CELTA: Certificate of English for Teaching Adults
CELTA: Certificate of English for Teaching Adults
CELTA certification is the Cambridge University program that gives you hands-on, in-class teaching experience. In the world TEFL, it’s kind of like the gold standard in English teaching.
Previously, CELTA stood for “Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults”. But now, the CELTA stands for “Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages” to capture a broader scope of English language learners.
CELTA certification is the most rigorous program and it boosts your chances of getting a TEFL job and in more countries. Further to this, it can elevate your salary significantly.
How great is that? But is CELTA certification a viable option? Let’s take a look.
World-class training from a world-class university
Although you can take CELTA certification in different countries around the globe, you are ultimately assessed by the world-renowned Cambridge University.
Based on CELTA graduates’ feedback, many have found tremendous value in it for pursuing a teaching career. When you get certified with CELTA, you invest in yourself as a certified teacher. You earn a gold mine of practical resources and teaching experience for your class.
Overall, CELTA certification gives you that competitive edge putting you ahead of other applicants. And if you have a strong desire to teach as your career in the future, then without a doubt CELTA is an optimal choice for you.
Is CELTA certification worth it?
When you need the gold standard in English teaching certification, who ya gonna call!? It is the Cambridge University CELTA certification?
In brief, CELTA certification is of exceptional quality but generally has a higher price tag. It’s rigorous, fast-paced, and even overwhelming for some.
This gives you a unique opportunity to earn a higher wage in countries that require a higher level of qualification. If you want to teach abroad, it gives you a gateway to explore language and make a living at the same time.
But this can pay off in the future supplying you with new, interesting, and creative ideas that you can bring to the classroom. In the end, you will become a more effective teacher and gain the skills and insight needed for teaching English as a Second Language.
CELTA certification is for hands-on experience
You may have heard that CELTA certification demands a bigger time commitment compared to other types of TEFL Level 5 courses (which is absolutely true). It’s a fast-paced environment to build engaging lesson plans, and you may even have to re-think how you learned English.
You typically have a workload with the following:
This means you’ll have to reach back and decipher those verb tenses, grammar mistakes, and even word pronunciation. During the CELTA certification program, they won’t lecture you. In reality, they’ll engage by practicing on a live stage in front of trainers, fellow students, and possibly real ESL students. As a result, trainers will provide you with feedback to help you grow as an ESL teacher.
This means you’ll have to prepare ESL lesson plans for your in-class training. And these free ESL games and ESL activities can quick-start your effort. You have to be confident in speaking to a wide audience, which is not always easy. For some, this can even be a bit overwhelming. But if Cambridge University wasn’t challenging you, they wouldn’t be doing their job. 🙂
Where do TEFL and TESOL fit in?
CELTA is its own brand of certification different than TEFL. While CELTA certification is more recognized for teaching in Europe, TEFL certification seems to have more recognition in Asia. They aren’t exclusive to these regions but this is just the general trend at this point in time.
Even though CELTA certificates generally have a higher cost, you generally get more teaching (practicum) hours. It’s been said that it’s worthwhile because you grasp a deeper knowledge of teaching from this program.
I cannot say whether you should choose TEFL, CELTA, or TESOL certification. Ultimately, the key is to look over all the job listings and see what certification that specific country is looking for.
They can all boost your salaries when you teach English abroad. Ultimately, it’s how your future goals intersect with your desired results to be an effective ESL teacher.
Our Top 3 Picks
CELTA is the most rigorous type of certification
Is CELTA certification the optimal choice out of all the certifications such as TEFL, TESL, and TESOL? If you have a strong desire to teach English as your career in the future, then CELTA certification fits your goal like a glove.
While TEFL and TESL come in many different flavors (online, in-class), CELTA has the most consistent curriculum. For example, CELTA certification puts you in front of a class giving you practical teaching practice. Instead of teaching just theory, CELTA evaluates your skills with the following:
You can create ESL lesson plans and lead ESL conversation classes with confidence Besides, what good is a theory when you can’t put it into practice? CELTA helps prepare become a successful English teacher. Knowing all this, CELTA is still one of the least desired certification types in the international TEFL job market.
Best CELTA-equivalent certification
1. The TEFL Academy
The TEFL Academy offers a Level 5 TEFL course that is the same level as CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL. This course is regulated by the UK government and also by DEAC which is recognized by the US government.
We really like the TEFL Academy as our #1 TEFL program and it has one of the top scholarship programs as well. Here’s our review of the TEFL Academy to learn more about this program.
2. Premier TEFL
Premier TEFL Level 5 CELTA-equivalent courses are English Government (Ofqual). This course gives you access to better-paid jobs in a wider range of countries.
Premier TEFL is also an excellent option with scholarships and paid internships to travel and work at the same time. Check out our review of Premier TEFL for more information.
3. TEFL Institute of Ireland
The TEFL Institute of Ireland offers a Government Regulated LEVEL 5 TEFL Courses CELTA equivalent training.
Its internationally-recognized certification ensures the highest quality and that your qualification will be highly regarded by employers worldwide.
4. The TEFL Institute
The TEFL Institute online course is ranked at the same level as a CELTA or TrinityTESOL. This Level 5 Government Regulated course gives you more opportunities to work in countries that require a higher level of qualification.
It’s also an excellent course if you’re looking to teach abroad with a TEFL internship program. It has a range of countries where they can set you up in a TEFL school with accommodation and airfare.
5. International TEFL Academy (ITA)
The International TEFL Academy (ITA) course is accredited as a “Level 5” TEFL course. This is the same level of accreditation as CELTA including their 4-week and 11-week courses.
We have the International TEFL Academy ranked in our list of TEFL courses. If you are a newcomer in the TEFL industry, then you should take a look at this program because of its high-quality support and program.