Once upon a time, I was a young man and I was advised by one of my old secondary school teachers to do a CELTA course. Why? Well, a CELTA qualification would allow me to travel the world teaching English to kids, teens and adults. It seemed like a great idea and I embarked upon my part-time CELTA course with much gusto. I ended up using it to teach in Ireland, South Korea, Spain, and England. In each of these countries, I was able to get a teaching position either before I arrived or within the first week of landing, all thanks to my qualification. I think I can safely say that my old secondary school teacher advised me well.
That was over 15 years ago and since then I’ve taught all ages from 7 years old to 79. I’ve prepared students for exam. I’ve taught university students. I’ve taught business people in their companies. I’ve taught nursing and engineering courses. I’ve taught online and in-person. I’ve even taught in virtual reality. None of this would have been possible without my CELTA course, which gave me the tools and confidence I needed to take that first step into the classroom.
One question that often arises when I discuss my career with people outside of the industry is “Is it just teaching English or are there other opportunities?”. Well, obviously teaching English is an incredibly fun, engaging and rewarding job but the EFL industry is full of positions and each and every one of them began with a CELTA qualification or its equivalent.
Academic Managers:
Academic Managers tend to start out as teachers. This position involves the management of students but also supporting teachers and their development. It requires an understanding of teaching and learning that most managers have gained from years in the classroom. While academic management can be a challenging role, it is also extremely rewarding as you get the opportunity to support and train your team, and watch as they become even more effective teachers.
Publishing Work:
Coursebooks and resource books are a major part of the EFL industry. The major publishers (e.g. Cambridge University Press, National Geographic Learning, Pearson, Macmillan, Oxford University Press) employ hundreds of people to write, edit, sell, discuss their titles. Many of these began their career as teachers with a CELTA qualification.
Inspectors:
Most countries have inspection bodies that ensure a level of academic quality, safeguarding and customer service within English language schools. These bodies often employ inspectors to carry out the inspections and it is important that these inspectors have an understanding of teaching and learning, which means (yes, you’ve guessed it) many of them started out teaching with a CELTA qualification.
Effective Communication Trainer:
One of the most rewarding aspects of being an English teacher is meeting people from different cultures and learning to communicate more effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds and countries. This experience is something that many teachers are now bringing to HR departments in international companies, working as trainers of effective intercultural communication. Their time in a multi-lingual classroom has given them the experience and knowledge they need to successfully set up their own training business.
Our CELTA course in London can set you on a path to a wide range of careers. Whether you’re interested in becoming a senior teacher, teacher trainer, writer, centre manager, or sales person, it all begins with a CELTA.
Want to know more about getting your CELTA qualification at EC London? Get in touch!