Cambridge CELTA

Although South Africa has 11 official languages, English is the main language of the government and one of the most popularly used in business. The country has a need for English teachers who are qualified to teach English as second language. English teachers in South Africa are expected to have a degree and/or a TEFL certificate like the CELTA.

The Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is an internationally recognised TEFL qualification, administered by Cambridge English Language Assessment and regulated by OFQUAL at Level 5 on the Qualifications and Credit Framework.

The CELTA training at Capetown and Johannesburg will combine both theory and practical training to boost your confidence, and equip you with the required skills to independently handle an ESL classroom - in South Africa or abroad.

Key Features & Benefits

• Internationally recognised CELTA certificate, accepted globally, providing you with plenty of teaching opportunities worldwide.
• Acquire fine teaching skills under the guidance of highly experienced tutors and trainers.
• Job support, assistance and guidance with high chances of getting immediate work at local schools.

Course Highlights

• 120 hours of intensive, face-to face tuition.
• 6 hours of assessed teaching practise in a real classroom setting.
• An option to choose between 4 weeks full time or a 16 weeks part time course.
• Highly competent and passionate tutors with more than 10 years of teaching experience.
• Job support and advice sessions providing valuable inputs on various career routes.

English students in South Africa are of a great variety in terms of age and backgrounds. With your TEFL certificate, you can teach English to children as a volunteer in a shabby rural areas or teach some children from rich backgrounds in an international school. Even more, you could find language institutes where you can teach English to adults.

Ways to take CELTA

There are two options to take the CELTA course in South Africa:

• Intensive full-time option usually 4 weeks:
  - Available at both Cape Town and Johannesburg ceters.
• Online option, for 6 weeks
  - Available only at the Cape Town center.

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

Topic 1: Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context

• Understanding the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of learners, and how this might affect their learning of English
• Understanding different learning styles and preferences

Topic 2: Language analysis and awareness

• Understanding key terminology used in English language teaching, applying this terminology in planning and teaching
• Demonstrating a working knowledge of English grammar, lexis and phonology

Topic 3: Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing

• Understanding basic concepts and terminology used for describing reading, listening, speaking and writing skills, applying this to teaching
• Understanding how approaches to texts may vary depending on the purpose, making practical use of this in teaching

Topic 4: Planning and resources for different teaching contexts

• Understanding the purpose and principles of planning for effective teaching
• Selecting and planning the kinds of lessons that are most appropriate for particular learners
• Evaluating lesson preparation and reflecting on this for planning future lessons

Topic 5: Developing teaching skills and professionalism

• Effectively organising the classroom, both in terms of layout and pair/group activities
• Making appropriate use of a range of materials and resources
• Involving learners of different ability levels, enabling them to feel a sense of progress

Boasting of amazing white sandy beaches, the beautiful cape coast and hippy Johannesburg, South Africa is a great destination to take your TEFL. Launch your international teaching career in one of the few countries of the world offering African Wildlife, and a complex history of apartheid and colonists.

Requirement and Eligibility

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a proficient English language user ( IELTS 7.5 or an equivalent English language proficiency, CEFR C1 or above)
• Be educated to the standard required for entry into primary or higher education

You must have the potential ability and desire to develop the essential skills needed to become an effective teacher and to complete the written assignments and teaching practice successfully.

Assessment

You will be assessed throughout the course and there is no final examination. The two types of assessment are:

Teaching practice: You will teach for a total of 6 hours, working with adult classes at a minimum of two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance.

Written assignments: You will complete four written assignments (each 750 - 1,000 words). These focus on:

• analysing and responding to adult learner needs
• analysing language for teaching purposes
• teaching language skills
• reflecting on classroom teaching.

New TEFL teachers in South Africa shouldn’t miss an opportunity to host a braai or attend one. A braai is a social custom in South Africa that involves roasting meat over a local open fire (like the barbecue but not with a grill machine or gas) and then sitting round the fire to eat with friends. Although, a few people now use gas, the South African culture of sitting close to the Braai fire to celebrate with friends remains.

CELTA Grading

CELTA certificate is awarded to trainees who satisfies all the course requirements and meets or exceeds the assessment criteria in both components. The certificate grades are determined by performance descriptors used by tutors and assessors to determine the overall grade of candidates.

The grades of the certificate are:

• Pass - Lot of candidates finish the CELTA with a Pass grade which shows that they can effectively plan and teach lessons but may require some support from employers in the first few periods of entering the EFL industry.
• Pass B - The percentage of CELTA candidates who graduate with a Pass B is smaller than those of pass. These set of candidates are capable of planning lessons, utilising effective classroom management and teaching with little or no support.
• Pass A - This category accounts for the smallest percentage of CELTA graduates. Usually, pass A graduates can manage a classroom effectively without any support.
• Fail or "No Certificate Awarded" - In this case, the candidate's performance does not meet all of the pass descriptors or some of the assessment criteria.

The Cambridge CELTA is awarded to candidates who satisfy all assessment criteria and complete all course requirements.

Course Locations in South Africa

• CELTA in Capetown
• CELTA in Johannesburg