English Programmes

Group Course

Our group courses are designed for partner universities, government bodies and other organisations. Each year we welcome hundreds of group students from around the world, usually coming from a university, organisation, or government body. Group courses can be catered to the institution’s needs and can include integrating students into a General English course or a closed group course or a combination of both. For more information, please send us an email!

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English Programmes

TEACHING QUALIFICATION

Group Course

COURSE LENGTH

1 Week Plus*

COURSE DATES

Customised Length

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Course Outline

Our group courses are designed for partner universities, government bodies and other organisations. They are not available to individual students.

Each year we welcome hundreds of group students from around the world, usually coming from a university, organisation, or government body. ELA has the resources, experience, and expertise to design and deliver these customised programmes to the highest standard. Group courses can be catered to the institution’s needs and can include integrating students into a General English course or a closed group course or a combination of both.

These programmes can be:

exclusive ('closed') or integrated ('open')
short-term or long-term
online or face-to-face
large (10+) or small (fewer than 10)

Proposals for group courses can be provided on request, please contact ela.marketing@auckland.ac.nz

Please note: we only take students aged 18 or over.

General English Group Courses

Students are integrated into different classes according to their English level. They are given the opportunity to meet and study with other students from a range of backgrounds.

Integrated Group Course

Students will join existing courses with other students from a range of backgrounds. Depending on the needs of the group, these courses can focus on General English or Academic English. These courses can be designed together with the University of Auckland Study Abroad Office for programmes such as Academic and Pathway English + University of Auckland Study Abroad Semester.

Closed Groups

Closed group courses only contain members of the participating university or organisation. Examples of closed group courses include:

General English
ELA & Study Abroad at the University of Auckland
English plus New Zealand Culture
Business English
Teacher Development
English for Academic Staff

What We Offer Our Group Partners

The support of a dedicated Group Coordinator, in addition to our Student Support team.
Assistance with planning and preparation, including a detailed pre-programme Orientation and IT support services.
Help with recruiting students for your programmes, including webinars and demonstration lessons.
Our unique experiences (Virtual Homestay Tour, Meet2Chat, Virtual University Tours, Online Drop-in Study Centre) are included in our group programmes free of charge.

* The minimum length is 1 week when combined with other programmes.

Study a Group Course Online

The ELA has extensive experience delivering high-quality Online Group Programmes for our overseas partners. In this video, our tutor Sarah gives an insight into what a tailored Online Group Programme can look like.

Sample Timetable

Please note this is a sample timetable only. Your classes may run in the morning session or afternoon session.

Any questions regarding Group Courses, please contact ela.marketing@auckland.ac.nz

Meet the Teachers

Sarah Hallis

Teacher

Sarah joined the ELA team in 2016 and has taught a wide range of courses, including Academic English, General English, IELTS, and Business English. She was also formerly General English Coordinator for the ELA and has taught short-term in China. Sarah finds her passion in the classroom and enjoys engaging with students from various walks of life. Apart from this, she loves dogs, bottomless cups of tea, and creative expression through music-making and cake-decorating.

Christy Zhong

Teacher

Christy is an English language teacher at ELA. Since joining ELA in 2023, she has taught different classes, including General English and EAP courses. She enjoys meeting with people from different backgrounds and learning new things from them. She believes being curious is one key factor to successful learning. To balance work and life, she enjoys watching good movies and TV dramas, reading books about crime, and eating delicious food.

Joel Archer

Teacher

Joel is an English language teacher with experience in a range of classes including General English, English for Academic Purposes, as well as teacher training. He joined the ELA team in 2023. Joel has taught at many schools in New Zealand and Japan, and loves experimental teaching, games for language learning and encouraging self-study skills. Other than teaching, Joel loves language, philosophy, Gaming, music, psychology and art. Maybe you’ve seen one of his paintings somewhere in Auckland…!

ELA University Pathway

Course Introduction

University Pathway | The University of Auckland English Language Academy

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CELTA Q & A and Graduate Comments

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 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.

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

How can I complete a CELTA at ELA?

There are 2 different ways you can complete a CELTA course at ELA.

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.

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

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

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

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.

What is the daily schedule like?

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

Face-to-Face 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

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 CEFR level high C1 (Advanced) or above 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.

What are the course dates and fees?

2024 Course Dates:

Monday 18 November - Friday 13 December (4 weeks full-time, course full -waitlist only)

2024 Course Fee: $3,600

2025 Course Dates:

Saturday 05 April - Thursday 12 June (10 weeks part-time, accepting applications)
Monday 17 November - Friday 12 December (4 weeks full-time)

2025 Course Fee: $3,800

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

2024 Insurance Fee: $87 per month
2025 Insurance Fee: $113 per month

How to apply?

Please download the application form and language awareness task below; these should be completed and then emailed to 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 four weeks before the course starts.

CELTA Application Form and Language Awareness Task

What do our graduates say about this course?

“In this CELTA course, I learnt a lot of online teaching skills and a lot about teaching in-person. I believe I am well-prepared for any opportunities that may arise. This course has given me a new awareness of various aspects of teaching I had never really considered before such as Teacher Talking Time, and asking ICQs (Instruction Checking Questions) and CCQs (Concept Checking Questions). The great thing about the CELTA is that you can take the skills and certificate anywhere with you and it will be helpful!”

Samantha

“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 ELA were outstanding.”
‍
Taskeen

“The CELTA course can be challenging at times but the tutors at 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. 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 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

Can I get a StudyLink student loan for CELTA?

No, CELTA trainees are not eligible for student loans from StudyLink.