Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CELTA
Cambridge ESOL Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
Trainee Handbook
Contents
General Information
Summary of TP Administration
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12
13
14
15
16
23
Online reading
26
Handbook quiz
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28
29
Rome, Manzoni
CELTA Handbook
General Information
Course times
The intensive course takes place every day from approximately 09.00 to 17.00, and the semiintensive from approximately 09.00 to 17.00 on Tuesdays and Fridays, at International House /
Accademia Britannica, Viale Manzoni 22, 00185 Rome. Please refer to your course timetable for a
detailed overview of each day.
Telephone
The school telephone number, to be used in emergencies only, is 0670476894. The school
administration is unable to take or pass on personal messages.
Fax and e-mail
The school is able to accept incoming faxes and e-mails. The direct fax number to the school is
0670497842. The e-mail address is: t.training@ihromamz.it
Course Staff
The teacher trainers at this institute are: Norman Cain, Elizabeth Duncan, Rebecca Haag,
Margaret Horrigan, Giovanni Licata, Ian Nuttall and Deborah Whitworth.
The Administrative staff are: Diana Cappelloni, Claudia Battistini and Chiara Persi Del Marmo
(See them for any questions concerning payment for the course)
The School Director is Norman Cain
The Assistant Director is Joanna Glaiser
The Director of Teacher Training is Margaret Horrigan
The School Caretaker is Giancarlo Bevilacqua
School opening and closing times
The school is open from 8.30 Monday to Friday and from 9.30 to 12.30 most Saturdays. Please
check for exact dates. You are welcome to come in to prepare for teaching from that time. Classes
may already have started in some of the training rooms. The school office is open from 09.00 to
13.00 and 15.00 to 19.30 every day except Friday, when afternoon opening hours are 16.00 to 19.00.
Rooms
Please remember to leave the rooms as you would expect to find them and ensure that you remove
all your belongings. Should you forget something, please DO NOT interrupt a lesson in progress.
Equipment
Each room is equipped with a whiteboard and tape recorder (OHPs are also available for use on
request, as are portable CD players and video/DVD players). The equipment is checked regularly
but you are advised nevertheless to check it before your lesson. Please report any problems to the
tutors or to the school office and ensure that you use aids carefully. There are some computers
available for your use, but please bear in mind that hand written lesson plans are perfectly
acceptable.
Stationery and materials
The following items are provided, but may be in short supply and have been known to go missing!
It is worth having your own supply.
DRY WIPE board markers (Please ensure that they are dry-wipe!)
Scissors
Glue
Blu tac
Card
Coloured pens.
The CELTA Library
Rome, Manzoni
CELTA Handbook
The library contains recommended reading for the course as well as reference books and a selection
of teaching materials. Books may be borrowed for a maximum of two course days. Please obtain
a library card (pay 30 deposit and keep the receipt for your refund) for access to these materials
or any books that you borrow. Opening times are displayed around the school and the recommended
system is a maximum of 2 books for 2 days.
The Ih Manzoni CELTA Wiki
In order to provide all participants with access to material online we have created a wiki. Here you
will find supplementary reading material for all your assignments and many other useful adjuncts.
The address is http://celta.wikispaces.com; please take full advantage of this service! Your tutors
will inform you when to do the online tasks. Please take time to read the documents on the ACTION
POINTS page before and/or after relevant seminars to enhance your learning.
Photocopying
Each course participant is provided with a personal ID code to make up to 250 photocopies for
teaching practice and course related matters. Photocopies from published materials must be
fully acknowledged. Please try to use the copier sparingly, bearing in mind its environmental
impact. If you do need to go over the 250 copy limit, your card can be recharged at a cost of 30
per 100 copies.
Refreshments
Tea and coffee making facilities are available in the teacher trainees room.
Lunch break
You have between 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes for lunch: please check the exact times on your
course timetable. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch to eat at the school. Please make sure
you leave the classrooms tidy, however, with no potentially smelly food remains left in the classroom
waste bins. If you want to eat outside, there are bars nearby, a pizzeria, a Chinese restaurant and a
small garden in Piazza Dante near the post office near the school.
First Aid
There is a first aid box in the school office.
Emergencies
The emergency services can be contacted by telephone at 113.
Please check the emergency procedure list in all classrooms.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the school premises. If you smoke outside, please do not drop
cigarette ends in front of the building.
Other Candidates
During the course you will be working with other candidates who are also following the Cambridge
ESOL CELTA course. Remember you are working as a team and that co-operation and support are
an essential part of the overall success of this, or any, course, and of the teaching profession in
general. There may also be candidates in the school who are following other training courses at the
same time as yours (parallel CELTA, DELTA or CELTYL), and who need to use the same facilities.
Computers
All our computers are connected to the internet. In your personal study room there are printers, some
of which are WiFi. Please be gentle with all hardware as many hands make for problems regarding
IT and repairs are a slow process in Italy. Please remember to save all your work to a pen drive or
email your work to yourself regularly as the computers are cleaned frequently.
CELTA Handbook
Your copy of the official course record booklet CELTA 5 (see below).
Your lesson plans, filed together with your tutors written feedback and your personal evaluation
of your own lesson.
All your marked written assignments with the tutor feedback sheets.
This file must not leave the school. It must be stored in the appropriate place and remains
the property of the centre during and after the course
If you wish, you may have the contents of your course file back within 12 months from the end of
your course. To do so, you should contact and inform the Director of Teacher Training, Margaret
Horrigan, at least two weeks before the twelve month period is up.
The Course Booklet
This is the official candidate record booklet. It contains a record of:
Your attendance on the course
Your assessed teaching practice
Written assignments
Progress reports and tutorial records.
The course booklet should be kept up to date at every stage of the course and requires the signature
of your TP tutor after each assessed teaching practice.
Dress code for trainees
Clean, combed hair
Clean hands / nails
Clean, ironed clothes
Clean shoes, no beach flip-flops
Closed shoes in the colder seasons,
smart sandals in the warmer season or
trainers
No body odour, use deodorants
Fresh breath
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CELTA Handbook
Rome, Manzoni
CELTA Handbook
International House
Teacher Training Rome
NAME
Rdg
Spkg
Wrtg
Gram
Voc
Phon
Func
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CELTA Handbook
Other
International House
Teacher Training
Rome
TP Days 11-20
1. Once you have had your face to face tutorial you should become more aware of the assessment criteria which you need to work on for the final stage of the course
2. Using the assessment criteria, create a target for yourself and your peers to use when observing your lessons. These can be strengths and/or action points that you want to consolidate/achieve.
3. We recommend that you choose no more than 6/8 criteria in order to focus better
4. As per days 1-5, evaluate how you much on target you were for each item and justify why
and provide action points for items which are in any of the 3 outer rings.
5. Collect back the completed targets from your peers
6. Please exploit all the notes youve taken and gathered for your reflective piece
Please keep copies of all self evaluations in your portfolio for reference.
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CELTA Handbook
Summary of TP Administration
Before your lesson:
Make a copy of your lesson plan, including Language Analysis sheets, if relevant, for the tutor
and give it to the tutor before you teach. Include copies of all handouts (make sure these have a
copyright).
Copy a self-evaluation form to fill in after your teaching slot.
After each teaching practice and feedback session:
File the original lesson plan, tutor feedback and your self-evaluation in the assessment file.
Complete the record of assessed teaching practice in the course booklet (Celta 5).
Ask the TP tutor to sign the relevant column in the course booklet
Fill in the teaching grid for the type of lesson you taught
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CELTA Handbook
Context (the situation - Who? Where? When? in which the language is used, and the sort of
reading or listening text in which it is contained, if a text is being used)
Focus on meaning
(meaning check questions, timelines etc. This would also include levels of formality for functional
language. N.B. you should research the point in one or preferably two reference books, if possible,
in addition to the coursebook)
Focus on pronunciation
(contractions, weak forms etc. Phonemic transcription of target sentence, if appropriate)
Written record
(how students will have a clear record of item, with meaning, if appropriate, e.g. substitution table;
if on whiteboard, include a description in your lesson plan).
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Context (the situation - Who? Where? When? in which the language is used, and the sort of
reading or listening text in which it is contained, if a text is being used)
Focus on meaning
(How you will show / check meaning e.g. labelling pictures, concept questions, dictionary check
etc. Include specific items if appropriate.)
Focus on pronunciation
(phonemic transcription of problematic items if appropriate.)
Written record
(how students will have a clear record of items, if appropriate, with meaning. e.g. labelled diagram,
matching item/definition handout, copied whiteboard list etc., if on whiteboard, include a plan in
your lesson)
Anticipated problems with solutions
(possible difficulties with meaning and/or form e.g. adjective order - clear table with headings)
N.B. Your analysis may require more space than provided on this page
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The teacher will know you are coming, please ask her/him where you should sit.
Never turn up late! Professional attitude is part of the assessment criteria.
Comply with the wishes of the teacher as regards discussing the lesson. Some teachers do not
have time to talk, others like to discuss the lesson with you. Be ready/available to do either.
Let the teacher know you may be making notes on the lesson. It can be distracting for a teacher
to see someone sitting at the back of the class scribbling away without knowing what is being
recorded.
Stay for the agreed amount of time. Never leave earlier than you had agreed.
Please respect the teachers availability, do not chat to other trainees or disturb the lesson
unnecessarily. Make sure your mobile phone is turned off.
Teachers being observed should be referred to as discreetly as possible in any post-observation
discussion. Rome, in an EL teaching context, is a small city and it is unprofessional to pass
around names and personal judgements of teaching styles and abilities.
Complete the record of observations of experienced teachers on page 3 of the CELTA 5 Booklet
(THE CELTA 5 BOOKLET MUST NOT LEAVE THE CENTRE). Ask the teacher you observed to
initial your entry.
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During the lesson, do learners listen to a recording, watch a video or read anything?
Yes ... No ...
If yes, note % of time spent on these and any preparatory or follow-up activities.
Notes
What opportunities did you notice for learners to use their English, in conversation, role-play,
etc.?
What opportunities did you notice for learners to increase their knowledge about English
grammar/vocabulary/phonology/appropriacy etc.?
Note anything which you feel contributed to the effectiveness of the lesson or part of the
lesson that you observed.
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As you are training to teach English, please ensure that you proof-read, and spell-check your
assignment if it is computer written, prior to submission. Ensure that it is free of punctuation errors,
grammar errors, etc. It should be organised in a reader-friendly fashion, with sub-headings where
appropriate and clear paragraphs. The zero assignment must be handwritten. Please write on one
side of the page only; this is to allow for tutor comments on the reverse.
ALWAYS make and keep a copy of the assignment before handing it in.
On return of a written assignment, complete page 5 of the CELTA 5 booklet and sign to confirm
that it is your own work.
The marked assignment must stay in the file and be available for your tutor and the course
assessor.
If you resubmit an assignment, you must put both the original version and the resubmission in
your file.
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International House
Teacher Training
Rome
You should do this task on another piece of paper and we ask you to write it by hand,
leave margins and write on one side of the page only. The assignment should be between
one and two pages long.
This assignment - will not be "graded" in any way. It is simply intended to encourage
you to reflect on how you might get the most out of this course. It will be returned to you
later on in the course.
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International House
Rome, Manzoni
Comment briefly on the students backgrounds, previous learning experience and learning
styles
Do the students appear to prefer some activity types over others? How can you tell?
How well do they follow what is happening in class? How can you tell?
What is the students feedback on the lessons? Do they think they are learning?
Part B: Error Analysis
Also during your observations, make notes of at least 6 specific errors the students make. Once
you have noted the errors:
Identify the errors by type (tense, pronunciation, vocabulary, word order, etc). Make sure you
have a variety of error types, ie. not all grammar errors.
Suggest possible reasons for the error (L1 interference, mistake, gap, etc)
Recording your findings in a chart is recommended, as it helps to prioritise the most important
errors (see example below).
Are there certain types of grammatical or lexical errors common to the class as a whole that
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What skills development would you see as a priority for these students and why?
Part D: Recommendations for work inside and outside the class
For this section:
Choose 1 error from Part B that you identified as a priority to work on with this class.
Select an activity appropriate to the learners' level from a coursebook or resource book
that will help the students overcome the error type you have chosen.
Choose the skill from Part C that you identified as a priority to work on with this class
Select an activity from a coursebook or resource book that will help the students overcome
the difficulty with the skill you have prioritised, please be careful NOT to focus on a system here
Explain why you have chosen the activity and how it enables the learner to improve
Find your activities in books other than the Students book, workbook and Teacher's book
you are using on the course
Assessment Criteria for this assignment 1:
a)
showing awareness of how a learners/learners background(s), previous learning experience
and learning style(s) affect learning
b)
identifying the learners/learners language/skills needs
c)
correctly using terminology relating to the description of language systems and language
skills
d)
selecting appropriate material and/or resources to aid the learners/learners language
development
e)
providing a rationale for using specific activities with a learner/learners
f)
finding, selecting and referencing information from one or more sources using written
language that is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task.
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NB:You must include a bibliography at the end of the assignment, giving the titles and authors of the
books you used in writing this assignment and submit learners' written samples that have been
analysed and referred to in the assignment body.
Recommended Reading:
Learner English by Swan and Smith a non-print version is on your wikispace.
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International House
Teacher Training
Rome
Section 1
Outline how you would exploit the piece of material provided online. Set out how you would
deliver a reading skills lesson, which also includes one of the following skills; speaking, or writing,
for a multi-lingual group of adult learners at intermediate level, living in the target language
community.
The lesson should show how you plan to develop two of the students skills (i.e. show your ability
to provide graded work to improve the students reading and either speaking or writing skills). The
lesson should provide a brief rationale for what you have the students do and why. The lesson
duration should be one hour. Please remember the main focus of this section is NOT grammar!
The lesson should show:
Do not write this assignment in the form of a lesson plan but as a written text.
Your assignment should also include the following elements:
evidence of background reading related to skills teaching
a bibliography, with particular reference to the photocopied chapter from Reading by Grellt
available in your room and full book in the SSC (remember to check the wikispace for other
references)
identification of receptive and productive skills and sub-skills that can be practised.
a brief rationale as to why these tasks are suitable
recommended word range 750 -1000.
Please look at the assessment criteria and remember, spelling and punctuation are considered
vital in all assignments as evidence of your use of the language. This assignment can be typed or
hand-written.
In order to pass this assignment you must:
1. correctly use terminology that relates to language skills and sub-skills
2. relate task design to language skills development
3. find, select and reference information from one or more sources using written language that
is clear, accurate and appropriate to the task
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Section 2
Part One
1. Match the concept check questions on the right to the item on the left.
a)I wish I lived in the country
2. Circle the concept check questions (CCQs) which are checking the concept, expressed by
the underlined words, appropriately, sometimes all three are possible:
The suspect was seen in the vicinity of the bank.
Do we know who saw him?
Come and sit down Jim youve been working in the garden all day!
Has Jim been working?
Her coat isn't in her office she must have gone home
Is she in the office?
Is this obligation?
Is she at home?
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4. Look back at the examples in question one and create a context for each example.
Part Two
For each of the vocabulary and grammar items underlined in the text online you must:
1. Explain the basic meaning of the item in its context (the text)
2. Write the CCQs for the item in the context
3. Mention any other ways of clarifying/checking (eg. Mime, time-lines, pictures, etc.)
4a. For grammar items only, analyse the form of the structure and provide its name, if one exists.
4b. For vocabulary items, identify the part of speech
5. Foresee possible problems for students, e.g. pronunciation, word order, etc.
6. Reference materials you have consulted.
NOTE: Please group the grammar items together and analyse them first, and then group the
vocabulary items together and analyse them second.
Example 1 (grammar item): Youve had your hair cut!
1. Used when we ask someone else to do something for ys (usually for payment). In this case, a
person has been to the hairdresser's and now her hair is noticeably shorter.
2. Concept checking questions:
- did she cut her hair herself?
No
Yes
She paid.
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Positive.
Yes.
- very much?
Yes
3. Ask for examples of things they did at the disco, or examples from other contexts.
4. An adjective.
5. Confusion with terrible, pronunciation is sometimes / 'wkd/
6. OUP (2000) Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, pp1969
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International House
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Assessment Criteria
2.1 - Focus on the learner
The design of the assignment to include:
1. showing
awareness
of
how
a
learners/learners background(s), previous
learning experience and learning style(s)
affect learning
2. identify
the
language/skills needs
learners/learners
identification of significant
features of the form, phonology,
meaning and use of language
items/areas and the use of
relevant information from
reference materials
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identification of productive
language skills that could be
practised and developed in
relation to that text
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The CELTA booklet "syllabus and assessment guidelines" gives a full overview of the syllabus and
criteria for assessment. A copy is available on your wikispace for your reference.
The following information has been summarised from the booklet
Assessment
Assessment is continuous and integrated. Continuous means that assessment takes place
throughout each course. Integrated means that the each assessed component contributes to the
overall grade. Any one component can cover a number of topics and objectives in the syllabus.
The course tutors evaluate your progress at every stage of the course, in relation to the syllabus
guidelines relevant to that particular stage of the course. If they feel that your performance is not up
to standard at any particular stage (i.e. that you are failing the course) you will be informed, and
appropriate tutorial support will be given.
At the end of the course the course tutors recommend your final grade based on your performance
in all the course components throughout the course.
The course components
The three components of assessment are as follows:
Teaching practice
Written assignments
Candidates professional development.
Full details of the assessment criteria can be found in the appropriate booklet. The assessment for
the marking of written work is also given with each assignment.
The course programme and syllabus
Specifically, the course is designed to enable candidates to:
1. Develop an awareness of language and knowledge of the description of English and apply these
to their professional practice.
2. Develop an initial understanding of the contexts within which adults learn English, their
motivations and the roles of the teacher and the learner.
3. Develop familiarity with the principles and practice of effective teaching to adult learners of
English.
4. Develop basic skills for teaching adults in the language classroom.
5. Develop a familiarity with the appropriate resources and materials for use with adult learners of
English for teaching, testing and reference.
6. Identify opportunities for their own future development as future professionals in the field.
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Course Feedback
The tutors will ask for informal feedback throughout the course. We run training courses throughout
the year and your comments are invaluable in helping us to improve our programme. If you feel that
there is something we need to know about the course, please tell us.
There will also be two tutorials, one at the half-way stage and one towards the end of the course.
These tutorials are carried out in private and individually, and serve as a basis for discussion both of
your personal progress and the course in general.
Procedure in case of a problem or complaint
If you are unhappy or worried about anything, do not wait until the time-tabled tutorials. Fix a time
to see the tutor concerned.
If you have a complaint that you are unable to resolve with a particular tutor, observe the following
procedure:
1. Raise the matter with the Course Director who is responsible for the overall smooth running of
the course. Check which tutor is Course Director.
2. If you are unable to resolve the problem with the Course Director, or if the Course Director feels
it is necessary, the problem will be referred to the Director of Teacher Training, Margaret
Horrigan.
Online reading
The following sites offer a range of materials and resources. Please remember that a lot of 'online' lesson plans are not very good and that part of Cambridge assessment criteria is to plan
for a specific group of learners. This essentially means that you should not download plans from
the web for teaching purposes over the duration of the CELTA course but refer to them as they
may give you ideas on how to approach your own lesson planning in different ways.
http:/celta./wikispaces.com
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/
http://hotpot.uvic.ca/
http://www.reward-english.com/
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
http://www.onestopenglish.com/
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http://www.eslbase.com
Handbook quiz
1. How many assignments do you have to do on the course?
2. How many hours of teaching do you have to do?
3. Write the web addresses of two sites that you can refer to during the course..
4. When do you have DVD observations?
5. What is the last seminar on the first Tuesday?
6. What is the CELTA 5?
7. Who is the assessor and what is their role?
8. On what page is the self evaluation that you need to complete after your lessons?
9. What do you have to keep in your portfolio?
10. Who are the people in your TP group? Write their names and phone numbers here:
..
..
..
..
..
11. What do you have to sign every time you submit an assignment?
12. What is the course number?
13. What site can you visit for on-line materials?
14. What is the title of assignment four?
15. When you include vocabulary in a lesson what sheet must you complete?
16. When do you have your second phonology seminar?
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Mid-Course Evaluation
Is the course what you expected with regard to the following?
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