CELTA FAQs
1. What does CELTA stand for?
Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.
2. What is the difference between CELTA and TESOL?
Both programs offer an international language teacher training program. Eton Institute demonstrates through external inspection that its courses meet the highest of international quality standards in language services. The CELTA qualification is certified by the University of Cambridge. Both programs offer a theoretical and practical element to the course, with 6 hours of observed teaching practice, meeting international standards. We offer CELTA as an Intensive course and TESOL as Extended and Online.
3. Who acknowledges the CELTA certificate?
The CELTA Certificate is administered by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. This qualification is globally renowned and is accepted by public & private organizations worldwide.
4. Where can I work with the CELTA certificate?
The CELTA certificate is one of the premier and most valued qualification required by language and educational institutes, public and private. In many cases, it is a mandatory qualification for applicants, as employers are aware of the course content and know what to expect when hiring a CELTA certificate holder, giving them more confidence when offering teaching positions.
5. What is the difference between the certificate course (CELTA) and the diploma course (DELTA)?
The Certificate course is ideal for those who wish to gain a fast qualification, which will provide them with initial survival skills in the classroom. It covers the basic syllabus of the Diploma, but in much less depth and can be completed in a shorter time. We currently only offer the certificate course at Eton Institute.
6. If English is not my first language, am I still qualified to do the course?
Yes, you are. The course requires you to have a strong enough command of the English language that will enable you to successfully submit written coursework and teaching method essentials according to the standards of the University of Cambridge. Non-native speakers need to have equivalent level of English as IELTS 6.5 or C1 (Advanced level). If you do not know your level, you may take the FREE Placement Test on our website to find out.
7. Is teaching experience a requirement to join the CELTA course?
No, prior teaching experience is not a requirement to attend the CELTA course.
8. Can I do the course online or via correspondence?
Eton Institute does not offer the CELTA course online or via correspondence. However, if you are looking to earn a teaching qualification for the English language, we do provide the TESOL Online course (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and you can earn the certificate through self-study.
9. What measures are taken to ensure high quality of the course?
CELTA is a uniformly designed course with the content and examination strategy standards set by Cambridge ESOL. The importance of high quality training & education in undeniable and is ensured through various methods:
- Every year, CELTA Assessment centers are subject to approval by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
- Cambridge ESOL appoints an external assessor for every course
- A Joint Chief Assessor is chosen to ensure quality standard maintenance at each center
- Annual meetings between assessment centers, trainers and Joint Chief Assessors, where course quality and student feedback are shared and discussed
10. How many candidates pass/fail?
According to Cambridge, almost 12,000 candidates take the CELTA course annually of which 3-5% fail the course. This is due to the fact that Cambridge sets certain standards that applicants must comply with to attend the course, therefore filtering candidates from the very beginning. Additionally, the course is highly interactive, ensuring that all possible support is provided to the applicant.
11. What are the requirements for admission onto the course?
In order to attend the course and have the ability to teach at any level, the applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Possess university admission qualifications
- Have a strong command over verbal and written English language
Should the applicant not possess the above mentioned qualifications, they may be accepted for the course at the discretion of the course coordinator.
12. CELTA is known to be very difficult. Why?
The course is known to be hard due to its many deadlines and submissions within a span of 4 weeks, thus commitment and dedication are required. Preparations for teaching sessions and coursework can take up any extra time the student may have therefore time management is essential. Assessment takes place on a regular basis with 2-hour real-life teaching sessions to actual students, allowing trainees to practice and implement what they have learnt, first hand. Written and oral feedback is provided for all teaching sessions by the trainers and peers.
13. Is the course available part-time?
No, the CELTA course that we offer is an intensive, 4-week course and is available full-time only. For those looking for a part-time teaching qualification course, we provide the TESOL Extended course – a blend of classroom-based learning and self-study.
14. Does Eton Institute provide support for employment search after the completion of the course?
We offer a job placement subject to performance at the institute for at least one top graduate. For information and guidance on your upcoming teacher career, feel free to ask your CELTA trainer.
15. How do I pay for the course?
You may pay the entire course fee at the time of registration or 50% before the start of the course and the remainder 50% during the course.
16. What are the additional costs?
There are no compulsory additional costs, though we highly encourage our students to purchase the additional books recommended by the tutor. They are valuable resources and will be very beneficial to the candidate, even after the course.
17. Do I need a computer?
While it is not mandatory to use a computer, the course contains a lot of note-taking and written assignments, so if you prefer using your laptop, feel free to bring it.
18. Do you provide stationery for the course?
No, we do not provide any form of stationery for student use. We recommend that you bring your own notepads, pencils, pens, etc. as well as your choice of folders and files to store the handout material the tutors may provide.
19. Who teaches the CELTA course?
The tutors for the CELTA course are professional qualified teachers, accredited and appointed by the University of Cambridge. All instructors have the CELTA Trainer qualification as well as many years of teaching and training experience.
20. Will there be a final assessment?
No, there is no final assessment. The continuous assessment and examination during the course will determine the student’s eligibility to pass.
21. Does Eton Institute provide accommodation for students?
No, we do not provide any sort of accommodation for students. However, we can provide you with information regarding accommodation in Dubai, UAE.
22. What do I do if I have questions that have not been answered so far?
Contact us and we will do our best to give you a quick and straight forward response to your question.