CELTA

Overview

Face to face Intensive Courses (4 weeks)

The Cambridge CELTA course is very demanding. The attendance requirement is 100% and in addition to the 10:00 to 18:00 workdays at International House Palermo, you will need most evenings and weekends (during the intensive component) for homework tasks, written assignments, lesson planning, and materials preparation. The course is challenging, but most trainees enjoy and thrive on the work!

As a CELTA trainee, you will be working in large, modern classrooms, and you will have access to a quiet workroom for lesson preparation and self-study.

International House Palermo has materials for your exclusive use as a CELTA trainee, including a variety of up-to-date books on methodology, grammar, and activity books for use in the classroom. Additionally, you will have access to other areas open to students at International House Palermo, such as the recreation area and the computer laboratory.

Typically, mornings are devoted to input, and afternoons to supervised teaching practice, feedback, and assisted lesson planning. Teaching practice starts on the second session of the course.

As CELTA training is based on "learning by doing", Teaching Practice (TP) is the heart of the course. In your TP sessions, you will be asked to put into practice the ideas and concepts you learn during the input and feedback sessions.

For pricing and further course details please check out the CELTA flyer.

Tutors

All tutors (teacher trainers) have the advanced Cambridge Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA), or the Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults (DTEFLA), a sound background of theoretical knowledge, and years of practical classroom experience with monolingual and multilingual groups at all levels. Cambridge ESOL follows strict standards for approving CELTA tutors.

International House Palermo's team of fully qualified and dedicated CELTA tutors combine sound theoretical knowledge with practical teaching experience from most regions of the world. Their qualifications ensure that International House Palermo CELTA courses incorporate a wide range of teaching principles and practical classroom techniques.

Practice Students

You will be teaching adult volunteer students from a wide variety of language and cultural backgrounds, and you will teach at two distinct levels. The tutors will give you time to meet and get to know your students before they begin to assess your practice teaching. Typically, a TP class will have from ten to fifteen students and will contain students from Italy.

Accommodation (for intensive courses)

International House Palermo can arrange accommodation for you with a host family or independent mini-flats/bedsits. Both services are equally convenient.

Unless you are from the Palermo area or have friends/family here, International House Palermo recommends that you stay with an International House host family. We have chosen families for our CELTA students who are quiet and respectful of your workload. International House host families are required to provide you with bed and breakfast; some families allow you to do light cooking.

Assessment

CELTA assessment is continuous and integrated and includes:

• Teaching practice
• Written assignments
• Professional development
• Grading System

Trainees earn either a Pass 'A', Pass 'B', Pass, or Fail grade at the end of the 4-week training course. Teaching Practice (TP) performance is the most important factor in determining your grade for the course.

Admission Process

Places in all CELTA courses are limited. Admission is selective and stages must be completed to confirm your place on a given course.

First complete the pre-interview task.

Please note that the next course is an online course starting on 26th March 2012. The next full-time course starts on 18th June 2012.

International House Palermo reviews the pre-interview assignment and interviews candidates (out-of-city candidates can usually be interviewed by phone/Skype).

International House Palermo will confirm acceptance to qualified candidates within 48 hours of the interview. Course fees are due four weeks prior to the start of the course. To guarantee your place on the course you must pay a deposit of 500 Euros.

Preparing for a Course

If you are offered a place, and if you confirm your place with the payment of your deposit, IH will send you a pre-course task that will help you prepare for your course. The pre-course task is similar to, but more comprehensive than, the pre-interview assignment. It provides a good introduction to the topics of the course. Applicants who complete the pre-course task generally perform better on the course than those who do not.

International House Palermo Refund Policy

In an effort to maintain the lowest possible tuition costs in a labour-intensive, limited enrollment programme, International House Palermo will refund your tuition fees, less 25% for administrative processing only if:
the course has a full complement of qualified trainees and
International House Palermo can confirm the admission of a qualified alternate. International House Palermo makes no refund if these two conditions are not met or if you withdraw from a course after it has begun.

Please Note
While CELTA training is standardised, every approved teacher training centre has its own style, services, and approach. We hope this information has helped you understand what the CELTA course at IH is like. If you believe this course meets your professional needs, we look forward to receiving your application and pre-interview task.

Links and Forms

• More information on the online CELTA courses at IH Palermo
• Part A: Application form (pdf) or  Application form (doc)
• Part B: Pre-Interview Task part A (pdf or doc)
• Part C: Pre-Interview Task part B, (please request)
• Part D: Interview. If you successfully pass Parts A and B, International House will contact you to make an appointment for an interview.

Please contact International House Palermo to confirm receipt of your application.

• More information on the online CELTA courses at IH Palermo
• Part A: Application form (pdf) or  Application form (doc)
• Part B: Pre-Interview Task part A (pdf or doc)
• Part C: Pre-Interview Task part B, (please request)
• Part D: Interview. If you successfully pass Parts A and B, International House will contact you to make an appointment for an interview.

Please contact International House Palermo to confirm receipt of your application.