Embarking on the CELTA is an exciting time. Knowing the opportunities that will open up once you gain your qualification will leave you itching to get started. Whilst you’re waiting for your course to start, it’s a good idea to make the most of your time to build up a foundation of knowledge. Making sure you’re fully prepared for your CELTA will allow you to take the most information away and enjoy every moment of the course. Here’s our best advice on how to prepare for your CELTA course.
Brush up on your grammar
Despite being fluent in English, very few of us have a perfect understanding of the grammar we use every day. Do you know the difference between the past perfect and the present perfect? Can you separate your pronouns from your prepositions? It’s worth investing a little time building up some understanding of key grammar terms before starting your CELTA course, so that you’re fully prepared to begin teaching these topics to your students. Although you’re by no means expected to have an encyclopedic knowledge of grammar before starting the course, a little revision never hurt. There’s tonnes of great resources available, including plenty of useful YouTube videos, like this one:
Read a glossary of CELTA terms:
During your CELTA there might be some new language that comes up. All sorts of abbreviations and grammar terms might be new. In order to stay on top of things, why not prepare with a basic understanding of some of the key terms. Here’s a great glossary to use in preparation, and during your CELTA.
Observe:
There’s plenty of opportunities to watch English classes either online or in person. It can be really useful to get a sense of what a class involves, the different challenges English teacher’s face, and how exciting a classroom environment is. Learning from the experts is a great way to pick up tips and tricks to use in your lessons. Have a look if there are any classes near you that you could get involved in, or watch some recorded lessons online, like this one:
Practice teaching:
You may have the opportunity to practice some teaching yourself. There’s no better way to learn than through practice, you will experience leading a class, creating activities and interacting with students. It’s so useful to learn how to field questions and keep your students engaged. There’s much to be gained from teaching practice before starting the CELTA course. You could try volunteering with local charities, or finding a local English school and asking for the chance to gain some work experience.
Listen to the advice of others:
Take time to listen to other’s experience of the CELTA; what things were challenging, what things brought joy. There are plenty of videos and articles from previous graduates talking you through the interview process, or what the course actually involves. It’s good to know what to expect, so that you can focus your energy on preparing the things you need to. In this video, you can get some advice from a group of graduates of our online CELTA course:
Enjoy it!
Teaching is a career it’s easy to be passionate about. Every day you’re making a difference to someone else’s life through sharing your knowledge. So remember that, and if things get stressful, focus on the future you’re approaching. Full time courses are only four weeks long, meaning that the CELTA experience can flash by. Make the most of your classes, enjoy your time with your students and have fun with it!
To learn more about the CELTA course at IH London, click here to visit our website.