Short course
CELTA
Your passport to the world.

Gain teaching experience and expertise with a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA). This is an internationally recognised qualification that is required if you want to teach English as a second language abroad or UK. You can choose a way to study that suits you, fitting classes around your commitments. You do not need any teaching experience to study with us but if you have taught before, you can still learn and develop many new skills on this course.
75% of English language teaching jobs require a CELTA qualification. (Cambridge Assessment English, 2018)
- Duration – 4 weeks full time, 13 weeks part time
- School – School of Education, Language and Psychology
Tuition Fees
UK and EU 2020-21 £1,300
International 2020-21 £1,300
Course overview
This course will help you reach your potential and start your teaching career in the UK or around the world. The certificate is awarded by Cambridge Assessment English, which is part of Cambridge University. It's a respected qualification that employers require when hiring and gives you teaching experience you would not get on other TESOL courses.
We will give you the training and experience you need to confidently teach English to speakers of other languages. This includes guided teaching sessions with adult learners of English either in person, or online via Zoom.
On the course you will:
- Learn the principles of effective language teaching
- Get genuine classroom experience and feedback to help you develop.
This course is about giving you the techniques and the confidence you need to begin teaching. As soon as you complete the course, you will be prepared to apply for jobs around the world. The CELTA course is for you if you:
- Have no teaching experience
- Want to develop your teaching skills
- Use English as your first language
- Use English as an additional language.
No matter your ambitions and motivations for taking the CELTA course, we can help you become the best teacher you can be.
Course dates
Part time online
This part time online study option allows you to study in your own time wherever you are in the world. The course lasts 13 weeks with teaching practice each Tuesday and Thursday evening through Zoom. The rest of the course content is available through interactive self-study materials that you can work on around your work and life commitments. There are also sessions and tutorials with tutors both online and in the classroom. On the course you will also observe experienced teachers, so you can learn from their teaching practice.
Duration: 13 weeks
Contact time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Start dates:
- Monday 8 February to Friday 14 May 2021 (This course is full)
- Monday 30 August to Friday 26 November 2021
Full time online
You can participate in this full time online course wherever you are in the world. Teaching practice and learning are at fixed times during the day. We deliver learning sessions and you will also have daily teaching practice. Both of these are delivered through Zoom.
This course is intensive and requires full commitment and attendance for 5 weeks. Teaching is Monday to Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm. You will also spend weekends lesson planning and writing assignments. You will need an internet connection to attend this course, but do not need prior experience of Zoom.
Duration: 5 weeks
Contact time: Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm
Start dates:
- Monday 11 January to Friday 12 February 2021 (This course is full)
- Monday 14 June to Friday 16 July 2021
Full time face to face
This full time study option lets you complete the course in a month. It's perfect if you have no other commitments and want to get your qualification quickly.
Duration: 4 weeks
Contact time: Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm
Start dates:
- Monday 19 July to Friday 13 August 2021
Part time blended learning
This part time study option is a mix of online and face to face learning. It lets you study flexibly and fit the course around work or other life commitments.
Duration: 13 weeks
Contact time: Tuesday and Thursdays, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Start dates: There are currently no blended learning dates scheduled.
Course structure
How you will study
This course consists of 5 learning units.
Each unit explores a different aspect of teaching English to speakers of other languages.
Within each unit you will study different subjects in detail.
You can then apply your learning to your guided and assessed teaching sessions.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and Learning
You will receive at least 120 hours of contact time. This will include:
- Tutorial support and consultation
- Supervised lesson planning
- 6 hours of assessed teaching followed by feedback
- Peer observation of teaching
- Observation of experienced teachers in the classroom.
You will also be expected to dedicate time to extra reading, assignment writing and lesson planning.
Assessment
You will be assessed in 3 ways on the CELTA course. You will be assessed on:
- Teaching practice - you will complete 6 hours in total, working with 2 ability levels
- Written assignments - you will complete 4 in total
- Participation in classes and observations.
There is no final exam, assessment is continuous. You will need to pass your teaching practice and written assignments.
Visit the Cambridge English website to read more about the assessment and access the syllabus.
Entry requirements
Requirements
To join the CELTA course, you must:
- Be over 18 years old
- Speak English as your first language or if English is an additional language you should be at a high C1 or above in the CEFR
- Have qualifications equivalent to those needed for higher education.
For the CELTA course you will also need:
- The potential to become an effective English language teacher
- The ability to complete written assignments
- The ability to deliver assessed teaching sessions.
Fees and Funding
Discounts and sponsorships
York St John University staff, current students and alumni will receive a 10% discount on tuition fees
Current York St John University students who are studying any course in the School of Education, Language and Psychology may be able to take the CELTA course for free. We will prioritise students who study TESOL as part of their course. Contact us to find out if you can take the course for free.
Tuition Fees
UK and EU 2020-21 £1,300
International 2020-21 £1,300
Paying your tuition fees
If your application is successful, you will need to:
- Pay a £250 deposit to secure your place - this must be done within 2 weeks of receiving your offer
- Pay the remaining balance 2 weeks before your course starts - the exact amount will be confirmed in your acceptance letter.
We cannot refund tuition fees for early departure or absence from the course.
Before you apply
If you are a current York St John University student, you can only apply after the information sessions on 4 November and 11 November. Find out more about the events and book your place using the link below.
If you require a visa to study, or there are limitations on how long you can stay in the UK, you need to contact us before applying.
How to apply
Download the application form and pre-interview task documents
Email us your:
- Completed application form
- Completed pre-interview task
- Photographic ID - this could be a copy of your passport or driver's licence.
Interview
If your application is successful, we will invite you to an interview.
The interview will:
- last for approximately 45 minutes
- include a short writing task.
You may be interviewed in pairs or groups. We can offer online interviews if you cannot attend in person.
We are able to organise accommodation for you, please check the application form for more details.
Discover CELTA
Click the videos to view full size
Drag/swipe to view all the videos