Basil Paterson’s CELTA course is designed to give new English language teachers the skills and knowledge they need to step into the classroom with confidence. The course consists of 120 hours contact time with over 80 hours individual learning and six hours assessed teaching practice.

Course cost 2024: £1545.00

Full time CELTA courses 2024:
All courses are face-to-face.

15th January – 9th February
4th March – 29th March
8th April – 3rd May
20th May – 14th June
1st July – 26th July
12th August – 6th September
23rd September – 18th October
4th November – 29th November

Email: celta@basilpaterson.co.uk

The course comprises the following core elements:

Instruction… Active participation in task-based workshops, lectures and practical activities focusing on learner awareness, language analysis, phonology, career development and methodology. In other words, how to teach.

Teaching Practice... Trainees teach classes of overseas students and gain genuine experience of the teaching and learning process.  Tutors provide help with lesson preparation and by the end of the course trainees will have taught at two levels, completing a total of six hours teaching (in compliance with Cambridge guidelines).

Observation… When not teaching, trainees usually observe their colleagues, contributing to group feedback with the tutor once the lessons are over.  In addition, trainees have the opportunity to observe and learn from qualified teachers at Basil Paterson.

Assessment… While there is no final examination, assessment is continuously is carried out by the course tutors, with a visit from a Cambridge assessor who ensures that tutors work consistently and in accordance with guidelines. Teaching practice and assignments are assessed. Each trainee will have at least two private tutorial during the course where they can discuss their progress with the tutor.

Commitment… The CELTA course is very intensive and Cambridge requires that trainees attend every component of the course.  We advise that other commitments are kept to a minimum.  All trainees will be fully occupied with lesson preparation and writing assignments in the evenings and at weekends.

Professionalism… Trainees must demonstrate a professional attitude and work constructively with others.

Is CELTA the right course for you? 

If you would like to start your career teaching English language, or are already a teacher but want to gain an internationally recognised qualification in the field, CELTA may be the course for you.  The course is very practical and you will gain real classroom experience from day one. The morning input sessions and assignments help develop your language awareness and teaching skills. CELTA is a challenging but immensely rewarding course and you’re supported by experienced  tutors every step of the way.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to be an advanced speaker, with a minimum level of C1 or higher.

We interview all CELTA candidates before acceptance.  When we receive your application form, we will send you an interview task which you can complete in advance. During the interview, we will discuss your reasons for taking the course, your future plans and experience of language teaching/learning. We will then complete a series of tasks focusing on language, spelling and teaching techniques. If the interview is face-to-face, we will ask you to prepare and deliver a ‘mini-lesson’ on a topic of your choice. Finally, you will have the chance to ask any questions about the course and English language teaching more generally.

We want to ensure that all candidates on the CELTA have a rewarding experience with a good chance of passing the course. We will only offer you a place if we believe it is the right course for you!

If you would like to read about the course in a little more detail, please download our CELTA FAQs.