Comments on: Is a CELTA Worth it? An Experienced Teacher’s Perspective

By: Charlie Daysh

Charlie Daysh — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 10:12:16 +0000

Hi Caitriona Maria
thank you very much for publishing my comment, I wasn’t sure you would, but that is very fair of you.
I am kicking myself however, as the main point I wanted to mention, I completely forgot 😉
That is that, the CELTA and Trinity TESOL have six hours (at least) of observed teaching practice with feedback given by a DELTA/Dip qualified trainer. And this is the crux with so many qualifications (even MAs) is that they are all theory but not practical element. So this is one of the reasons British Council Accredited schools generally require this as a minimum.
Thank you again, for being very fair and allowing the other side to be said.
Best wishes

By: Caitriona Maria

Caitriona Maria — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:01:43 +0000

In reply to Charlie Daysh. Very important points, thank you Charlie. There is definitely value in the CELTA qualification, I don't doubt it. However, it is a very high price for some people to pay, especially if they aren't sure whether they want to do this long term. Some TEFL courses offer the equivalent level-5 qualification, and are hundreds of hours long. While they may not have the same reputation as the CELTA, if you research them you will find that they are also accredited and regulated. The hiring conditions for some schools may have changed since I was teaching in-person back in 2020, but I believe if you put in the work you can be successful with or without a CELTA.

By: Charlie Daysh

Charlie Daysh — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 11:22:16 +0000

I have to say I completely disagree with a few statements you’ve made here. Many schools, the one I work at for example, it is actually their policy to only accept applicants with a CELTA. There is a reason for this. The CELTA and Trinity TESOL are accredited and standard, and just like a degree, a statement of what the person should know. Therefore, the recruiter knows that that person’s teaching is of a certain level without having to go and do online research checking up the particular qualification which is supposed to be equal to.

The question of whether someone with qualifications is better or not is a totally different one, and it is perfectly true that someone with qualifications coming out their ears may not be as good as someone with no qualifications. The issue of course is, when you need to quickly employ 5 or 10 teachers you may well be fitting this in with many other duties, so just as most employers seem to want a degree to prove a level of education now, many schools want a CELTA or Trinity TESOL to prove a certain level of practical teaching skill.
An Online qualification may well be ok if you are going to teach online, but it is not going to give you the same practise with teaching face to face.
I feel it is only fair to have this alongside your article as I get so many applications from teachers with these much cheaper, quicker qualifications who believed they were as good and as acceptable, and are very confused to find out they are not.