CELTA Certificate
Milner International College of English, after the Australian College of English, Sydney, is the longest established private institution which teaches English to speakers of other languages. In 1987 Milner College was approved as a recognized centre by the Royal Society of Arts to conduct its Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). It was the first institution in Western Australia to be accorded this honour, and the second in Australia. In 1988, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate took over administration of the course. The Certificate is now known as the Cambridge ESOL Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA).
What makes this course stand out against its competitors is the fact that it is so well-known and highly valued by employers of TEFL teachers. Each year 7000 people worldwide do it at 200 centres in 40 countries. In most countries the CELTA is a pre-requisite for employment.
A degree or recognized tertiary diploma plus the CELTA or its equivalent are mandatory for employment in Australian TEFL colleges. Overseas, the CELTA is usually sufficient.
At Milner College the course is offered on a full-time intensive basis over four weeks (130 hours). It provides training in teaching English to speakers of other languages and is suitable for both trained teachers and those without teacher training or experience.
Assessment is continuous and based mainly on the teaching practice component. One of the reasons why this course is so highly valued is that it has a very practical emphasis.
Other factors that are taken into account in determining final grades include the ability to critically evaluate one's own teaching, contributions to input sessions and the standard of written work.
The criteria for grading of the course have been set by Cambridge. There are four possible grades: Pass (the most commonly awarded grade); Pass B; Pass A (very rare) and Fail.
Final grades are awarded by the tutors and validated by an external assessor appointed by Cambridge. The assessor, often from interstate or overseas, observes the teaching practice and evaluates the general standard of the course. In this way the high quality of the CELTA is maintained and standardized world-wide.
Upon completion of the course, trainees are given a Milner College certificate which contains a report analysing his/her performance. The actual CELTA certificates are available about twelve weeks later.
