Trainee Testimonials

Here you can read what some of our trainees have said about our Teacher Training courses.

Mercedes De Vara Ros

I found the CELTA course tough but definitely worth it. For a month you get immersed in the English language and develop great and useful skills to teach it.

You are teaching from day one, which proves how practical this course is. There is also a very good balance between the input sessions in the morning and the practical ones in the afternoon. Observing other teachers and your peers is a very helpful way to get lots of good ideas that you can try to put into practice straight away.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that the course gave me a totally different prospective about teaching English as a foreign language. It is a very student-centred approach to teach and you become very aware of student's needs and classroom dynamics getting away from a more traditional teaching role.

Tutors were great and very supportive. They provided a whole range of useful ideas, tools and materials to teach effectively. They gently push you with positive observations and feedback so you achieve your best and improve your teaching skills throughout the course.

Due to the intense nature of the course you develop a growing and special relationship with your class mates. You constantly help and support each other creating a great and safe atmosphere, making the stressful moments much more bearable.

I am really glad I have done it!

Adam Stewart

Doing a CELTA course at British Study Centre was an amazing experience. The school has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere which made it a great place to study. The tutors provided a high level of support and had a great range of experience to draw on.

The input sessions were well organised and provided a good model of the teaching ideas being introduced.

The feedback from teaching practice sessions was constructive and contained a good mix of general areas to develop and specific advice. The students in the classes were lively and eager to learn which created a great atmosphere for them and the trainees to learn in.

Setara A. L. Pracha

The CELTA interview is designed to ward off the faint of heart – and it does!

This course is as intensive and as rigorous as it purports to be, and a great deal of fun too. Like all worthwhile challenges it was stressful and tiring, and exciting and satisfying. It is structured to foster a supportive peer group and that sense of being 'all in it together' encourages you when things are tough. Fortunately, the Study Centre is in central Oxford - perfect for essential coffee breaks and 'group hugs'.

I would encourage anyone interested in teaching to hone their skills by taking a month to study learning and teaching. My attitude to learners, teachers, and lessons, was refined on this course. The tutors are friendly and encouraging, the students are kind, and the sense of achievement is immense.

My advice is – don't be faint-hearted – go for an interview!

Lindsay Brook

I had very high expectations of the CELTA course I attended at British Study Centres (Oxford) in July 2010. The reputation of the certificate itself, plus the rigour of the application and interview process reassured me that this would be a high quality programme. In addition, the expectation setting by the pre-course materials (for example, right down to the level of being required to do 2-3 hours of homework per evening) ensured that I was well prepared for the course.

My expectations were exceeded by a significant margin. The design of the course was excellent, particularly as it ensured the maximum amount of time possible in practical application of the skills and knowledge acquired. (Observing qualified teachers taking lessons plus 6 hours of personal teaching practice.) Also, the balance of the course was perfect, divided between input sessions, preparation for teaching practice, observation of colleagues taking lessons, taking ones own lessons and getting immediate and invaluable feedback, and completing the assignments to reinforce the learning. It was extremely rewarding to see the personal portfolio developing as each task was completed.

However, the most crucial and valuable ingredient of the course was the quality of our tutors. Both were first class subject matter experts, and were able to deliver their expertise in a way that matched the individual learning needs and style of each participant. Feedback was always open, honest and perceptive, and was given in a way that promoted learning and motivation to improve. I always felt as if I had a personal coach who was totally committed to helping me to succeed.

If this is the career you wish to pursue, I cannot recommend this course highly enough.

David Bell

I decided to do the CELTA because it's more widely recognised and respected than online courses. I had some informal experience of EFL teaching before doing the CELTA but it was pretty nerve-wracking. The course is helping me to design better lesson plans and feel more confident in delivering them. I want to feel prepared before moving out to teach in Asia and it's really working.

The course is quite intensive but the trainees come together and support each other as a team and the trainers are all really knowledgeable and approachable so you always have someone to give you the support when you need it. The centre's really spacious and modern and perfectly placed in the centre of Oxford with lots of shops and cafes just round the corner.

Rebekah Payne

The teachers are great - really motivating and encouraging. They pass on so many tricks and skills and then give us the opportunity to put them into practice. Simple things like how to 'chest' handouts before distributing them, how to move the students around effectively in the classroom and how to give clear instructions – they're all things you remember when you're up in front of a class. I particularly like the way we're encouraged to bring humour into the classroom and to strike up good a good rapport with the students.

Heather Banyard

I'm doing the CELTA because I hope to work abroad, preferably in a German-speaking country. I think the BSC centre's awesome and really well run. The trainers are patient and guide you through everything but give you room and encouragement to do your own thing and be experimental and as independent as possible.