Dear CELTA Candidate, We would like to thank you for your interest in the part-time CELTA program at LSI Toronto. Please find enclosed your application package. Once you have read through all the material we have provided you with, please fill in the application form, complete the pre-interview task and return them to us here at LSI by fax (416-928-3388), e-mail (CELTA@LSI.edu) or post: Language Studies International 1055 Yonge Street, Suite 210 Toronto, Ontario M4W 2L2 The questions in the pre-interview task are intended partly to introduce you to the types of things you will learn on the course, and partly to help us determine how much previous knowledge you will bring with you. Provide as much detail as you can, do as much research as you need to do, but you cannot pass or fail, so do not worry about getting all of the answers right. The course will develop the skills you need to deal effectively, creatively and professionally with these and many more aspects of teaching English to adults. If you have questions or concerns about any of the information or application, please feel free to contact us. If your application is seen to be completed and suitable, we will contact you to arrange a personal interview at a mutually convenient time. A personal interview is required. Thank you again for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, The CELTA Team LSI Toronto
[Introduction & Background] Language Studies International Toronto is an approved Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) training facility in Canada. In the myriad of options available to people who want to teach English, this course will be valuable to anyone interested in teaching overseas or in Canada. Combined with an undergraduate degree, the CELTA meets TESL Canada Level 1 Certificate criteria, and as an initial teacher-training course, the CELTA has been an international benchmark in TEFL for over thirty years. LSI s courses, offered on a part-time basis, give individuals the flexibility to become qualified or change careers without interrupting their income or studies. There must be, however, a significant commitment made to complete the assignments and readings. Spending ten weeks with the material and tutors will also allow participants to fully absorb and practice all that the course offers. CELTA is backed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Delivered by more than 200 approved centres in 40 countries, it is recognized worldwide by employers and is the first step in Cambridge ESOL s ongoing professional development scheme. Schools offering this certification must adhere to rigorous standards set out by Cambridge ESOL with staff and facilities being inspected regularly to ensure compliance and quality. In addition, a Cambridge ESOL-approved external assessor must be arranged for each course. [Course Description] 1. Courses will have a minimum of 120 contact hours including: Input Supervised lesson planning Teaching practice (6 assessed hours) Teaching practice feedback Peer observation Observation of experienced teachers (minimum 6 hours) Consultation time Candidates will need to dedicate a minimum of 80-100 additional hours for the required reading, research, pre and post-session tasks, assignments and lesson preparation. 2. Target candidature The CELTA is an introductory course for candidates who may have little or no previous English Language teaching experience. It is also suitable for candidates with teaching experience who wish to develop their skills further.
Course Aims The course enables candidates to: Acquire essential subject knowledge and familiarity with the principles of effective teaching Acquire and develop a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners Demonstrate their ability to apply their learning in a real teaching context Candidates who complete the course successfully are qualified to teach in a variety of contexts around the world. 3. Syllabus Overview This is an outline of the syllabus criteria for the Cambridge ESOL Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). The following syllabus is a reflection of the pre-service entry point of prospective candidates and outlines both the subject knowledge and the pedagogic knowledge and skills required by qualified ESOL teachers. The syllabus consists of five units of learning that deal with specific topic areas in the teaching of ESOL: Unit 1: Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context Unit 2: Language analysis and awareness Unit 3: Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing Unit 4: Planning and resources Unit 5: Developing teaching skills and professionalism Units 1, 4 and 5 focus on the preparation and delivery of ESOL teaching programmes. Units 2 and 3 focus on the content of ESOL teaching programmes as well as the pedagogic knowledge required for teaching language systems and language skills. [Course Assessment] 1. Assessment overview CELTA is awarded to candidates who have completed the course and who have met the assessment criteria for all written and practical assignments. 1. The overall assessment aims for each unit are that candidates should be able to: Assess learner needs, and plan and teach lessons which take account of learners backgrounds, learning preferences and current needs Demonstrate language knowledge and awareness and appropriate teaching strategies Demonstrate knowledge about language skills and how they may be acquired Plan and prepare lessons designed to develop their learners overall language competence Demonstrate an appropriate range of teaching skills at this level and show professional awareness and responsibility
2. Classroom-related written assignments Centres design four written assignments which relate directly to the course programme. Each assignment is between 750 and 1,000 words.the assignment areas are: Language related task Focus on the learner Language skills related task Lessons from the classroom A variety of formats may be used but two of the assignments must be written in academic prose. Assignments may consist of a series of tasks. It is also possible for centres to conflate two assignments into one longer assignment with two discrete parts; in this case, the assignment is still assessed as two separate pieces of work and each section of the assignment must be graded separately. [Course Format] Tuesday Thursday Saturday Teaching Practice Teaching Practice Input & 6-8 pm 6-8 pm Lesson Preparation 10 am- 5 pm TP Feedback TP Feedback 8:30-9:30 pm 8:30-9:30 pm Teaching practice will take place at LSI Toronto with 2 classes of foreign students at distinct levels. Saturday input sessions are delivered using a variety of formats, approaches and techniques and will give candidates the opportunity to explore key features of the language as well as classroom management skills. [Entry Requirements] Participants should be 20 years old by the end of the course and typically (but not necessarily) hold a post secondary qualification. Participants must demonstrate an awareness of language and a competence in English, both written and spoken, that enables them to undertake the course. This is done through the initial application form (including the pre-interview task) and a personal interview, at which candidates will be asked to do a second set of tasks and give a brief teaching demonstration on a subject of their own choosing (but not English!). [Tuition Fee] The fee for the course is CD$1,950. A non-refundable deposit of CD$300.00 is required to secure your place on the course upon acceptance. Candidates accepted to the course must pay fees in full two weeks before the start date. If applicants fail to pay their fees by this deadline, their place will be offered to another qualified applicant.
[Course Schedule] 07 CELTA WI January 13 March 24, 2007 07 CELTA SP April 7 June 16, 2007 07 CELTA SU July 02 September 06, 2007 07 CELTA FA September 29 December 08, 2007 [Terms & Conditions] Fees $300 Non-refundable deposit due on acceptance of a place on the course and applied to the tuition fee $1950 Tuition fee (including approx. $150 Cambridge ESOL registration fee) All fees are due not less than 14 days before the start of your course, otherwise, your place may be offered to another suitable candidate. Refund Policy Notice of your decision either not to commence or to withdraw from the course must be delivered in writing to the school. This policy will be applied as of the date on which your written notice is received by the school or not more than 3 days after the postmark. Before the course begins If you withdraw from the program more than thirty days before the course has begun, the school will retain only your deposit. If you withdraw from the program less than thirty days before the start of the course, the school will retain 25% of the tuition fee. After the course begins There can be no refund after the course begins. LSI reserves the right to dismiss from the programme any trainee who commits any illegal, unethical, disruptive or abusive act during the course. In such a case, there can be no refund Course Cancellation or Postponement LSI reserves the right to postpone or cancel any course due to insufficient numbers or operational problems. In such a case we will notify candidates as far in advance as possible and full refunds will be made.
[Trainee Support ] The CELTA will demand a lot from you but it is our aim to support all trainees in their efforts to meet the requirements and achieve the certificate. This means that although the course is strictly designed and its requirements clearly set out, you are encouraged to speak with your tutor(s) if you have questions or concerns. Tutors will work in a professional and responsible manner to assist you in resolving problems or difficulties, but you need to tell us what they are. Where this is insufficient, CELTA office hours are posted and a private meeting with a tutor or the Director of Studies can be arranged at a mutually convenient time. [Comments & Questions about the CELTA from www.english-international.com] Who recognizes the CELTA? 1.The CELTA is recognized by TEFL employers worldwide, including: language schools such as International House, LSI and EF; many overseas public schools, colleges and other employers; many ministries of education, and government bodies such as The British Council; and by TESOL, IATEFL, TESL Canada and other major professional organizations. 2. It is well regarded by organizations such as the Peace Corps and JET. 3. CELTA graduates usually receive credit towards MA TESOL programs. 4. "The most widely recognized and respected TEFL certification worldwide." ELT Guide 5. "Anyone with the RSA/Cambridge Certificate is in a very strong position to get a job in any country where English is widely taught." Susan Griffith in Teaching English Abroad Why is the CELTA so highly regarded? 1. The Univeristy of Cambridge is one of the most prestigious universities in the world 2. Each CELTA center undergoes a rigorous annual approval process and a Cambridge assessor visits every course run in every centre. 3. Courses provide expert instruction in methodology and language analysis, and include practice teaching with real classes of foreign students. 4. Courses offer training in a communicative teaching approach based on the best of current classroom techniques. This approach can be adapted to meet the needs of students in many different contexts. 5. Only people who attain the Cambridge ESOL standards of teaching gain certification. 6. Globally, approximately 10,000 people take CELTA courses every year, making it the most widely recognised source of trained ESOL teachers. What are the minimum qualifications for trainers? 1. At least 5 years of EFL/ESL classroom teaching experience; 2. RSA/Cambridge Diploma in TEFL or an MA in TEFL/TESOL (or a related field); 3. Completion of an approved program of training as a TEFL/TESL trainer.
Do CELTA centres and courses vary? All CELTA courses have to meet certain minimum conditions set and monitored by Cambridge. However, centres are free to design their own programs and they can exceed these minimum conditions if they want. As a result, there can be differences between centres, just as there are between the BA/BSc programs offered by different universities. For more information please go to: Cambridge ESOL www.cambridgeesol.org International House www.ihworld.com British Council www.britishcouncil.org