Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How early do I need to apply for a course?
  2. How do I reserve my place on a course?
  3. Can I talk to a trainer before I start the course?
  4. What is the pass rate at Teaching House?
  5. Is there a difference between Teaching House centers?
  6. How important is it to know English grammar?
  7. Can I do the course if English is not my first language?
  8. Can I take the course part time or online?
  9. Does Teaching House provide accommodation if needed?
  10. What happens if I need to change the course location or dates I’ve chosen for my course?
  11. The ‘A’ in CELTA stands for ‘adults.' Does that prevent me from teaching children?
  12. Where do most of TH graduates go to teach?
  13. Can I work in the United States with my CELTA?
  14. What quality controls are implemented by Cambridge University?
  15. Am I really going to get a certificate from Cambridge University?
  16. How demanding is the CELTA course?
How early do I need to apply for a course?

Our courses are in high demand and we recommend getting the application process started as soon as possible. We are able to accept applications up to one year before your chosen course dates, so if you’re interested in doing the course (even if you’re not sure of your preferred dates or center) it is worth applying for the course today.

As a general rule, we recommend you apply at least six weeks before your chosen course date to avoid disappointment. We are busiest during the summer months, so we recommend applying earlier for those courses.

Occasionally, some of our courses have availability in the week leading up to the start date, so it’s always worth contacting us to enquire about last minute applications if you would like to take a course immediately. 

How do I reserve my place on a course?

Places on our courses are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a candidate has completed the application process and is accepted to do the CELTA course, they are able to pay a deposit to reserve a place on any course that has availability. For more information about the application process, go to our application page.

Can I talk to a trainer before I start the course?

Absolutely. A time will be arranged for you to talk to one of our CELTA trainers during the application process. During this time you will be able to ask any questions you have about the CELTA course, our centers or about teaching English around the world.

You'll get great insights from our trainers as they have taught all over the world!

What is the pass rate at Teaching House?

We pride ourselves on the work we do to ensure our trainees successfully complete the CELTA course. This begins at the application stage, where we interview every applicant to ensure that the CELTA is the correct TESOL Certification course for them and that they are able to complete it successfully. In addition, our trainers provide support (through private tutorials) for any trainee who needs it, which normally makes the difference in helping a candidate pass the course.

This is why Teaching House’s pass rate – at 99% - is so high.

Is there a difference between Teaching House centers?

Every Teaching House center has gone through the same process to become authorized by Cambridge University to run CELTA courses. Also, every Teaching House trainer has gone through an approval process and training with Cambridge University. The course syllabus and assessment criteria are the same at every one of our centers, and the amount of work you will have to do is the same, regardless of which center you go to for your course.

Pick whichever Teaching House center is the most convenient for you, as you are assured of the same great course wherever you go.

How important is it to know English grammar?

If you’re teaching a grammar lesson and a student asks you why one tense is right and another is wrong, you need to be able to explain it in a way that the student understands. This does not mean that you need to be a grammar wiz before you begin the course. We will teach you how to analyze grammar and how to present it in a way that a student can understand and learn from it.

In addition to the grammar that you learn during the CELTA course (during  the TESOL Sessions and the Real Classroom Experience component), when you start teaching English you will continue developing your grammar knowledge. Each time you teach a grammar item you will learn about it so that the next time you teach it you’ll already have a base understanding. But don’t worry: it’s still normal for even the most experienced English teachers to refer to a grammar book to answer a question from time to time. The key is understanding how to analyze grammar and present it effectively in class; two skills that you’ll learn in the CELTA course.

Can I do the course if English is not my first language?

Yes. If English is not your native language, you can still take the course provided that your English language skills are sufficient to complete all written assignments and teaching practice requirements to Cambridge University standards. This means that your English must be level C1 or higher.

Can I take the course part time or online?

Yes. At Teaching House, we offer a part-time CELTA course. The course runs over 10 weeks - two evenings a week and Saturdays face-to-face. We're also offering CELTA Online (blended) formats as well, you can learn about these here

Not all of our centers offer the part-time and CELTA Online courses. See the course dates page for the next part-time start date and locations, or contact us to enquire about upcoming courses.

Does Teaching House provide accommodation if needed?

Yes. Teaching House provides accommodation at an additional cost for any trainee who needs a place to stay during the course. To cater to different needs, we try to find a range of accommodation options near each of our centers.

Check out the options on the accommodation page for your chosen course locations.

What happens if I need to change the course location or dates I’ve chosen for my course?

We understand that sometimes your circumstances change. One of the benefits of choosing to do your course with Teaching House is that we run courses in 15 locations throughout the United States and with year-round dates, giving you great flexibility to find a course that fits your needs. As long as you give us sufficient notice, we’ll move your place to another course (date and/or location) at no cost to you!

The ‘A’ in CELTA stands for ‘adults.' Does that prevent me from teaching children?

Yes, the “A” stands for adults, but when you finish the course you’ll be able to teach English to children, too, as many of the skills and techniques you learn on the course are transferable. During the course, we also run TESOL Sessions on working with ‘younger learners’ (the TESOL industry name for teaching children). There is such a strong market abroad for younger learner classes that most teachers will teach them at some point, and many of our graduates go on to specialize in working with younger learners.

There is also very high demand for CELTA teachers to teach younger learners in the United States during the summer months (June-August). Between 200,000-300,000 younger learners from all over the world come to the U.S. each summer to learn English. They are centered around the main tourist cities - New York, San Francisco, LA, Boston and Washington DC are particularly big hubs – though there are younger learners studying English in virtually every major city in the United States during the summer. Our graduates are in very high demand during these months!

Where do most of TH graduates go to teach?

Most of our graduates go on to teach in Asia, South America, Eastern Europe or right here in the United States. You will find TH graduates in virtually every corner of the world. For more information about your options for places to teach and live around the world, follow our graduates and their adventures on our blog, or browse the advice and TESOL jobs available in our TESOL Job Center.

Can I work in the United States with my CELTA?

Yes. The CELTA is the most highly regarded TESOL Certification for working in a private language school in the United States and many schools will not consider recruiting teachers who haven’t completed their CELTA. Outside of language schools, our graduates find work in the U.S. with organizations working with immigrants, community centers and in universities. Whether you're looking for work in the U.S. or abroad, you will often see CELTA listed as the preferred or only accepted qualification on job vacancy descriptions.

What quality controls are implemented by Cambridge University?

Cambridge University is extremely proud of its reputation as a world-class academic institution, which is evident in Cambridge's thorough evaluation of each CELTA to ensure the quality of every course. This includes:

  • -All centers are inspected by Cambridge University and subject to an annual approval process
  • -Every course is visited by an external assessor from Cambridge University
  • -Every center is assigned a Joint Chief Assessor who monitors standards at the center
  • -Cambridge University validates the qualifications and experience of every CELTA trainer as well as oversees the comprehensive training that new CELTA trainers complete
  • -Cambridge University implements Standardization Meetings for centers, trainers, assessors and Joint Chief Assessors
  • -Procedures exist for trainees to raise issues of concern with Cambridge University via the center

You are assured of the quality of your CELTA course and the training you will receive, which is one of the reasons why the CELTA certificate is held in such high regard around the world.

Am I really going to get a certificate from Cambridge University?

Yes.

How demanding is the CELTA course?

The CELTA is often described by graduates as the most rigorous and rewarding course they've ever done. Trainees put in a lot of hours each day into planning lessons, teaching, writing assignments and participating in class, which means they often have to put their social life aside so they can dedicate full days to achieving everything the CELTA expects of them. Despite the demanding schedule, trainees also say they've never learned so much in such a short period of time. No doubt, it's a full-on experience that shouldn't be taken lightly. 100% attendance is required and you're not just a student - you're a teacher trying out what you learn, as well.

That said, the support you receive on the course is unlike any other course you've taken in high school or college. The trainer-to-trainee ratio is 1 to 6 (maximum), so you will have a great deal of help from your trainer at all times. In general, you will get out of the course what you put into it.

If you still have unanswered questions, then feel free to contact us directly—we are happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Alternatively, you can check out the FAQs section at the University of Cambridge site.