How to Ace the CELTA Teaching Practice Sessions

The CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is one of the most respected qualifications for aspiring English teachers. Offering a rigorous curriculum and internationally recognized certification, it provides individuals with the necessary skills to teach English as a foreign language effectively. One of the most significant components of the CELTA course is the CELTA teaching practice sessions, where you’ll be given the opportunity to apply the teaching techniques you’ve learned in a real classroom setting. Many CELTA candidates often wonder how to succeed in these critical practice sessions. This blog post will guide you on how to excel in CELTA in class practice, with tips on preparation, teaching strategies, and handling feedback.

1. Understand the Importance of CELTA Teaching Practice

The CELTA teaching practice is not just an opportunity to show what you’ve learned but also a chance to refine your teaching skills in a real-world setting. It’s during these sessions that you’ll receive feedback from your tutors and peers, which is invaluable for your development as a teacher.

The main goal is to assess your ability to plan, deliver, and evaluate lessons effectively. You will be expected to teach real students, and your ability to manage the classroom, engage learners, and deliver content will be scrutinized. It’s essential to see these sessions as a way to build your confidence and fine-tune your teaching skills, rather than as an exam.

2. Prepare Thoroughly for Your Lessons

Success in teaching practice starts with meticulous preparation. Your lesson plans should be clear, structured, and aligned with the learning objectives you’ve been given. You will be expected to incorporate a range of teaching techniques, including eliciting, drills, pair and group activities, and discussions, all of which should be suited to the students' language proficiency levels and staged logically to achieve your goals.

Understanding the staging of lessons is crucial to designing your lessons. You will be required to include work on both the systems (grammar, vocabulary, functional language, pronunciation, discourse) of English and help your learners develop their language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing). Sometimes, you will develop these in the same lesson and other times you will have separate lessons for skills and systems development.

All lessons will start with a lead-in to engage your learners in the real world topic or context of the lesson. Then:

• Skills lessons.  You might start with a simple reading or listening task where learners get the gist of the text, or scan for pertinent information. You will then move on to more detailed comprehension work and perhaps end with some speaking or writing fluency work on the topic at hand. If students read a biography of a famous person, for example, then they might create their own autobiography (writing) or interview each other to gather facts about their partner’s life (speaking). Or they could research facts about a celebrity they are interested in and do a role play instead, for example. 
• Systems lessons. After the lead-in, you might use a written or audio text to contextualise your grammar or vocabulary, in which case it’s important to start by treating the text as a vehicle for information first, so that the language you are teaching is presented to the learners in context. This might mean doing a comprehension activity before moving on to looking at the grammar in depth. Once the meaning of the text is clear, you will need to clarify the meaning, form and pronunciation of the language. Guided discovery is a good way to do this. Then, to help the language stick, learners will do several practice activities. There are two main types of practice: 
  
  • controlled practice (for accuracy) and 
  • freer practice (for fluency). 

By including both types of practice in your CELTA systems lessons, you are helping learners to acquire the language correctly and to use it naturally.

3. Focus on Student-Centered Teaching

One of the key principles of CELTA is student-centered teaching. Instead of focusing solely on lecturing or explaining grammar rules, the emphasis is on creating a dynamic classroom environment where students actively engage with the language. In your CELTA teaching practice, strive to minimize your Teacher Talk Time (TTT) and maximize Student Talk Time (STT) by eliciting, checking understanding throughout and encouraging them to own the language by using it themselves as much as possible. Encourage students to participate, ask questions, and use the language as much as possible. Plan activities that are engaging and give students the opportunity to practice in pairs or small groups. As mentioned above, a great way to keep the lesson student-centered is to give learners the chance to discover language through guided discovery activities, as opposed to simply telling them the rules.

4. Classroom Management is Key

Effective classroom management is an essential skill that will directly impact the success of your CELTA in class practice. It’s important to create a welcoming and supportive classroom atmosphere where students feel comfortable speaking and making mistakes. Establish clear instructions and routines, and be prepared to adjust to unexpected situations, such as disruptions or technical issues.

The physical classroom setup also plays a crucial role. Ensure that seating arrangements promote interaction, especially for pair and group work. If you are using technology, make sure you are familiar with all the tools and resources in advance to avoid unnecessary delays during the lesson.

5. Be Open to Feedback and Reflect on Teaching

Feedback is one of the most valuable aspects of CELTA teaching practice. After each lesson, you will receive feedback from your tutors and peers. Don’t be defensive – take it as an opportunity to learn and improve. Listen carefully, take notes, and ask clarifying questions if needed. You will also give feedback to your peers. Most of the time, this isn’t about judging something as good or bad. It is more a chance to reflect and ask questions to work towards an improved understanding of good pedagogical practice. You and your colleagues are all in the same boat so it’s important to develop a supportive, curious mindset (rather than a judgemental one). 

Reflect on your teaching after each session. What went well? What didn’t? What could you do differently next time? Regular self-reflection helps you pinpoint areas where you need to improve and solidify your teaching strengths. A willingness to adapt and make adjustments based on feedback will accelerate your growth as a teacher.

6. Stay Calm and Confident

It’s natural to feel nervous before your CELTA in class practice sessions, but remember that these are just practice opportunities. The more you practice, the more confident you will become. Stay calm, trust in your preparation, and embrace the learning process. The learners are not paying a lot for their classes so the pressure is off to a degree! They are giving up their time of course, but it’s good to remember that, even if a lesson doesn’t go perfectly, the students have been exposed to natural English and will almost certainly take something away from the class - even if it wasn’t what you intended at the start!

A common mistake among new teachers is overloading lessons with information. Instead, focus on delivering less content clearly and simply. Give students the time and space they need to absorb new information and practice using the language. Less is usually more!

7. Engage with Your Peer Group

Your peers are an excellent resource for learning during the CELTA course. As you observe their teaching practice, take note of what works well in their lessons and consider how you can apply similar techniques in your own teaching. Additionally, collaborate with your peers during planning and feedback sessions. Sharing ideas and teaching strategies can help you refine your approach and gain new insights.

Ultimately, the CELTA teaching practice is a vital part of the CELTA qualification and plays a significant role in developing your teaching skills. By preparing thoroughly, focusing on student-centered teaching, incorporating logical lesson staging, and being open to feedback, you can excel in these practice sessions. Classroom management, self-reflection, and staying confident are also key to ensuring a successful experience.

Most importantly, remember that the CELTA in-class practice is a learning experience designed to help you grow as a teacher. Embrace the challenges, view each lesson as an opportunity to improve, and soon you'll be well on your way to becoming a confident and skilled English teacher.

At Teaching House, we provide expert support and guidance throughout your CELTA journey. Ready to take the next step? Contact Teaching House today and start your path toward becoming an effective English teacher.