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We hope that this sheet addresses some of your questions. If you are applying for one of our
courses, please don't hesitate to ask your interviewer for more information
What is the difference between CELTA and TEFL?
Is there a deadline for applications for courses?
How long will I have to wait to hear from you after I post the application form/Language Task?
Can I be interviewed over the telephone?
Can I pay for the course in instalments?
Can I reserve a place on the course before the interview?
What time does the Open Day start?
How easy is it to get a job in English Language Teaching?
How do I go about finding a job?
How much can I expect to earn?
How long do contracts usually run?
I've been offered a job. Should I take it?
I can't speak the language. How can I possibly live there?
Is it possible to have a career in ELT?
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What is the difference between CELTA and TEFL?
ELT (English Language Teaching) was once commonly referred to as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) but there was never a qualification known as TEFL
The Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is the most widely accepted initial teaching qualification.
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Is there a deadline for applications for courses?
No, there isn't. It's on a first come, first served basis. The summer courses tend to fill up very quickly. It is recommended that applications are sent to us at least 2 months in advance
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How long will I have to wait to hear from you after I post the application form/Language Task?
Usually 2 to 3 days
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Can I be interviewed over the telephone?
Yes, if the candidate is abroad. The candidate will be asked to call us and the telephone interview lasts approximately 30 minutes
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Can I pay for the course in instalments?
Once the candidate is accepted on to the course a deposit of £200 is required for us to guarantee the place. The balance needs to be paid at least 4 weeks before the start of the course
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Can I reserve a place on the course before the interview?
No, the reservation can only be made once the candidate has been offered a place
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What time does the Open Day start?
4.15 - 6.30
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How easy is it to get a job in English Language Teaching?
It depends where you want to work. In some countries (e.g. in Eastern Europe and some countries in South America) there is a huge demand for teachers whilst in others (most notably in Western Europe) jobs for inexperienced teachers are often fairly limited. Full-time work in the UK is very limited outside summer months. Between June and September, however, there is great demand for teachers to teach on summer courses. Many teachers work abroad during the academic year and return to work in the UK for part of the summer
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How do I go about finding a job?
If you take a CELTA course at International House, there will be a talk given on recruitment by our HR department. We operate a placement service for our 120 affiliated schools and for quality-assessed schools in other organisations. The placement service is open to all those who have taken CELTA courses with us, regardless of when the course took place. Other good sources of information include The Guardian (Tuesday edition) and the sector newspaper, The EL Gazette. It is also a good idea to look at the websites for both publications.
Finally, you might like to consider working for the voluntary sector. VSO places a large number of teachers, many of whom were trained at International House London
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How much can I expect to earn?
The ELT market is largely unregulated and conditions vary greatly from country to country and school to school. Teachers are normally paid in the currency of the country in which they are working and the value of that salary, when changed into Sterling, can seem very little. However, all IH schools guarantee that your salary would afford you a good standard of living in the country where you are working
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How long do contracts usually run?
As with the other questions the answer to this one is 'it depends'. In most western European countries, contracts are for an academic year (from September to June) whilst the academic year in South America and Japan begins in January. Some organisations (e.g. VSO) require a 2-year commitment. Although this may seem like a long time, remember that it often takes a few months to settle into a new country and the second year is usually when you begin to see the benefits of learning a new language and cultural rules.
It is also possible to find short contracts (e.g. 3 to 6 months) and International House updates its vacancy list monthly to take account of these
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I've been offered a job. Should I take it?
There are some basic questions to ask. Is there a contract? Will you be paid hourly and, if so, are you guaranteed a minimum number of hours' work? What support is available to you? Ideally, there should be a Director of Studies who will help you plan and prepare courses. Will you be observed? One of the most important features of development work is the opportunity to discuss your teaching with someone who is more experienced. Many schools offer a developmental observation programme.
One feature of all IH schools is that there is a strong focus on teacher development. We work hard to ensure that teachers feel that they are not only contributing to the work of the organisation, but gaining from it
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I can't speak the language. How can I possibly live there?
The CELTA course aims to teach you how to teach all your lessons in English, regardless of the first language of the students, so don't rule out teaching in a country just because you don't know the language. All IH schools provide language support for new teachers to enable you to get a foothold in your new living situation
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Is it possible to have a career in ELT?
There is now quite a well-established career structure within the field in the UK. 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
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