Course Content - Cambridge CELTA courses in Madrid, Spain

The Hyland CELTA course is highly practical and is assessed through observed teaching practice and practical written assignments. After our course, successful candidates will have developed an awareness of:

* a range of techniques for presenting, practising and revising vocabulary and grammar, with an emphasis on speaking.
* how the four main skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing can be taught and learned.
* a wide range of creative tools to design useful and motivating lessons, using video, visual aids, drama, music etc.
* how to correct students sensitively and effectively.
* the characteristics of English vocabulary and pronunciation compared to other languages and a range of techniques to draw students´ attention to these.
* how to manage a classroom situation, deal with pair and group work and encourage positive group dynamics.
* how to critique, select and adapt materials from a variety of published and authentic sources.
* the fundamentals of the English language through the eyes of a language learner.
* the psychological processes involved in learning a foreign language and the effects on language acquisition of different types of motivation and learning style.
* their own strengths and weaknesses and the importance of ongoing self-reflection in the role of teacher, colleague and employee.

CAMBRIDGE CELTA COURSE STRUCTURE

The timetable of a full time course is from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Friday, while the part-time course takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for around 5 hours each day. In addition to these hours, candidates are expected to prepare lessons, complete written assignments and observe experienced teachers at the school. On the full time course, this involves between 3 and 5 hours extra work every evening during the course. It is not possible to have other work commitments during a full time CELTA course.

A typical day on the full time course looks like this, although the exact times may change.

* 09.00 – 09.30 – Individual lesson preparation time * 09.30 – 11.30 – Teaching Practice * 11.30 – 11.45 – Break * 11.45 – 13.00 – Input session

* 13.00 – 14.00 – Lunch * 14.00 – 15.00 – Teaching Practice Feedback * 15.00 – 16.30 – Input session * 16.30 – 17.30 – Guided lesson planning

On the part time course, Mondays and Wednesdays follow a similar pattern, with a different schedule on Fridays. Again, the exact times may change.

Mondays and Wednesdays	Fridays
* 09.15 – 10.15 – Input session * 10.15 – 11.15 – Guided lesson planning * 11.15 – 11.30 – Break * 11.30 – 13.30 – Teaching Practice * 13.30 – 14.30 – Teaching Practice feedback	* 09.30 – 11.30 – Input session * 11.30 – 11.45 – Break * 11.45 – 13.15 – Input session * 13.15 – 13.30 – Break * 13.30 – 14.30 – Guided lesson planning

CAMBRIDGE CELTA COURSE COMPONENTS

Teaching Practice

Teaching practice is an important part of assessment. Trainees teach for a total of 6 hours over the course, divided into lessons of 20 - 60 minutes in length. Students are mostly Spanish and trainees will teach students with two distinct levels of language ability (for example, Elementary and Intermediate). The students are aware that you are a teacher in training. Each lesson receives detailed verbal and written feedback from tutors, outlining what worked well and things that could be improved.

Teaching Practice Feedback

On the CELTA course, trainees are expected to pay close attention and complete an observation task during each other’s lessons, in order to be able to participate fully in a feedback session. While the tutor is present during the session and will guide the process and summarise the main points, it is very important that trainees are able to give and receive constructive criticism in order to help each other in the development of their teaching. The observers often learn as much as those who taught from this process.

Guided lesson planning

During this time, you have an opportunity to sit down individually with the tutor and ask questions relating to your next lesson. Teaching is based on a course book and during the early stages of the course you are given a lot of help and support in preparing your class. However, as the course progresses you are expected to become much more independent in your lesson planning.

Input

Input sessions are very practical and related directly to teaching practice. They cover the main issues of teaching methodology and techniques and language analysis. They are highly interactive and the focus is very much "demonstrate" rather than "explain". In other words, the tutor will teach you in the way that we expect you to teach your students. In this way input sessions help you to learn on two levels; the content of the session and the techniques that the tutor uses to convey and help you to understand that content.