The Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) is the most widely recognised qualification for those entering the field of teaching English as a foreign language. Focusing on developing practical teaching techniques, it provides you with the skills needed to begin a career teaching English as a foreign language and makes finding work in a language school easier.  

You will be assessed throughout the course, with no final examination. An external assessor, appointed by Cambridge English, moderates each course. There are two components of assessment:
 

Teaching practice

The course is very practical in nature with a heavy emphasis placed on performance in observed and assessed teaching practice sessions. Candidates teach six hours of assessed lessons over eight to nine lessons. Teaching practice is completed at two different levels with candidates teaching volunteer groups of students. Assessment is based on overall performance at the end of the 6 hours.

Written assignments

There are four written assignments with a total word count of 3000 words: one focusing on adult learning; one on the language system of English; one on language skills; and one on classroom teaching.

To be awarded the certificate you must pass both components. There are three grades for the certificate - Pass, Pass "B" and Pass "A".

 

This course ideally suits people who:

• have a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education
• are 20 or over
• have a standard of English which will enable you to teach at a range of levels

If you do not have formal qualifications at this level but can demonstrate that you would be likely to complete the course successfully, you may still be accepted.  At the course organiser's discretion, applicants aged between 18 and 20 may on occasion be accepted.

Candidates need to attend 100% of the course. Absence is allowed in the case of illness or exceptional circumstances, with time missed needing to be made up. A high level of commitment is required of candidates as the course is very demanding.

 

Please download the application form and language awareness task below; these should be completed and then emailed to the ELA. If this stage of the application is successful, you will be invited for an interview at a mutually convenient time. The deadline for all stages of the application procedure for the CELTA course is usually four weeks before the course starts. 

CELTA Application Form and Language Awareness Task

 

2023 Course Dates 

Monday 20 November – Friday 15 December 2023 (Face-to-Face Full Time)

Course Fees

$3,400 (Full time) - EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT OF $100 APPLIES IF DEPOSIT IS PAID AT LEAST 8 WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF START DATE

$3,500 (Part-time) - EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT OF $100 APPLIES IF DEPOSIT IS PAID AT LEAST 8 WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF START DATE COURSE CANCELLED

Schedule

Face-to-Face Full-time: 4 weeks (Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm)
Face-to-Face Part-time: 10 weeks (Monday 5 - 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday 5 - 9pm and three Saturdays 9am - 4pm)
 

Payment is accepted via EFTPOS or credit card.  A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 on acceptance of a place on the course is required (courses are subject to student numbers).  Full payment is due 4 weeks before the start date.

Please be advised that no refunds are available once the course has commenced, and no student loans are available for this course.

*Please note: In accordance with the University of Auckland's COVID-19 vaccination policy, the vast majority of students, staff and visitors do not need a My Vaccine Pass when coming on our campuses, or taking part in face-to-face University-managed activities. However, do NOT come on to campus if you have a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, or loss or change in sense of taste or smell – however mild. *

Contact

If you have any questions regarding the CELTA program, please contact:

celta@ela.auckland.ac.nz

09 919 7695

Insurance for International Students

All international students are required to have approved insurance while studying in New Zealand. International students will be charged automatically one of the amounts below for insurance upon enrolment. If you already have an approved insurance policy, you will need to provide the ELA with details to waive this fee. Please see Insurance
 

2023 Insurance Fee: $80 per month

 

2. Why should I take a CELTA course?

The Cambridge CELTA is one of only two TEFL qualifications that are listed by the British Council as an acceptable teaching qualification that meets their requirements and standards. It is recognised by language schools around the world and is most often requested by employers. Whether you would like to teach English language in New Zealand or abroad, the CELTA is the best place to start.

At the ELA, the language school of the University of Auckland, we have been training teachers for many years and our experienced tutors are ready to help you gain your internationally recognised TEFL certification.

3. Who is a CELTA course suitable for?

• age 20+, and
• first-language English speakers or non-first-language speakers and
• plan to teach English in New Zealand and/or overseas or
• are doing a higher-level qualification such as a masters in TESOL or
• are already teaching English but do not have a recognised and accredited teaching qualification or
• are teaching other subjects and are considering a career change

4. How can I complete a CELTA at the ELA? 

There are 3 different ways you can complete a CELTA course at the ELA.

Online Full Time

Our online full time CELTA course takes 5 weeks from Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm. All elements of the online course are delivered remotely, which allows you to study from anywhere. With dynamic workshops and input sessions via our online learning platform, the online course has the same positive, professional and supportive learning environment as our face-to-face course. Also, the CELTA qualification itself has exactly the same depth of study and recognition as our face-to-face CELTA course.

Face to Face Full Time 

The face-to-face full time CELTA course takes only 4 weeks at our campus from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. This 4-week intensive study is the fastest way to get your internationally recognised CELTA qualification.

Face to Face Part Time

Our face-to-face part-time CELTA course takes just 10 weeks at our campus from Monday 5 - 8pm, Tuesday and Thursday 5 - 9pm and four Saturdays 9am - 4pm. It is suitable for people who may be working during the day or prefer to study over a longer period.

5. What does a CELTA course include*? 

All CELTA courses include at least 120 hours of contact between candidates and course tutors, and include:

• tutorial support and consultation
• supervised lesson planning
• 6 hours’ assessed teaching practice per candidate supervised by a course tutor
• feedback on teaching practice
• peer observation of teaching practice
• 6 hours’ directed observation of lessons taught by experienced ELT professionals

You should also allow for 80 additional learning hours for pre-course preparation, reading, research, assignment writing, lesson preparation and record keeping.

The CELTA course covers a range of topics:

• learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
• language analysis and awareness
• language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
• planning and resources for different teaching contexts
• developing teaching skills and professionalism

*Content has been provided by Cambridge English

 

6. How will I be assessed*? 

You will be assessed throughout the course and there is no final examination. The two types of assessment are:

Teaching Practice

You will teach for a total of 6 hours, working with adult classes at a minimum of two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance.

Written Assignments

You will complete four written assignments (each 750–1,000 words). These focus on:

• analysing and responding to adult learner needs
• analysing language for teaching purposes
• teaching language skills
• reflecting on classroom teaching

Your teaching practice and written assignments are assessed by your trainers during the course. Your trainers will discuss your progress with you, including in at least two one-to-one tutorials, so you will always be fully informed of your strengths and areas to focus on.

*Content has been provided by Cambridge English

7. What are the grades for CELTA*? 

There are four possible grades for CELTA:

• pass A
• pass B
• pass
• fail

At the end of your course, you will be given a candidate report form, which will give your provisional grade. This will also say whether you took the course face-to-face, online or as a mix of face-to-face and online.

Cambridge English will issue your certificate when grades have been confirmed. Certificates are usually despatched up to eight weeks after the completion of the course. The certificate will state your name, grade, the centre number where you took the course and the date of the award.

*Content has been provided by Cambridge English

 

8. What support can I receive before/during/after the course? 

At the ELA, we not only provide you with support throughout the course, but also provide support with a session on finding work both in New Zealand and overseas.

Before the CELTA course, our Student Support Team will send you a welcome pack including important information and materials needed for your course. Also, an IT workshop will be held to help you with any technical issues you have.

In addition, your trainers will keep track of your progress and provide individual support throughout the course.

At the end of the course, there is also a session on finding work. Also, we share work opportunities from schools in New Zealand and overseas with you, providing guidance in your CV preparation and job interview.

9. What is the daily schedule like? 

Online Fulltime Course
9:00 – 17:30 (New Zealand Time)
9:00 – 10:30	Input 1
10:45 – 12:00	Input 2
12:00 – 12:45	Lunch
12:45 – 13:30	Assisted Lesson Planning
13:45 – 16:15	Teaching Practice (TP)
16:30 – 17:30	Feedback

 

Face-to-face Fulltime Course
8:30 – 16:30 (New Zealand Time)
8:30 – 9:15	Assisted Lesson Planning
9:30 – 11:30	Teaching Practice (TP)
11:30 – 12:30	Lunch
12:30 – 13:20	Feedback
13:30 – 15:00	Input 1
15:15 – 16:30	Input 2

 

Part-time Intensive Course （New Zealand Time）
Monday	17:00 – 18:30	Input 1
	18:45 – 20:00	Input 2
Tuesday and Thursday	17:00 – 17:45	Assisted Lesson Preparation (ALP)
	18:00 – 20:00	Teaching Practice (TP)
	20:15 – 21:00	Feedback on Teaching Practice
3 or 4 Saturdays	09:00 – 12:00	Input 1 and 2
	13:00 – 16:00	Input 3 and 4

10. What are the entry requirements?

You can register for this course if you:

• have a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education
• are 20 or over
• have a standard of English which will enable you to teach at a range of levels

If you do not have formal qualifications at this level but can demonstrate that you would be likely to complete the course successfully, you may still be accepted.  At the course organiser's discretion, applicants aged between 18 and 20 may on occasion be accepted.

Candidates need to attend 100% of the course. Absence is allowed in the case of illness or exceptional circumstances, with time missed needing to be made up. A high level of commitment is required of candidates as the course is very demanding.

11. What are the course dates and fees?

2022 Course Dates

Thursday 13 January – Wednesday 16 February 2022 (Full Time) *CELTA Online* (6 places remaining)

Saturday 12 March – Thursday 19 May 2022 (Part-Time) COURSE CANCELLED

Monday 14 November – Friday 09 December 2022 (Full Time)

Course Fees

$3,400 (Full time) - EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT OF $100 APPLIES IF DEPOSIT IS PAID AT LEAST 6 WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF START DATE

$3,500 (Part-time) - EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT OF $100 APPLIES IF DEPOSIT IS PAID AT LEAST 6 WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF START DATE

Insurance for International Students

All international students are required to have approved insurance while studying in New Zealand. International students will be charged automatically one of the amounts below for insurance upon enrolment. If you already have an approved insurance policy, you will need to provide the ELA with details to waive this fee. Please see Insurance

Insurance Fee: $75 per month

12. How to apply? 

Please download the application form and language awareness task below; these should be completed and then emailed to the ELA at celta@ela.auckland.ac.nz. If this stage of the application is successful, you will be invited for an interview at a mutually convenient time. The deadline for all stages of the application procedure for the CELTA course is usually two weeks before the course starts. However, as the ELA will be closed from 24 December 2021 to 9 January 2022, the application deadline for our January online CELTA course will be 17 December 2021.

CELTA Application Form and Language Awareness Task

13. What do our graduates say about this course? 

“Studying the CELTA course at ELA has opened up many opportunities for me to teach both in NZ and abroad, as it is a universally recognised qualification. The course offers a high level of engagement in a variety of different ways, including input, practical teaching sessions, observations, and technology training, along with consistent progress feedback. I was able to put my understanding and knowledge to use immediately in my teaching practice, seeing positive results, and building my confidence.” 
-Joanna

“The CELTA course at the ELA has taught me how to teach English to adult learners and given me a solid foundation to start my teaching career. The CELTA trainers were always helpful and provided constructive feedback on my teaching. The facilities and resources at the ELA were outstanding.”  
-Taskeen

“The CELTA course can be challenging at times but the tutors at the ELA provided us with a lot of patient guidance. The tutors are hugely experienced, and their training has being very transferable to actually being in a classroom in front of students. The CELTA course has been invaluable in terms of starting a teaching career and will continue to open doors for me in the future. The ELA is a premium quality language school and has an easily accessible location in the centre of Auckland.” 
-Toby

“The course was a big learning experience for me. I didn’t know much about teaching beforehand but came out with valuable real-world experience. The teachers at the ELA are so experienced and genuinely want you to progress. I learnt a lot from them and found the teaching input sessions very interesting. I’m planning to teach and travel overseas, and the CELTA qualification will definitely open doors for me in the future.” 
-Julia

“I really enjoyed the course. The tutors are skilled at giving feedback and presenting action points on how to improve. As it is a small group, there is more one-on-one time with the tutors, and my peers are really collaborative so I could get feedback from them as well. I have taught previously in Nigeria but wasn’t sure how transferable my previous qualification would be, so I took the CELTA as it is universally accepted.” 
-Emmanuel