Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA)

CELTA is a valuable, internationally recognised qualification for adults who would like to teach ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) or EFL (English as a Foreign Language). The training is suitable for adults who have little or no previous language teaching experience. Applicants for the course should normally be aged 20+.

What will I study on the course?

The course is highly intensive and offers both a teaching practice placement with current ESOL learners and input sessions on a range of knowledge and skills. In addition, trainees will also be required to:

• Complete six observations of qualified ESOL teachers, normally on other days of the week or during the evening Monday – Thursday
• Undertake 5-10 hours of independent study/teaching preparation/assignment writing per week

The course is exciting and demanding and covers communicative language learning theory. You will also be immersed in a teaching context. You will study language and teaching methodology whilst also being assessed on your teaching practice. There is ongoing assessment of your practical teaching skills and you will complete four assignments.

To find out more, please contact us on:

Telephone: 01392 400500 or email: adultESOL@exe-coll.ac.uk

What topics will I study?

The 5 units of the syllabus are:

• Unit 1 – Learners and Teachers and the Learning and Teaching Context
• Unit 2 – Language Analysis and Awareness
• Unit 3 – Language Skills: Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing
• Unit 4 – Planning and Resources for Different Teaching Contexts
• Unit 5 – Developing Teaching Skills and Professionalism

• To be aged 20+ (but at the discretion of the centre, applications from 19 year olds may be considered on an exceptional basis.)
• To have a good general education at least to Level 3 (A Level/pre-university). Many candidates will be graduates.
• To have an awareness of language and a competence in both written and spoken English which will enable you to undertake the course and prepare for teaching at a range of levels.
• To have the potential to develop the necessary skills to become effective teachers and to successfully complete the written assignments and the assessed teaching practice.

What is the selection process?

Candidates who complete a satisfactory CELTA Application Form and Pre-selection Task will be invited to Exeter College for a language assessment and interview process. At interview, in the view of the panel, candidates should demonstrate communication skills and interpersonal skills which indicate that they have the potential to become successful teachers.

Exeter College is a vibrant and successful Further Education college, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, in the very pleasant city of Exeter.

CELTA trainees will be working within the college’s English Language Centre, a thriving ESOL/EFL centre with over 20 fully qualified ESOL teachers and, typically, around 350 students enrolled at any one time. The CELTA training team are skilled and experienced teachers and trainers, approved by Cambridge.

Trainees will have access to the college’s excellent facilities, including well-stocked Learning Centres, our portal/moodle sites, student support services, cafes, restaurants and much more! The college prides itself on the quality of tutorial support provided to students.

Fees & Payment

Course fee is £1,750

This includes your Cambridge registration fee and a photocopying card.

Funding Availability 

Self-Financing: No funding available for this course. For fee’s over £150, you can set up an instalment plan to pay over 3 months (50% on the first month, and 25% for the following 2 months). Click here to view the pay arrangements for 2025-26

Additional Costs

You will be expected to buy: ‘Learning Teaching 3rd edition Student’s Book Pack’ by Jim Scrivener and one other language analysis book tbc on day one of the course.