My CELTA Experience – interview
Many candidates are not sure of what to expect on a CELTA course – university life and lecture halls do not really prepare you for the level of engagement and intensity of such a practical, hands-on course. We asked one of our most recent CELTA graduates to paint us a picture of what the course was like from the trainee’s point of view.
Yannis, our candidate, has opted for anonymity – the name Yannis is a very common name in Greece – as he is still a senior civil servant, recently completed a CELTA course with CELT Athens and graciously agreed to give me this short interview, as we sat sipping our cappuccinos at a cosy Athens café, a few days after the end of his CELTA course. His decision to pursue TEFL was a major career shift. His first degree is in Mathematics and his command of the English language is excellent; Yannis has repeatedly represented Greece in various EU and OECD committees.
What were your expectations before the CELTA course?
I expected to get a professional qualification that is recognized internationally, that would help me kick-start my teaching career. I also expected to learn about teaching methodologies, both in theoretical and practical terms. And, finally, I was looking forward to my first-ever teaching experience with English learners.
And where do you find yourself after the course?
I certainly got the qualification I wanted, together with vast amounts of knowledge in a relatively short time. This knowledge will probably take some more time for me to digest, so that I can take full advantage of it. On the whole, I feel I’ve been given the basic tools to get me started; I now feel much more confident walking into a TEFL classroom.
Question: How would you describe yourself as a learner?
I’m an analytical learner, who needs to compartmentalise knowledge in order to process it. I’m meticulous and well-organised, but I’m also easily stressed and prone to getting bogged down with details if left to my own devices! Needless to say, I’m always up for a challenge and refused to be intimidated by the fact that I had zero TEFL experience.
Was there anything you didn’t expect to find but you did, during the CELTA course?
Not really! I expected it to be quite demanding and the standards to be quite high; perhaps I hadn’t realized quite how demanding it would be until I actually got started, but then that’s only natural. Perhaps, one thing did surprise me: I didn’t expect to enjoy collaborative work so much and I’ve come to rely on my peers more than I would imagine possible.
Any tips to prospective trainees?
Well, quite a few!
- If your circumstances allow it, go for the part-time course: you’ll have more time to enjoy the learning experience 😀
- Do your background reading and prepare thoroughly BEFORE the course; you’ll thank yourself later!
- If you come from a more traditional educational background, like myself, be prepared for a culture shock! This is a very practical course that encourages self-reflection, peer assessment, collaborative work and learner autonomy.
- Make sure you make the most out of observing experienced teachers’ lessons. If you have no teaching experience, this is invaluable! Take notes, draw charts or tables, ask questions, make lists – anything that helps you understand and finally implement the methods used.
That was it!
Please leave your comments and questions for Yannis on this page – we’ll see he gets them! Would you like to see more posts from past trainees? Drop us a line here.