The Celta and Trinity TEFL course

If you are not confident with the structure of your English, your English is not so good, you were not taught the correct structure of English at school, or you simply want to teach English & work abroad at a foreign university or similar, you might consider a CELTA or Trinity TEFL certificate.

Generally these courses are run over four weeks and cost around £800 to £1000 plus the cost of accommodation, which can be anything from £120 per week if staying with a family to £65 per night for a hotel. There may also be other expenses such as daily food and stationary on the top of this.

If it is your intention to find long term work overseas then a course which deals in detail with grammar and the construction of the English language is a good choice rather than a weekend TEFL course. You will be able to teach at a higher level and possibly in some cases, but not all, be able to demand higher rates of pay.

With regard to the countries you are able to teach in, this is still widely debated. Often jobs posted will ask for CELTA or Trinity certificates as a first choice. For universities, they will often ask for an English degree including a module of teaching English as a foreign language. Like for like, teachers with a Trinity or Celta TEFL probably do stand a better chance of getting work if competing against people with a 20 hour weekend TEFL certificate, but as there are so many job offers out there, it is highly likely that a teacher with a 20 hour certificate will find work just as easily as a four week TEFL certificate.

Employers will usually take into account what other work experience the candidate has. For instance, if the candidate has a 20 hour certificate but has taught a subject or has several years work experience in the area the employer is involved in, he or she may get the position in preferance to a candidate who has no work history but has an English degree and a Trinity or Celta.

My advice is to look at both TEFL options, see what you can afford, and try it. If you decide to take a weekend course and love the teaching but feel you are lacking confidence within the language structure, then take the Trinity or CELTA. If however, you have the money to take the course, can take a month out, and want to find better paying clients from the start, take the Trinity or Celta TEFL course. Which ever way you choose there are plenty of reasons why gaining a TEFL certificate is a useful option.

Courses are generally split into sections and will probably look something like this:-

  • The methodology of English teaching and learning, and using it.
  • The grammar system of the English Language.
  • English pronunciation.
  • Lesson planning and teaching practice.

Main Course elements: -

  • Tenses and grammar.
  • Pronunciation.
  • Productive skills: speaking and writing.
  • Receptive skills: listening and reading.
  • Presentation and practice techniques for grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
  • Classroom management.

Course details were taken from Windsor Schools CELTA & TRINITY TEFL Courses website, and whilst I do not know this company, they offer a good and informative website which is worth looking at.

 

 

 

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