Teach the world with Cambridge School

Don't worry about this. Few native speakers know very much about English grammar before they do the course. We will teach you a lot of grammar on the course and will also teach you coping strategies which you will be able to use in the first few months of teaching.

No, you don’t.  Most CELTA trainees have never taught before, although if you do have some experience this is likely to help you, especially in the early stages of the course.

Yes, provided your level of English is high enough.  We will let you know if your standard of English is adequate for the course in the interview and pre-interview task.

The CELTA qualifies you to teach English to adults in private language academies or language schools within further education colleges or universities.   You need a PGCE to teach in UK primary or secondary schools.

Any school or training institution can create their own ‘TEFL’ course.  The CELTA is the gold standard English teaching qualification because every CELTA centre has to pass the University of Cambridge’s rigorous certification process and every course is externally evaluated by an independent assessor appointed by the University.  Before choosing a TEFL course you should check which international institution accredits the course. As a rule of thumb, if you there is no external accreditation, or if you’ve never heard of the accrediting institution, you shouldn’t do the course. Sadly, many people complete ‘TEFL’ courses only to find employers do not recognise their qualification.

The climate is quite mild all year round in Barcelona but it can get a bit chilly at night in the winter months.   You can check the weather for the time of year you are planning to do the course on the BBC Weather website.  As far as teaching practice goes, it is acceptable to dress casually as long as clothes are clean and reasonably tidy.

Not to do a CELTA course. In fact if you are a European Union national, you don't need a visa to work in Spain either. Neither do you need a work permit. However, if you are a non-EU national, you may need a visa or work permit in order to work in Spain.  You should contact the Spanish embassy in your home country for more information.

It’s always a good idea to get flight insurance in case you have to cancel your trip for personal reasons.  As you are unlikely to participate in any higher-risk activity (e.g. adventure sports, driving) you are unlikely to need travel insurance, especially if you are an EU citizen (see ‘What if I get ill?).

All EU citizens are legally entitled to full health care privileges in Spain.  If you’re coming from the UK, it’s a good idea to apply for a European Health Insurance Card before you come.  However, previous experience has shown us that even without the card, teachers have had no difficulty getting health care.  In the event of you experiencing a serious health problem, a member of our staff will assist you in getting the treatment you need and will translate for you if necessary. Trainees from outside the EU should consult their home government websites to find out their health care entitlements in Spain.

Given that you will already have paid for your course, you will need to bring money for the following things: accommodation, food and drink, entertainment. Your homestay accommodation will cost 395€ for the 5-week period. Food and drink will depend on if you eat in or out; if you prepare your own meals you shouldn’t spend more than 10€ per day, if you eat out, you can get lunch or dinner at local bars and restaurants for as little as 7-8€.  In terms of entertainment, a cinema ticket costs around 6€, a beer or glass of wine around 2€ and a return train ticket to Barcelona around 6€.  Past trainees have told us that budgeting 500-700€ (depending on if you’re being frugal or not) plus your accommodation costs, should be enough.

Most visitors to Spain nowadays bring a bank card and withdraw Euros from Spanish cashpoints.  However, if you can get a good deal at a Bureau de Change in your home country, you may get a better exchange rate and save on bank charges.

English teaching is not a highly paid profession. Salaries vary from school to school and will depend on the number of contact teaching hours you have. Teachers usually teach between 20 and 25 hours a week. For a 20 hour timetable, teachers might expect to earn around 1200€ per month after tax.  However, the salaries are not difficult to live on as the cost of living is lower than in many other European countries.

Spain has one of the largest TEFL job markets in the world, so teachers usually have little difficulty finding work.  Most schools in Spain recruit during the summer for the academic year starting at the end of September or beginning of October. However, bigger schools often have vacancies at other times of the year, too.

It is possible to find work in some countries, even Spain, without any kind of teaching certification.  However, all reputable schools, which offer good contracts, pay and conditions will require a TEFL qualification.  To be blunt, without a CELTA you are only likely to find work at schools that are unable to attract qualified teachers.