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Location
greece
Athens
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Course Type
CELTA
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Training Type
Classroom
CELTA is an internationally recognised professional teaching qualification that is common in the field of teaching English as a foreign or second language. The course is designed for potential teachers with little or no classroom experience and is therefore considered an entry level qualification in English language teaching. The fundamental specifications of the course are provided by Cambridge ESOL which is a branch of the University of Cambridge.
CELTA Course
The length of the course is 120 contact hours (6 hours a day over 20 days for the full time CELTA). In order to be eligible for the award of a certificate, candidates are required to:
- Attend and participate in the course
- Complete 6 hours of teaching practice
- Observe 6 hours of lessons taught by experienced teachers
- Submit 4 written assignments
- Maintain and submit a portfolio of course work (i.e. lesson plans, self-evaluations, etc.)
Course Content
The course covers the following areas:
- Language Analysis and Awareness
- The Learner, the Teacher and the Learning/Teaching Context
- Planning for Effective Teaching
- Classroom Management Skills
- Teaching Procedures and Techniques
- Resources and Materials
- Professional Development
- Classroom Observation
- Teaching Practice
Observed Teaching Practice (OTP)
An integral part of the course, OTP is undertaken in small groups of English language learners. A total of 6 hours’ assessed teaching practice is the requirement over the course which may be divided into a number of lessons lasting 40, 45 or 60 minutes. Feedback sessions, led by the course trainer who has been observing you, follow each OTP session and are also a key component of the course. Reflection on your teaching is part of the learning process on the course and you will be expected to contribute to the feedback on yourself and others.
Written assignments
These are the ‘Focus on the learner’ (which encourages you to find out about your learners’ backgrounds, needs and purposes in learning), the ‘Language related task’ (a review of your growing language awareness), the ‘Language skills related task’ (in which you consider how you could use an authentic text in the classroom) and the ‘Lessons from the classroom’ (in which you reflect on your strengths and weaknesses over the course). It is one of the requirements for a pass grade that you pass 3 out of the 4 assignments, but you are allowed to re-submit any or all of them if you don’t get it quite right first time.
Observation of experienced teachers
4 hours of this will be observation of your trainers teaching your TP students. The remaining 2 hours may be made up of video observations of particular lesson types, which are timetabled into the input sessions.
Maintaining your portfolio
Your portfolio will need to contain a lesson plan for every lesson you teach in OTP together with your self-evaluation of it and the trainer’s written evaluation, your completed written assignments and finally, your CELTA 5, a record-keeping booklet in which you record, amongst other things, the times of your teaching practice and observations of experienced teachers and a summary of your progress as discussed with your trainer in your mid-course tutorial.
Course fees
The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.
The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) PayPal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.
The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.
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CELTA Athens | CELTA Greece
As one of the great capitals of Europe, Athens is always a popular destination for taking a CELTA training course. Not only does it boast some of the most fascinating historical sites in the world, it is also within easy reach of the stunning Mediterranean coastline with all the options for entertainment and relaxation that comes with it.
Famous the world over as the birthplace of democracy, Athens is also instantly recognisable by its many iconic landmarks, such as the Acropolis and the Parthenon. For an insight into what the city has to offer, click here to experience a unique virtual tour.
Another reason why visitors keep coming back to Athens is its well earned reputation as a warm and welcoming city that is as safe as any in Europe. The warm climate and extensive cultural highlights are also a bonus, as are the countless outdoor cafes, restaurants and taverns where you can enjoy the local cuisine at a fraction of the cost of many other cities in the region.
If you want to feel the sand between your toes or take a cooling dip in the Mediterranean you are in luck as there are several popular coastal resorts just a short distance away from the city center. As well as great beaches, you will also find some lively nightlife during the summer months.
The School
Getting to and from the training center in Athens is always straightforward as it is conveniently located in the downtown area. Transport in and around the city is both cheap and easy as there are many options right on the doorstep, including bus, metro and trolley-buses. Despite our central location, the school is situated in a quiet area that is close to some of the city’s most popular landmarks such as the House of Parliament, the National Library and the Academy of Letters.
The CELTA training center has been in operation in Athens for over 30 years and has graduated in excess of 3000 new teachers. Our modern facilities include a huge resource library covering all aspects of the teaching world and a range of online support options. People come to us from all over the world due to our:
- High quality tutoring and extensive support during and after your course
- Outstanding track record of results
- Strong social media presence which is used for the benefit of our trainees and alumni
- International PLN (Personal Learning Network), a resource that is available to our alumni for life
- Experience working with thousands of teachers from around the globe
Accommodation
Our inexpensive recommended accommodation consists of a private room in an apartment shared with other course trainees. Individual studio apartments and apartments for families or other groups are also available. We can also provide a good choice of local hotels that offer reasonable rates to our trainees.
Please note: prices will generally be lower in the winter (low season) and a little higher in the summer season.
Prices per 4-week course:
Furnished room in shared apartment – 350 euro plus 50 euro guarantee*
Furnished apartment for two-four people – 650 euro plus 100 euro guarantee*
Studio apartment for one-two people – 450 euro plus 100 euro guarantee*
* guarantees are held in case of damages or excessively high electricity bills.
Above prices include electricity, water, building common charges and Wi-Fi.
Other options for a pre- or post-course break include the beautiful islands of Santorini and Mykonos which can be reached via a 30 minute flight, and the islands of Hydra and Spetses which are only a two hour journey by hydrofoil.
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FAQs
What are my payment options?
Course deposits must be paid to our administrative center. Credit/debit card payments are the fastest and cheapest way to pay, but we also accept payments via Western Union, Pay Pal and bank transfer.
For intensive courses, tuition fees must be paid no later than 3 weeks before a course start date, and in some cases, if for example the candidate needs a visa to enter the country, at least 6 weeks in advance or more, to give the candidate enough time for the visa application and processing.
Once the course deposit has been made, you will receive a welcome package with full information on the course requirements, a booklet of pre-course tasks and study which must be undertaken before the course starts (and submitted to the course tutors either handwritten or in digital format).
The balance of course fees is payable to the centre via bank transfer, paypal or Western Union. You can also pay via credit card which allows you a number of installments on part time courses.
Tuition fees do not include Cambridge assessment costs which vary, depending on the course type you opt for:
On site courses cost an additions 160 euros
Online, blended CELTA course cost an additional 250 euros
What are my accommodation options?
Candidates are free to find their own accommodation in Athens through services such as AirBnB or a student accommodation service which we will connect them to.
We have a small number of furnished flats which we make available to our trainees on a first come fist served basis.
What documents do I need for finding employment after the course?
You will need your centre report which you can use in lieu of your CELTA Certification which is sent to the centre approximately six weeks after the end of a course. The Certificate is awarded by Cambridge and is then posted to the successful candidates at no extra cost, unless they wish to have it couriered, in which case they must cover the extra costs involved or pay on delivery.
A CV is usually required by prospective employers and a testimonial letter or two by previous employers or professors. A passport or other form of identification is also necessary.
The centre publishes the many requests for work received in a closed platform dedicated to the centre alumni where jobs are posted regularly – the testimonials received by the centre about the high quality of candidates produced by our centre means that most trainees can find employment easily.
Non-EU residents may need a special invitation and process to be employed in the EU. Non-native non-EU candidates have more difficulties in the EU but there are numerous job opportunities for EFL teachers opening up in China, Japan, Asia as well as via online outfits. Strong candidates with a high level of competence in English and a very good accent usually have less trouble finding work.
What is the course schedule?
A typical day will begin with Teaching Practice during which you will either be the teacher or an observer of your Teaching Practice Group/Team. Each trainee must teach a minimum of 8 lessons which will be assessed and more which will be unassessed, in order to get to know the learners.
After teaching practice, there will be a short break followed by peer and tutor feedback to the teachers, a lunch break in the common room or in a nearby café or restaurant
The afternoon is dedicated to input sessions, seminars and workshops on the different topics in the syllabus and an hour of help with lesson planning for subsequent teaching practices.
It’s a longish day but there are good breaks, time to relax and socialize or read in the library, a nearby small garden to have a break from the lessons and some excellent places for lunch or coffee!
What can I expect during teaching practice?
Our learners are both local people, adults who are either unemployed at the moment or retired and wanting to learn something new. We also have many immigrants and refugees from a variety of countries, so we provide a truly multinational and multicultural teaching environment for our trainees, a great advantage for most teaching positions nowadays.
Teaching practice feedback is collaborative and supportive and it both oral and written based on the criteria as set out by Cambridge
Each lesson evaluation by the tutor is accompanied by a reflection written by the trainee who taught and an action plan laying down the course for improvement in the next lesson(s)
The process is formative and has great results in producing teachers who are both reflective as well as highly accomplished in a wide range of methods and techniques.
Who usually attends the course?
Our course participants are a mixture of novice teacher or teachers with little experience as well as teachers who have considerable experience but have never attended a formal training programme and are interested in their professional development.
The mix works well; the different skills and abilities make the course interesting and the sharing of ideas and inspiration fantastic!
Both native and non-native speaking teachers with a high level of proficiency can attend the course which is in accordance with our equal opportunities philosophy and policies.
Is there a dress code?
All information regarding the school dress code will be forwarded in the information package to candidates but, in general, it’s a course in a school attended by adults who dress in city casuals.
During teaching practice, trainees are expected to dress with the decorum and professionalism expected of teachers in the particular locale; this means no shorts or low cut tops or tank tops with midriffs showing – bearing in mind that we also have many refugee students who come from Muslim countries and the sight of a teacher attired in this way may not be the best course of action to maintain our student numbers!!!!
What should I bring for course studies?
Notepaper and pen or a tablet, laptop or similar device for taking notes are desirable.
You will be given a folder for your portfolio in which all coursework will be placed and left at the centre at all times.
Candidates should bring their own ring binders in which they can organize handouts and sample materials but the overall attempt is to make use of less paper for environmental reasons.
There is free wi-fi at the centre, a common room for breaks and lunches, snacks and a library for quiet time and study.
What’s the climate like? What kind of clothing will I need to bring?
The climate in Athens is temperate with winter temperatures rarely under 9 or 10 degrees Centigrade and hot summers without humidity however – the school is airconditioned and is quite cool in the summer and warm in the winter so dress comfortably and not heavily.
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