TEFL CELTA course at IH Barcelona Spain: Documentary, Part 1

[ihbarcelona]

@JohnnyZenith It's difficult to advise; someone who knows you personally is almost certainly in a better position to do so (particularly so if that person is a teacher). To some extent it would also depend on the exact nature of the "all sorts of problems"... That said, being shy and a bit nervous about standing up in front of a class for the first time is only natural, but it's something we all face and learn to deal with. A good course, and a good tutor, will help a lot with that.

[JohnnyZenith]

I wonder if anybody could help me. The only way I will be able to travel properly and work in Mexico is if I learn to teach English. The problem I have is that although I am told i'd be good and i'm very outgoing..I am actually very shy. Standing up in front of a group is so terrifying i've never been able to teach. I also have a disorder which makes focusing very difficult and gives me all sorts of problems. I just don't know if I can make it through a course.

[davstev220]

At IH Barcelona we won't let you teach if you are, er, revealing too much flesh. No plunging necklines, no shorts or sleeveless t-shirts for men, no visible underpants, that sort of thing.

Umm, rather goes without saying.

[ihbarcelona]

@davstev220 Yes, you'd think it would go without saying, wouldn't you? But believe me, if we say it (and we do!), it's necessary and we have occasionally to tell trainees that they are not appropriately dressed.

[davstev220]

Yes, many of the tutors are extremely condescending. It's a very touchy feely approach. It is not teaching.

[maym86]

We've started a TEFL social network where we are trying to build a community of TEFL teachers around the world to meet and share experiences and tips. If anyone is interested take a look at tefl-me.com. It covers lots of areas and has a blog, forum groups individual profiles and a map to indicate your location in the world to help you meet other TEFL teacher when you are on the other side of the world.

[simon44]

Into week 3 in my CELTA course now its the hardest thing i've ever done in my life no doubt. Its the sheer pace of it that makes it hard. I had a very long lesson plan and 2 assignments to do over the weekend. - 21 hours work - no weekend and no life during the course. It is rewarding when your class works. The biggest kick in the nuts though is how hard they grade. One of the lads today just go up and walked out because of the stress. Doing a TEFL course before this can help set you up for it.

[MooseheadDrinker]

I've heard CELTA instructors are rude, conceited, and condescending.

Any truth to this?

If so, why?

[ihbarcelona]

@MooseheadDrinker Not according to the feedback we take at the end of every course, and we're talking about several hundred a year...

Perhaps you are referring to another centre, not IH Barcelona?

[MooseheadDrinker]

@ihbarcelona Not sure what centre. I just read some "horror" stories about the instructors on the internet.

[ihbarcelona]

@MooseheadDrinker Would you want a teacher to be "rude, conceited and condescending"?

No. Tutors ought to be models of what you should be as a teacher and the feedback we get is overwhelmingly good to excellent.

That's not to say that how you personally get on with a tutor isn't also vital (same applies to any teacher).

Sure, I've met a few dodgy characters in ELT in my time but a lot of people telling internet horror stories in fact have an axe to grind. Failed the course? I want revenge!!!

[sixnames]

@MooseheadDrinker I did mine at IH Bangkok and they were sound. The MD Danny is an absolute legend. No problems. A few people had personality clashes with trainers but most were fine. You just need to know that the criticism is to help you.

[MooseheadDrinker]

I've always wondered if there is a dress code for students in CELTA but judging from the video it appears as though people are dressed very causual ie. jeans +t-shirt

[ihbarcelona]

@MooseheadDrinker Yes, there is a dress code, smart but casual.

You don't have to wear a tie, at least not in Spain, or a jacket but if you are wearing jeans they should be clean and not full of holes.

At IH Barcelona we won't let you teach if you are, er, revealing too much flesh. No plunging necklines, no shorts or sleeveless t-shirts for men, no visible underpants, that sort of thing.

[garfieldintoke]

I just finished the CELTA in London after having taught abroad for 10 years without formal qualifications, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!  Fab course but bloody hard:) I was so inspired that I am now doing my Masters in TESOL. Do the CELTA-it is a life-changing experience!!

[sweetdreamz24]

hey garfield, where did you do the course? i am looking at Oxford and Stanton School and I don't know which one to choose.

[garfieldintoke]

Hi sweetdreamz24 I did it at Language Link London (Earl's Court) and absolutely loved it. However, my group of fellow trainees was awesome thank goodness and that makes a HUGE difference:) I heard that my 2 trainers have left now so am not sure exactly how the others would be, but I truly had a great time (no sleep for a month though but that it is same anywhere!) Good luck and if I can answer any qs pls let me know!

[JihadOfTheSoul]

@garfieldintoke

How muchw as the course? I also live in London but from the prices I've seen on the web its £1,200, is that right?

[ihbarcelona]

@JihadOfTheSoul Yes, it's 1,550 euros, which is in fact a bit over 1,200 GBP

[ihbarcelona]

Well, first, you want to get a proper qualification -- CELTA or Trinity are the way to go as they have the best recognition worldwide.

In theory, such courses are the same at any centre, but you should shop around: what sort of post-course support you get is something which is very important, I'd say, for example.

I'd suggest that you want to be fairly sure you actually want to teach before you get into it: it's not cheap, for one thing!

[latequilera22]

This is something I'm really interested in. Very informative. Could I get some advice about teaching English abroad?