15 Mistakes to

Avoid when
Preparing for
Your CELTA
Course
By Stephen Beale
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Contents

1. Reading Whole Books 4

2. Not asking enough questions 6
3. Thinking ‘I will learn everything on the CELTA course’ 8
4. Expecting to pass 10
5. Not visiting your CELTA course centre 12
6. Ignoring the international phonetic alphabet (IPA) because it is
‘too hard’ 13
7. Learn how to write CELTA lesson plans the day before 14
8. Expect the course books to be good quality 16
9. Thinking you have an advantage 18
10. Leaving the assignment until you start the course 19
11. Trying to find a ‘cheaper’ CELTA course 21
12. Expecting the CELTA course to be like a normal working/study
day 22
13. Thinking that the observed teaching time is only short 23
14. Expect your tutors to show you everything 24
15. Think of it as just another course 25
Conclusion 26

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Introduction

Hi there!

So, here it is – your FREE e-book with 15 mistakes to avoid making when
preparing for your CELTA course!

As you might know, I did my CELTA course back in 2007. Although ten years have
passed since then, I still remember the course like it was yesterday.

It was an intense experience yet incredibly rewarding and satisfying. I did it

straight after completing my degree and with no teaching experience.

As you will see in this e-book, I made many mistakes on my CELTA course, and
by sharing them, I hope you can avoid the same problems and pitfalls I went
through!

Since completing the CELTA course, I have worked as an English teacher since
then and it was a life-changing experience. I hope the tips below help you to
experience some similar things on your journey.

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1. Reading Whole Books

If you are given a list of recommended books to read by your CELTA centre, you
might think you need to read each book from cover to cover.

I am here to tell you not to!

Why? Well, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, these books are there to guide you
and contain an incredible amount of information. They are useful if you have
never taught EFL/ESL before and you will also need them for your assignments.

However, it is possible that you will reach a point of information overload and
stop taking in the information contained within them. This is because it is quite
possible to struggle to see the practical and technical elements of what the
books describe in the context of an EFL classroom until you are standing at the
front teaching one.

For this reason, my advice here is for you to do the following:

● Search around online and try to find the ‘Table of contents’ of the books
in your list
● From the ‘Table of contents’, you can then see which look most relevant
for you
● Relevant books here depend on your situation or the areas you are most
concerned about on the CELTA course.
● Just leaf through to the relevant sections, only reading parts of the books

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in detail.
○ PS Don’t buy any of the books straight away - see if they are
included in the course price or available second hand on eBay or
any local equivalent in your country

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2. Not asking enough questions

Being British, I sometimes think ‘I don’t want to ask too much, people might find
it annoying!’. In fact, I had this mentality before my CELTA course and I asked
my CELTA trainers zero questions about the course.

This is something I regret because I could have found out a lot of useful
information from simply asking for help.

If you are like me and are concerned about annoying or bothering people, don’t
be! Remember that they are there to help and support you. If they don’t want
to answer your questions (within reason), this might not be a good sign for later
in the course!

To avoid being put in the category of ‘an annoying CELTA student’, you could
send 1 or 2 emails (max.) with questions and perhaps prepare a list of questions
either for a phone call or you interview.

Try to focus your questions around the practical elements of the course and
anything you are worried about.

For example, you might want to ask if your CELTA centre has assignment
submission guidelines available (some CELTA centres put these on their

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websites) or if they have a reading list. You could also ask about classroom
facilities and levels.

Just try - the worst they can do is say ‘no’!

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3. Thinking ‘I will learn everything on the CELTA

course’

One of the most common complaints people have about the CELTA course is the
idea of trying to learn so much information in a short space of time.

To avoid this, find out all you can about the course structure before you start so
that you can start to predict which parts will be the most intense - simply
knowing this in advance can help you to prepare mentally.

I know I get most stressed when people tell me I have to do something at the
last minute - but that can be avoided by requesting or checking the course
structure or outline in advance. This official document from Cambridge titled
Syllabus and Assessment Guidelines (see page 4) shows some useful
information on the topics you will cover on your course.

Other things to try to find out are whether there is a marking rubric (the guide
teachers use to mark your work) available from your centre.

You could also look at the submission guidelines for your assignments and
perhaps your lesson plans. I know most centres ask for lesson plans a day in
advance, for example. I also have read about some very particular submission
guidelines for the assignment - sometimes CELTA centres ask you to print off a

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sheet to declare it is your own work and put it on the front page, for instance.

Knowing these small details can help to take the stress off the administrative
side and let you enjoy the course and focus on exactly what you need.

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4. Expecting to pass

The CELTA course is most definitely not a course you can ‘just pass’, regardless
of your teaching or educational experience. It is a great leveller in that everyone
has to put in the same amount of work to get a good grade.

Natural talent or experience does help but neither is a deciding factor on its own.

I remember someone on my CELTA course was shocked because they thought

they could turn up on the day of their observed lesson and teach without a
lesson plan. When they saw their feedback for their poor lesson, they soon
changed their tune.

All of this was despite the constant warnings from our tutors that submitting
lesson plans was an essential component for the course.

However, this is not to say that it is hard to pass, it is more to remind you that
anyone who starts a CELTA with a sense of entitlement will soon have a rude
awakening.

If you notice others on the course like this, do not let them distract or worry you
- they may seem that they know what they are doing but the real test is when
the workload starts to get heavy.

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To avoid this negative mindset, just remember that a lot of hard work awaits
and that your work ethic is the main determinant of a pass or fail on the CELTA
course; talent and experience can only get you so far.

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5. Not visiting your CELTA course centre

It may not sound like a major thing to do, but simply visiting your CELTA course
centre can give you a major boost in confidence before taking the course.

If you see the location, you can start to note all the facilities and what is
available. Perhaps more importantly, you can also meet the people who run the
CELTA centre to see how they are and if it is a good fit for you.

If you are planning to take the centre in another country, at least try to go there
in the days before you start. Even ten minutes inside the centre can help to calm
you down and mentally prepare for the course ahead.

If the above is not possible, make sure you find someone online who has been
there and try to ask them all the little things you would like to know. You can
find these people through CELTA groups on Facebook, or through ESL/EFL
forums on sites like Dave’s ESL cafe or Reddit’s TEFL subreddit.

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6. Ignoring the international phonetic alphabet

(IPA) because it is ‘too hard’

The IPA chart is something that terrified me when I first looked at it. In fact, I felt
like I had to learn a completely new alphabet just to get my head round it.

What I didn’t realise was that it really isn’t that hard if you approach it in a simple
way.

Now, you don’t need to learn the consonants because they are the same (happy
days!). You can then look at the different sections.

For example, the long and short vowel sounds, with the long ones having a colon
after them, like /u:/ in the word ‘shoes’.

Find the short vowels which pair up with the long vowel sounds and you instantly
have a whole section of the chart covered.

You can also watch this excellent lecture on teaching pronunciation by Adrian
Underhill, who is an expert in the field.

The best advice I can give you is to think of pronunciation as a physical activity
and you will be able to teach it. Don’t be afraid of looking/feeling a bit silly - it
has to be done! Have fun with it and your students will, too.

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7. Learn how to write CELTA lesson plans the day

before

The most frustrating part of the CELTA course for me was without a doubt
writing lesson plans.

I didn't look at them before I started the course and struggled as a result.

They have a standard format and are readily available online, but I
underestimated the time it takes to write a plan to the level of detail required
for the CELTA course.

When I say detail, I mean giving a rationale for every activity and describing the
interaction between various members of the class.

For example, CELTA lesson plans have a column dedicated to interactions. These
might be between teacher and students, (T -> Sts) or (Sts -> T), or between
students when doing work in groups, (Sts -> Sts).

It is the little things like the interaction column which, despite helping to keep
your lesson plan focused and thoughtful, can really add a lot of time to planning.

To avoid this frustration, download a CELTA lesson plan and write a practice
lesson. You could use a page from a course book you think you might be using,
from a book like Cutting Edge pre-intermediate, for example.

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When you do this, pay close attention to the time it takes you and remember to
make yourself a template lesson plan document on your computer so you can
start writing very quickly. I made a few small changes to the template document
I was given, by adding rows to the table for each section (but don't change too
much!)

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8. Expect the course books to be good quality

This is one of the things that surprised me most about the course.

Before I began, I had assumed that most course books were good quality
(wrong!) and that the CELTA centre would choose good books for use to use
(wrong again!).

We used Headway, a very well-known and respected course book in the EFL
world. The tutors talked highly of it but when it came to using it for teaching, I
just couldn't get it.

For example, the exercises seemed strange and never seemed to really hit the
mark with the right learning objectives. For this reason, I found myself making
many more materials than I had expected when starting the course.

I also found course books like Reward and Cutting Edge to be much more helpful
and to my taste. I still use both to this day.

So that you don’t have to go through this, try to find out if there is a course book
you are expected to use at the centre where you are planning to take the course.
If so, try to find a copy of the book to have a look through.

You can then use this book for your practice lesson plans and you will be more
at ease with both planning and the materials.

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Whether you like the book they suggest or not, it is also a good idea to start
creating some of your own materials. You could try making simple matching
activities for learning vocabulary or gap fill exercises for a particular grammar
point; both are simple yet will make for very good practice.

Doing the above will put you ahead of 90% of people on your course, save you
time and stress (again!). Definitely worth it for the peace of mind!

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9. Thinking you have an advantage

I know some experienced teachers who did the CELTA and thought they would
pass with flying colours, just by showing up and teaching.

Unfortunately, they had a big surprise. The style of the course is different to
anything they, and I, had ever done before.

The intensity and short nature of the course means that you really have to be
paying 100% attention to what your tutors are telling you. Forget the other
things you have learnt about teaching; this is quite different.

The same experienced teachers also had to adapt their style to that of a
communicative approach, something which is not widely expected in school
teaching, at least not here in the UK.

Starting the CELTA with the mindset of ‘I will do what I normally do in a

classroom and be fine’ doesn't work. You have to be reactive and ready to
quickly apply what you have learnt.

That is not to say that teaching experience is a hindrance, more that there is a
lot to learn for those with zero experience and those with years of experience.

Go into your course with a willingness to learn new things, follow what the
trainers say and trust their methods. These points will help you to reduce
resistance get to that certificate at the end that much easier.

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10. Leaving the assignment until you start the

course

I have already written a detailed post about the CELTA course assignments on
my blog where I go into the detail of the assignments with links to examples.

As such, I suggest you start with the post above for tips on how to prepare for
them.

Some of the points to reiterate are that there are examples of completed
assignments widely available for free online. Don’t pay for any!

However, each centre has slightly different assignments so it is best not to start
writing them before you are given them.

That said, there are still a few things you can do in advance to make it easier for
you to complete your assignments to a good quality.

For instance, you can focus on the assignment rubric from your CELTA centre.
This should either be available on their site or on request by email from your
tutors.

If you aren't sure what rubric is (it was new to me!) it is simply the points your
tutors look for when marking your assignments. By reading this in advance, you
can figure out exactly what they want you to do in your assignments.

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You could also focus on the parts that worry you, perhaps the grammar. From
there, go to a few of the key CELTA course books and find relevant pages on
those parts. I strongly recommend that you keep notes from each book so that
you can reference these later in your assignments (check the rubric for
referencing - it will be in there somewhere!).

With this prep done, you will again be ahead of most of the people on your
course and have more time to learn about teaching, which is what you really
wanted to do when starting the course.

If you can’t find any rubric for your CELTA centre, check online for a copy from
another centre. Although this will be slightly different, it will still provide a good
guide for you.

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11. Trying to find a ‘cheaper’ CELTA course

This is something I see regularly on the various CELTA Facebook groups: people
comparing prices on different CELTA courses and worrying about it.

Far more important than price is reputation. Instead of worrying about the price,
spend that time researching the centre you are thinking of studying at and trying
to find other people who have studied there.

Being realistic, there are only a handful of places most of us are able to study at.
Be it for location, dates or price, there are few centres available.

Add in other factors like the cost of going to a new city or country, plus the hassle
of finding accommodation while trying to complete a demanding course, you
might actually regret not going for that “slightly more expensive course”!

If you are determined to study on the CELTA course, price should be the least of
your concerns.

For me, the price of the CELTA course was paid back in my first month’s teaching
salary and I have not been out of work since then (10 years ago!)

To sum up, remember that price is less important than quality and that, in the
right situation, a CELTA course is an investment in your future.

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12. Expecting the CELTA course to be like a

normal working/study day

After doing a university degree or working a 9 to 5 job, you might be thinking

that the CELTA will be similar.

Think again. Your course schedule may be timetabled for 7-8 hours in one day
BUT you will be working a lot more than that.

The timetable only allows for input sessions to learn about teaching and
methodology as well as the observed lessons.

If the above activities finish at 3 or 4pm, then it is time for you to make a lesson
from scratch.

This is slowest at the start as, if you are anything like me, you will spend hours
agonising over your first lesson plan, worrying about the small inconsequential
details that you think are important.

Looking back, I remember doing around 3 hours most nights at home (some
nights more). I honestly thought I would have more free time and that part
stressed me out.

My advice to you is to expect it take most, if not all, of your free time. Stay sane
by remembering that it's a short course and will be over in more time. Work
hard and enjoy a social life after you finish!

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13. Thinking that the observed teaching time is

only short

The observed teaching time was the most nerve-wracking part of the CELTA
course for me.

I seem to have a fear of doing things wrongly and having at the back of the room
writing down my every movement was tense!

Needless to say, the observed teaching time looks short on paper but can feel
like an eternity when you are planning your lesson.

Once you are on the stage that is the classroom, the time will fly if you have
prepared properly.

But if you don't prepare, one mistake can lead to an awkward moment that can
feel like an eternity!

To feel most at ease when teaching in front of new students, your peers and
trainers, you simply have to prepare thoroughly. Look for weaknesses in
advance and don't be afraid to change them.

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14. Expect your tutors to show you everything

This is another mindset point that many don't understand until it is too late to
get a good CELTA grade. Your CELTA trainers will certainly teach you a lot in a
short space of time, that is one of the wonders of the course.

But there is one key thing that they cannot teach you: how to instinctively
respond to the needs and issues of your students as they arise.

Your tutors will help you and guide you but, like someone reading the news live
on TV, once it’s time for action, you are on your own.

In fact, there may be times during your observed lessons when things go wrong.
Tutors could jump in and help, but often they like to sit back and see how you
handle evolving situations.

I am of course referring to minor situations with learning, not something like a

medical emergency. All the same, teachers show their true colours in difficult
times and this is what your tutors will be looking for you to develop and show.

Keep in mind the principles of awareness and caring and you will be fine. Don't
let one small thing derail your entire lesson. Have a plan ready for when things
go wrong and make sure you stick to it.

For you, it is also an occupational hazard – things can and will go wrong so it is a
good way to see if teaching English is for you!

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15. Think of it as just another course

As you might already know, the CELTA is no ordinary course! A friend of mine
who did it the year before me said it was like learning to drive: it is terrifying to
start and you might not see how you will be able to do it. But, once you pass the
‘test’ (CELTA course), you are free to go wherever you want and do things more
as you choose.

The problem is, however, that the test requires a lot of work and has very
specific rules. Just like driving, you need to know the theory and how it applies
in the real world. You also need to be able to respond rapidly to emerging
situations and deal with them effectively.

That said, it is also the course that has helped me to live and work in 3 different
foreign countries for close to 5 years, as well as providing me with a stable job
in my hometown at my local university for the last 5 years.

It requires a lot of effort, but it also gives a lot in return. Treat it with the respect
it deserves and you will get a great return on the investment of both your time
and money.

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Conclusion

I hope you have found this e-book useful! If you follow all the guidelines, you
will be a lot more prepared than I was when I started on my CELTA course.

As I like to help everyone individually, e-mail me and ask me any questions you
still have about the CELTA course – I respond to everyone!

Talk soon,

Steve

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