What is CELTA?

CELTA is the Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. It is an initial qualification for people who want to become professional teachers of English as a foreign language. CELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English language teachers. It is also recognised by the British Council and the British Institute of English Language Teaching. More than 7,000 candidates complete a CELTA course each year.

Who is CELTA for?

CELTA is suitable for those with little or no teaching experience. It is suitable for anyone who wishes to teach English as a foreign language to adults or work in ELT within the UK or overseas. Candidates come from all walks of life. Many are recent university graduates, but others are already qualified as teachers of other subjects or are professionals looking for a change of career or rewarding career break. Most candidates see CELTA as the starting point of a long-term career in English language teaching. For students working on their gap year, CELTA is a passport to teaching overseas and an ideal way to travel the world whilst developing new skills.

Can anyone apply for a CELTA course at Oxford House College?

Applicants should have a good standard of education at least equivalent to that required for higher education. Applicants should have a formal qualification at National Qualifications Framework Level 3 (for example A-level, BTEC National Diploma) or equivalent. It is not necessary to have any previous teaching experience to apply for our CELTA course. You do not need to have English as your first language, but you must have a good understanding of English that will enable a range of levels to be taught. You need to have a level of English equivalent to C1 or C2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Where can I stay during the course?

If you need accommodation in London whilst studying your CELTA, our Accommodation Officer can arrange various types of accommodation. Please see our accommodation page for more information. 

University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations:

CELTA is part of a family of professional and academic examinations run by Cambridge ESOL. The Cambridge ESOL examinations are known all over the world and are recognised by universities, employers and national education authorities in many countries. They are managed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) - one of the world's largest and best known educational assessment agencies.

Every year, more than one million people take Cambridge ESOL examinations at all levels, from beginners to educational professionals. They take them in order to improve their employment prospects, to seek further education, to prepare themselves to travel or live abroad, or because they want an internationally recognised qualification which shows their abilities.

The range of Cambridge ESOL examinations includes General English and specialist examinations in Business English and English for Academic Purposes, as well as tests for young learners and a suite of certificates and diplomas for language teachers. Apart from CELTA and DELTA, Oxford House College, London offers a variety of Cambridge ESOL examinations.

Course Information:

For full CELTA course information, including syllabus, assessment information, grading system, college facilities and teaching practice guidelines, please download our brochure:

Click here to download full Course Information (PDF)

Apply Now: Click here to download our CELTA application form

How long is the CELTA course?

CELTA is a full-time intensive course lasting 4 weeks. It can also be taken on a part-time basis over 13 weeks. Course content and assessments are identical for either option.

What is the timetable?

Full-time courses are 10:15am - 18:30pm, Monday - Friday. During the summer (Jun-Sept), full-time courses are 12:30pm - 20:30pm. Part-time courses are 18:30pm - 21:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10:30am - 16:00pm on six alternate Saturdays. Please see the fees and dates below for more details.

What should I do before the course starts?

When you enrol on a course we will send you a pre-course task and a pre-course reading list. This will give you an awareness of all the CELTA course themes.

What does the CELTA course cover?

The Oxford House College, London CELTA course is designed for people with little or no previous teaching experience. During the course, you will develop familiarity with the principles of effective teaching and a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners. The course includes teaching practice, observation of experienced teachers in the classroom and completion of a range of practically focused written assignments. You will receive training and support from fully qualified and experienced ELT professionals. You will also have access to library resources including professional books, publications, multimedia titles and Internet access.

Assessment:

You are assessed continuously during the course and there is no final examination. An external assessor, who is appointed by University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) moderates each course.

There are three components of assessment: Teaching Practice, Written Assignments and Professional Development. We will help you prepare thoroughly for each assessment.

• Assessment of Teaching Practice: You will teach for a total of six hours, working with classes at two levels of ability. The assessment is based on your overall performance at the end of the six hours.
• Written Assignments: There are four written assignments to complete. Two assignments explore aspects of teaching and learning English at an adult level, one involves work on the language system of English and one is a reflection on classroom teaching. Your written work is moderated by an external assessor appointed by UCLES.
• Professional Development: This is based on your overall performance and commitment during the course. We will provide you with regular feedback on your development throughout your training.

To be successful, you must pass all components. There are three grades - Pass, Pass 'B' and Pass 'A'. Successful candidates receive a Certificate awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.

2012 CELTA Course Fees:

• Full-time: £990 excluding VAT, registration fee and Cambridge examination fee
• Part-time: £990 excluding VAT, registration fee and Cambridge examination fee

2012 CELTA Course Dates: 

2012 Part Time CELTA Course Dates: