CELTA

The acronym CELTA means The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. It is a world- renowned certification of one’s proficiency in the English language. As far as teaching of English language is concerned, CELTA is thought to be necessary in many English and non-English speaking countries of the world, if you wish to apply for the job of an English teacher CELTA is one of the seventeen English language certifications introduced by one of the subordinate offices of the world-known Cambridge University. The office is called the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and abbreviated as UCLES. All the certifications introduced by the UCLES are regarded as the most prestigious certifications in the field of English language teaching.

The CELTA as a certification of English language has long history. At the very outset, Cambridge University introduced RSA Certificate which was meant particularly for those who wished to teach English as a foreign language. In 1985, UCLES introduced an improved form of RSA with the name of RSA/Cambridge CTEFLA. CTEFLA meant the Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults. In 1996, it was again remodeled as RSA/Cambridge CELTA. The CELTA which is the most modern certification of teaching English to adult students was initiated in 2001. Within a very short span of time, it is regarded as one prominent and valuable certification of English teachers and accepted and recognized by all the world-known academic organizations.

The CELTA is contrary to the traditional concept of studies. Most of the work is done through assignments and presentations of various topics in the classroom. The assignments are not marked in the traditional way. Rather assignment work is only graded as pass, A, B or fail. One of the necessary parts of the CELTA is teaching to the real students of English language. The teaching by the learners of the CELTA is again judged only through grades. The successful candidates are given CELTA certificates as the proof of their credibility as authentic teachers of English language. The time span for the completion of the CELTA is brief particularly if you are doing it in full-time programme. In this case it is only a four-week long course. In case of part-time admission, the course may prolong to several months. In both the cases, the study contents and the pattern of study is the same. The prospective teachers have to master the teaching techniques and methodology in the backdrop of the latest researches in the field of ELT. The learners also revise and learn the modern usage of English language as the integral part of CELTA.

There are many institutions which offer preparatory classes for CELTA. But only UCLES is authorized to issue certificate of CELTA. Likewise there are many organizations which publish helping material for the studies of the CELTA both in book form and in the form of online mater. This helping material is also helpful for the prospective teachers. The teachers can also follow this helping material as guideline to draw out their own lessons for their classes.