Frequently Asked Questions

Where is CELTA recognised?

The Cambridge CELTA is probably the most widely recognised initial ELT qualification. It was originally designed by, and intended for, the private language school sector, and private language schools remain the main source of employment for course graduates. The Cambridge CELTA is still less well known in North America than it is for example in Europe and Asia, although it is gaining wider recognition in North America. In Hong Kong, it's one of the requirements of being a NET teacher in public primary schools and the must-have qualification of many jobs in the private sector.

The Cambridge CELTA’s acceptance within the state system will vary from country to country; some countries insist that those working in the state sector have the state teaching qualification, although CELTA graduates have been successful in gaining employment in the state sector.

We would never be able to guarantee that every ELT institution world wide will accept the Cambridge CELTA (or indeed any other qualification). We can state, however, that it is a highly regarded qualification within the ELT industry. CELTA is currently accredited in the UK by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) at Level 5 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and is a 30-credit qualification. This is the same level as a foundation degree or a higher education diploma – however whilst the levels are the same, they should not be considered equivalent due to their content differences.

CELTA is also the first module of a wider qualification, which will meet the requirements for teachers of ESOL in further and adult education and which has recognition from FENTO (The Further Education National Training Organisation). For more details please see the Cambridge website https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/ .

The new CELTA syllabus has also meant a wider recognition for CELTA holders in terms of migrant teaching, which is a growing sector in many English-speaking countries.

Cambridge Assessment English also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of CELTA globally and ensure the chances of finding suitable employment will be considerably enhanced with the CELTA. You can check who recognises CELTA here: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/why-choose-us/global-recognition/

What types of people take the course at GPEX?

Because of our location (Malaysia and Hong Kong), there will be a mix of proficient English users from different countries and regions. For example, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Egypt, Iran, Netherlands, South Africa, etc.

The age is also varied, from early 20's to late 30's, and they can be new teachers or experienced teachers.

Therefore, you will be learning from peers from different cultures!

Will it show on the certificate that I took the online version?

Cambridge have recently introduced this mode of delivery and some centres have started offering CELTA online. Both the input and teaching practice are delivered on-line.

At the present time, GPEX only offer this option due to the pandemic situation. The final qualification is the same whichever delivery mode you choose, either face-to-face or online, and the certificate is also the same.

How many trainees will there be on the course?

CELTA regulations set a ratio of 6 trainees to 1 trainer. Any one CELTA course at GPEX runs with about 12 and 18 trainees.

During busy months, we will run 2 courses back-to-back but there will always be the 6 trainees to 1 trainer ratio.

I'm not good that English grammar. Will this be covered in the course?

The kind of grammar that is relevant to a language learner is not the kind of “grammar” you may have been taught at school and may feel you’ve now forgotten. As a native speaker, you already have a perfect knowledge of the grammar of your own language. However, what you are not able to do is to explain it and you probably don’t know the terms to describe it either.

Most people are in this situation when they apply for a CELTA course and before accepting you, we need to see at least that your mind works in such a way that you notice grammatical differences, you can make a reasonable attempt at explaining them and you will improve quickly with some help.

Before the course begins, working your way through the pre-course task which you will receive on acceptance can help and if you feel that you need to further consolidate your knowledge .

During the course, we will provide an overview of some of the main 'problem areas‘ and, perhaps more importantly, to equip trainees to be able to work out or find solutions to grammatical problems themselves.

What happens at the interview?

The interview is a Cambridge ESOL regulation. The primary purpose is to ensure that you have the potential to comfortably pass the course (before you decide to invest the time and money. Interviews typically last 45–60 minutes.

The interviewer (one of the course tutors) will ask questions related to your future plans, the content of your application, and some further questions similar to those on the application. You will have the chance to ask questions about the course and anything else you would like to know. At the end of the interview you will be informed as to whether your application has been successful.

Is the full-time course as intensive as people say?

Well, yes, it is intensive. No matter how much this gets emphasised, some trainees are still surprised by the amount of time and energy it consumes. This is basically because it squeezes so much into 5 short weeks, but then it’s also worth remembering that it is just 5 weeks and will soon be over!

The course runs Monday to Friday all day, and in the evening and during the weekends you will find yourself planning lessons, completing written assignments, catching up with background reading and so on.

But on the other hand, you will benefit from allowing yourself a break occasionally. In fact, it is crucial to plan your time sensibly so that you do get adequate rest. On weekends at least you will find yourself with some hours free and also towards the end of the course your planning load will gradually lighten.

Do I have to attend all the course hours?

You are expected to attend 100% of the course. In special circumstances, for example, illness, we can make exceptions, but if more than 20% is missed the certificate cannot be awarded. You must complete all 6 hours of observed and assessed teaching practice in order to pass the course. Please ensure that you can make this commitment.

Will I have to buy a coursebook?

There is no CELTA course textbook as such.

During the course, you will receive a very large number of handouts from your trainers in input sessions which will effectively comprise one, and if you are accepted, before the course begins you will receive the Pre-Course Learning Task, a booklet which introduces clearly and readably the content of the entire CELTA syllabus and is accompanied by exercises on each topic with an answer key. This is the most useful single piece of background reading you can do. We also have an online CELTA library with the teaching practice materials and some reference books.

However, we recommend you also have a look at one of the teaching methodology books recommended in the Pre-Interview Task download and purchase one of the recommended grammar books to use as a reference during the course and beyond.

Who runs the course?

There will be at least two trainers on each course, one of whom will act as the ‘Main Course Tutor’.

All CELTA trainers worldwide, including those recruited by GPEX, have to be approved by Cambridge Assessment English. The requirements to become a CELTA trainer are set very much higher than those for the trainers on most EFL training courses, in fact.

Before undertaking the training necessary to become a trainer, your tutors will have acquired the Cambridge DELTA (a diploma requiring a year of intensive study, assessed by dissertations, examinations and observations of teaching) and will have taught for at least 7 or 8 years in at least two different countries. In practice, they have usually taught for longer than this and in more than two countries and often have some experience of administration in language schools too. To find out more, go to Our Trainers.

How is teaching practice organised?

TP is a two-hour block and takes place every day. Trainees are divided into TP groups (with a maximum size of 6 trainees), and each TP group, with one trainer, is responsible for a particular class of students for at least 4 observed lessons.

Halfway through the course, the group changes to a different class at a different level. Typically, the TP groups are organised into elementary and intermediate levels. Trainees teach eight 45-minute lessons to make up the 6 hours of teaching practice. While you are not teaching yourself, you are required to observe each other.

There is a considerable amount of lesson planning guidance from the trainers in the early stages of the course. As the course progresses however, the formal support decreases, since you are expected to be able to plan independently by the end of the course. Trainers will still make themselves available to answer questions and give advice, even at the later stages.

The students you teach are fully aware that they are being taught by unqualified teachers and will have paid only a nominal sum to attend, although this does not mean that they are not motivated. Many of the students will be Malaysian but we also have many others from the Asian region. This means that the first language of communication for the students is English. The minimum age of the students is 16 and most are in their twenties. Class sizes will vary but will not normally exceed 15.

What kind of help with job hunting will I receive?

The course includes a professional development session on how to find work after the course and how you can go on to develop your career. The tutors have taught in a number of countries and organisations and can provide valuable advice on what to look out for and what to be aware of in addition to sometimes being able to point graduates in the right direction for employment opportunities.