CELTA at the Bell School, Cambridge

In October I attended the CELTA course in Cambridge at the Bell School. The CELTA course gives an excellent groundwork in teaching English. I already had a PGCE but the CELTA course taught you very prescribed ways of teaching lessons, for instance using pictures to elicit answers, and using controlled, semi-controlled and free practice to learn reading and listening. They use Raymond Murphy grammar books to teach grammar and there are books by Jim Scrivener that teach you how to teach English and how to teach grammar. When teaching English teachers should keep their own chatter to a minimum as it is distracting. Concept checking questions are used to make sure that the students understand and before each exercise the students are asked information checking questions. Listening and reading tasks are introduced gradually, using a short sample at first and making sure that before they are exposed to the text, students understand what questions that will be asked afterwards. I found the course very helpful and I would warmly recommend it.