The CELTA course covers the principles of effective teaching, and gives you a range of teaching techniques and practical experience. You get hands-on teaching practice and observation of experienced teachers, and you’ll apply your learning by delivering communicative teaching with English language learners. 

Course format summary

The CELTA course in detail

CELTA courses are delivered by authorised centres on behalf of Cambridge English. All CELTA courses include at least 120 hours of contact between candidates and course tutors, and include:

• tutorial support and consultation

• supervised lesson planning

• 6 hours’ assessed teaching practice per candidate supervised by a course tutor

• feedback on teaching practice

• peer observation of teaching practice (i.e. watching the other candidates’ lessons)

• 6 hours’ directed observation of lessons taught by experienced ELT professionals, up to 3 hours of which may be of filmed lessons

You should also allow for 80 additional learning hours for pre-course preparation, reading, research, assignment writing, lesson preparation and record keeping.

The maximum ratio of candidates to tutors is at least one tutor for every six candidates (one tutor for every four candidates on online courses), and there are at least two tutors on each course.

Course topics

The CELTA course covers a range of topics:

•     learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context

•     language analysis and awareness

•     language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing

•     planning and resources for different teaching contexts

•     developing teaching skills and professionalism