Moving On magazine Careers and Qualifications for School Leavers
The UK government has granted the CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Advanced Learner Loan scheme eligibility, giving recent graduates, those who are unemployed and career changers the opportunity to apply for financial support to help them complete the course at a college or training provider in England.
Ideal for individuals looking to begin a career in English language teaching, CELTA is a highly respected TEFL qualification from Cambridge English Language Assessment (Cambridge English), part of the University of Cambridge.
English language teaching is a popular and flexible career option; the sector has an estimated total economic impact of £2.4 billion and supports more than 26,000 jobs in the UK. Across the globe demand also remains consistently high for native and non-native English-speakers, especially in Asia, parts of Eastern Europe, Spain, Italy and Germany.
CELTA is considered to be the gold standard TEFL qualification, trusted by employers, language schools and governments worldwide. Based on an intensive four-week course it gives individuals the core skills needed to succeed in the classroom, blending both theory and authentic teaching practice with real language learners. Eligible individuals can apply for funding of up to £1,417 and loans do not have to be repaid until the course has been completed and the person is earning more than a specified amount.
Blandine Bastie, Country Head, UK and Ireland, Cambridge English, commented:
This funding boost will help even more people gain an internationally recognised teaching qualification – whether individuals are looking for exciting teaching posts in the UK or abroad. The teaching practice is what sets CELTA apart from other qualifications; it offers hands-on experience with the chance to apply learning in the classroom with real English language learners. For career changers and graduates alike CELTA is an attractive option – the course can be taken full-time, part-time or online as a blended learning course, enabling them to acquire their passport to global teaching opportunities in a way that suits their schedules.”
There are over 40 CELTA centres in England that accept Advanced Learner Loans. The CELTA qualification is valued by employers around the world – including English language schools, ministries of education, respected employers such as the British Council, International House, Navitas and EF and professional organisations such as IATEFL. Research carried out by Cambridge English highlights just how much value employers place on CELTA: 9 out of 10 employers in the UK and 7 out of 10 employers worldwide (including the UK) specifically ask for CELTA in job adverts[1]. The qualification provides the essential knowledge, hands-on teaching experience and classroom confidence to qualify as an English language teacher.
Kate Fuscoe, CELTA Course Leader at City and Islington College, London, said: “CELTA is seen as the gold standard TEFL qualification because it is widely recognised and valued by employers – our graduates often get in touch to let us know they have found work. The qualification is appealing because it includes a rigorous teaching practice element, which is unlike other online-based or short courses. CELTA is also extremely flexible, meaning students can fit their study around their schedules – our centre runs the course in a variety of formats including; part-time, full-time, daytime and evening. We’re really excited to offer the Advanced Learner Loan at City and Islington College, as this financial support will help even more learners complete the CELTA course. So far, we’ve been very impressed with the speed at which the loan has gone through, and the ease of the entire process.”
The full list of Advanced Learner Loan approved CELTA centres can be found on the Cambridge English website.
[1] Source: 500 English language teaching (TEFL) job adverts across 23 international industry employment websites during April 2015.
