. There are five main units of learning:
At the end of the course you will submit a portfolio consisting of your lesson plans, self-reflections, tutor feedback and written assignments.
8. Who teaches the CELTA course at EC?
All CELTA tutors have the advanced Cambridge Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA, formerly known as DTEFLA), a sound background of theoretical knowledge, and years of practical classroom experience with unilingual and multilingual groups at all levels. Cambridge ESOL follows strict standards for approving CELTA tutors.
English Canada is proud to have two internationally experienced CELTA tutors who have trained teachers in many parts of the world for over 10 years. They are also experienced CELTA course assessors.
Please complete English Canada’s CELTA application form, pre-interview assignment and handwritten assignment. You can submit all components online at www.celta.ca or send by mail to:
English Canada World Organization (EC)
Julian L’Enfant
Director of Teacher Training
7071 Bayers Road
Halifax, NS
B3L 2C2
Canada
For more ways to apply for the CELTA, click here: How to apply
10. What are English Canada’s facilities like?
As a CELTA trainee, you will be working in modern classrooms and you will also have a quiet workroom for lesson preparation and / or self-study. We have a well-stocked library for the exclusive use of CELTA trainees, containing a wide variety of books on methodology, grammar, and books with activities for use in the classroom. In addition, you will have access (at scheduled times) to other areas open to students at EC and ILI, such as the student lunchroom, kitchen and computer laboratory.
11. Can I receive university credit for completing CELTA?
Dalhousie University, Atlantic Canada’s principal research university, recognizes the Cambridge CELTA offered at ILI / EC as equivalent to one full-year ASSC (Arts and Social Sciences) credit at the 4000 level. CELTA is especially valuable for university graduates who plan to teach abroad. Interested students must obtain a Letter of Permission from the Dalhousie Registrar’s Office and apply for admission directly to ILI. Some candidates accepted to the CELTA program, who are attending other colleges or universities in Canada or the U.S, have been successful in obtaining credit(s) for the CELTA program at their educational institution.
For more information visit our accreditation page.
12. Where can I stay while I’m taking CELTA in Halifax?
English Canada can arrange host family accommodation for you with an ILI / EC-approved host family. You will be met at the airport, taken to the host family home, and introduced to the host family. This service eliminates the need to find accommodation, to find transportation from the airport in Halifax upon arrival, to set up a kitchen for one month, to shop for and transport groceries and to cook. It also gives you the advantage of living with residents who can offer invaluable advice about Halifax. You are provided with a private room for your exclusive use and three meals per day - seven days a week.
For more information on rates visit our accommodation page.
There is also a motel nearby that is only a five-minute walk from the school. CELTA students often stay there, as it offers very reasonable weekly and monthly rates, especially in the off-season. It does not include meals or airport pickup, but for those who prefer not to stay with a host family, it is a convenient alternative. Some rooms are equipped with kitchenettes that will be useful in preparing your own meals. For more information about the motel visit:
http://www.atyp.com/seasonsmotorinn/. If you contact them, be sure to mention that you are attending a course at the school.
13. Is it possible to have a career in ELT?
There is now quite a well-established career structure within language teaching, especially in the UK and Europe. As a newly qualified teacher, you might consider looking for a job which will provide you with support for two to three years then consider taking the next-level qualification DELTA (Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults). After this, you might think about moving into teacher support in the role of senior teacher. After gaining some more experience, many teachers go on to do an MA in ELT before moving into teacher training or ELT management.
14. What is TESL Canada certification?
The CELTA program is approved and recognized by TESL Canada, which is the only national regulatory body in the field of ESL in the country. Trainees who successfully complete the program will receive a CELTA Certificate from Cambridge ESOL, but in addition to this, those trainees who have completed an undergraduate program (BA and/or BS) in their own countries are also eligible to apply for TESL Canada certification.
Please note, that if you have not completed an undergraduate program, you are ineligible to apply for TESL Canada certification.
TESL Canada National Certification Standards promote excellence in the teaching and learning of English as a Second Language across Canada by promoting professional certification standards that are recognized in all provinces.
What are the benefits:
The TESL Canada National Professional Certification Standards benefit educators by helping to ensure that:
TESL Canada national standards will provide a national focus on standards for all ESL educators and encourage high levels of participation in an accreditation system that recognizes and values the diversity of approach to ESL instruction in its many settings. Since their implementation in May 2002, the TESL Canada National Professional Certification Standards are becoming the authoritative base for evaluation and comparison of ESL teacher training in Canada.
The TESL Canada National Professional Certification Standards represent a teacher-driven initiative to create basic, minimum national standards. Some provinces currently have professional certification systems in place. The TESL Canada professional certificate does not replace provincial professional certificates where they exist. Professionals can choose to hold both TESL Canada and provincial organization certificates.
It is the trainees' responsibility to apply for their TESL Canada certificates.
For more information about TESL Canada and its certification process, visit: www.tesl.ca