Category Archives: Cambridge ESOL

Some refreshing honesty from a TEFL course provider

Posted on 20/09/2010 by alexcase

“Applicants from outside Japan are kindly advised that while we may be able to offer some basic advice, we are unable to provide any practical assistance with visa applications, accommodation or work if they wish to attend this course… Unless … Continue reading →

Posted in CELTA, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL certificate | 2 Comments

Dumbing Down in EFL?

Posted on 15/09/2010 by alexcase

A few bits of ELT history that I wasn’t aware of until reading an article  on DevelopingTeachers.com The Trinity Diploma (then the Trinity College Licentiate Diploma) came first, with the Cert level certificate coming later. Similarly, the original RSA Cert was not … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, developingteachers.com, Diploma in TESOL, Trinity, Trinity CertTESOL | 1 Comment

Guest piece- Doing the YL Extension to the CELTA

Posted on 19/08/2010 by alexcase

Apparently many prospective TEFL teachers nowadays think that 4 weeks is too long to study to become a teacher. Luckily, there are also the dedicated few like Jo Gillespie who decide to make the whole CELTA thing longer while also properly learning … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching teenagers, Teaching young learners, TEFL, Young Learner Extension to the CELTA | Tagged | 1 Comment

Cambridge DELTA questions- answers please!

Posted on 13/08/2010 by alexcase

“Dear Alex, I recently read your reflection on the Delta course on Tefl.net and as a prospective Delta trainee I was quite inspired by what you’d written. I have some doubts about the course so I’d like to ask your … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, Cambridge ESOL, TEFL | 8 Comments

Beyond standardisation

Posted on 28/06/2010 by alexcase

Putting more thought into the last post, I think we can be fairly confident that people who take different versions of the CELTA and get, for example, a B will have produced the same standard of lessons and essays during … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge ESOL, Online CELTA, Online TEFL certificate, Teacher training, TEFL certificate, TEFL qualifications | 1 Comment

Online CELTA on the way

Posted on 27/06/2010 by alexcase

Official Cambridge PR announcement Hattip to TEFLista for pointing out this out to me, via a thread on Evil Dave’s. Seems the teaching practice will still happen face to face as now, and it could be a good thing if … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, Online CELTA | Tagged | 3 Comments

The CELTA Ten Commandments

Posted on 12/06/2010 by alexcase

Say what you like about the Ten Commandments (unrealistic, need a scary fake God to make people pay attention, etc), I think we all must admit that we’d improve our lives and the world by keeping it in mind not to lust … Continue reading →

Posted in CELTA, Eliciting, Pairwork and groupwork, TEFL, TEFL certificate, Using a whiteboard | Tagged | 16 Comments

CELTA graduates to go through 24 teaching hour ordeal

Posted on 04/06/2010 by alexcase

Taking inspiration from the Mars500 simulated Mars mission, Cambridge ESOL has finally found a solution to the disconnect between the 6 hours of teaching in 4 weeks of the CELTA and real working life. All CELTA graduates will be locked … Continue reading →

Posted in CELTA | Tagged | 9 Comments

Experimental lessons

Posted on 03/03/2010 by alexcase

Was hoping some of you could help me brainstorm things that could be done for the Cambridge DELTA experimental practice lesson, as well as any other advice on being experimental that they may have. The main difficulty in the DELTA is that you need … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, CLIL, Community language learning, Dogme, Humanistic language teaching, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Suggestopedia, TEFL, The Callam Method, The Silent Way, Using L1 in class | 16 Comments

(Proper) writing and blogging

Posted on 26/02/2010 by alexcase

I’ve finally finished the long ago promised Theory and Practice in the Cambridge DELTA Module 2. I did a lot of reading (a lot by my standards, anyway) and a fair bit of pondering, but all the best words on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, TEFL | 8 Comments