St Giles International has a long history of teacher training. Indeed, St Giles was one of the very first organisations to offer training for English language teachers in the UK. The RSA (Royal Society of Arts) TEFL certificate, now called the Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA), was first introduced into the USA by St Giles college in San Francisco. We continue to raise standards in the language teaching profession through the St Giles Educational Trust - a registered charity.
Since 1977, when we began offering the CELTA course at St Giles, thousands of teachers have completed our courses and gone on to teach at centres all over the world. This means that not only is St Giles one of the most experienced and respected teacher training centres in Britain, but we have also built a worldwide reputation, which gives our trainees an invaluable advantage in a competitive international employment market. In addition to this, St Giles itself is part of an international group with sister schools in four countries, as well as close relationships with numerous schools and agencies worldwide.
A St Giles teacher training course will open up opportunities to live and work abroad and meet people from many different backgrounds and cultures. You will find teaching can be challenging, rewarding and immensely enjoyable. St Giles will provide successful candidates with advice and help in finding jobs abroad and developing their future careers. A small number of candidates may be taken on as teachers at one of the St Giles colleges, for example in the busy summer months, thus providing an opportunity to gain immediate first-hand experience of teaching in a recognised international school.
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St Giles' team of experienced teacher trainers is committed to providing a supportive educational atmosphere with an emphasis on individual attention. All our teacher trainers continue to teach multilingual classes, which means that we have some of the most experienced and well-qualified teachers and teacher trainers in the field.
St Giles also has excellent facilities and resources, including a specialist ELT Library and bookshop. All resources, such as course books and photocopying, are provided and are included in the course fees. Our courses include:
Initial training
All applicants, whether native or non-native speakers, must have an awareness of language and a competence in English that enables them to follow the course. Applicants should be at least 18 years old and have either a university degree or a standard of education which would allow entry to higher education.
The Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)
This is the most widely recognised initial qualification for English Language teachers and provides job opportunities both in the UK and abroad. The primary aim of the course is to provide initial training in TEFL. However, the courses are also very suitable for people who have previous teaching experience but do not have formal TEFL training or qualifications. CELTA courses are available at St Giles centres in London Highgate, Brighton and San Francisco and are offered on a part-time as well as full-time basis. Each course includes a minimum of 6 hours' teaching practice. Our courses last four weeks, with classes from Monday to Friday. Each participant at St Giles San Francisco also undertakes 35 hours of self-study before the course, using our "Pre-Course Assignment."
This course is designed to help candidates
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Develop an awareness of British or American English and the description of the language and apply these in their professional practice |
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Develop an understanding of the contexts within which adults learn English, their motivations and the roles of the teacher and the learner |
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Develop familiarity with the principles and practice of effective teaching to adult learners of English |
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Develop basic skills for teaching adults in the language classroom |
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Develop familiarity with appropriate resources and materials for use with adult learners of English for teaching, testing and for reference |
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Identify opportunities for participants' own future development as professionals in the field |
There is no final examination as candidates are continuously assessed in three areas: professional development, teaching practice and written assignments. The course is moderated by an external assessor, approved and appointed by UCLES. The UCLES entry fee is included in the course fees.
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The Trinity College Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Cert TESOL) |
The TESOL Certificate is recognised by the British Council and by language schools worldwide as an initial qualification for teaching English as a foreign language. The course is suitable for those with no experience of teaching English or with limited experience of teaching this or other subjects. St Giles offers this course at our London Central school, where there is a maximum of 12 trainees on each course.
In order to gain a better understanding of the process of learning from the student's point of view, trainees are themselves given a number of lessons in an unknown foreign language so they have first-hand experience of the learners' situation. Trainees are divided into small teaching practice groups and each trainee teaches a minimum of six hours during the course at two different levels. Teaching practice is then followed by feedback and the setting of teaching points.
Candidates are assessed continuously on their contribution to the course, their teaching practice, their lesson planning and written work, and on a range of assignments including a materials project and a written profile of an individual learner. A Trinity College Moderator visits all courses and interviews each candidate personally.
The course is an intensive, stimulating and absorbing 4-week course (minimum 130 hours), at the end of which candidates will have gained:
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An understanding of the structure, use and pronunciation of English and the means of describing the language |
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An awareness of the contexts within which adults learn English, their needs and motivations, and the role of the teacher and the learner |
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Familiarity with the principles and practice of effective teaching to adult learners of English, and the ability to apply these principles in the classroom |
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An ability to evaluate appropriate materials and resources for teaching English to adults |
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Practical experience of teaching at least two different levels (all trainees get a minimum of 6 hours' teaching practice) |
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An ability to evaluate their own performance in the classroom and identify opportunities for their own future development as professional teachers |
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An internationally recognised qualification leading to job opportunities in the UK and abroad |
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An individual report from St Giles on each trainee's progress and achievements |
Other, specially designed courses for overseas teachers are available by arrangement.
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St Giles Teacher Training courses are available at four top-class centres in the UK and USA:
At St Giles Brighton, our Teacher Training courses are run by highly experienced and well-trained teacher trainers. Courses are both intensive and very practical in nature. The facilities and resources are all of a high standard and the atmosphere is supportive and professional. As with all St Giles Teacher Training centres, St Giles Brighton recruits experienced and newly trained teachers for our own centres, as well as providing substantial support in finding teaching jobs for our trainees both abroad and in the UK. The teacher trainers at St Giles Highgate have been working together for many years, and form a close-knit and professional team within our dedicated Teacher Training centre. Our commitment to innovation and development of the course means that St Giles Highgate can offer input sessions on such up-to-date topics as internet use and lexical phrases. You will also receive a regular e-newsletter containing practical teaching suggestions and information on job
opportunities. St Giles London Central is one of the largest English language schools in London. The college has excellent facilities and resources and our course tutors are all fully qualified teachers of English, with many years' experience of teaching both in the UK and overseas. They provide a supportive educational atmosphere in which to share their commitment and enthusiasm for teaching. Trainees will also benefit from the chance to observe the lessons of other experienced teachers at the college. Accommodation for course participants is available in the attractive college residence located within the main school building, where Teacher Trainees receive a discount of 10% on the usual residential accommodation price. Finally, St Giles San Francisco's TEFL training program is approved by Cambridge University and licensed by the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education of the State of California. The program carries a postgraduate credit recommendation of six semester hours (MA TESOL), issued by The National PONSI.
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CELTA
London Highgate |
5 - 30 January 2004 |
2 - 27 August 2004 |
2 - 27 February 2004 |
27 September - 22 October 2004 |
1 - 26 March 2004 |
25 October - 19 November 2004 |
26 April - 21 May 2004 * |
22 November - 17 December 2004 |
24 May - 18 June 2004 * |
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21 June - 16 July 2004 |
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Brighton |
5 - 30 January 2004 |
28 June - 23 July 2004 |
2 - 27 February 2004 |
26 July - 20 August 2004 |
1 - 26 March 2004 |
23 August - 17 September 2004 * |
29 March - 23 April 2004 * |
20 September - 15 October 2004 |
4 - 28 May 2004 * |
18 October - 12 November 2004 |
1 - 25 June 2004 |
15 November - 10 December 2004 |
San Francisco |
5 - 30 January 2004 |
19 July - 13 August 2004 |
9 February - 5 March 2004 |
16 August - 10 September 2004 |
8 March - 2 April 2004 |
13 September - 8 October 2004 |
2 April - 7 May 2004 |
25 October - 19 November 2004 |
10 May - 4 June 2004 |
22 November - 18 December (Sat) 2004 |
7 June - 2 July 2004 |
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* No classes on the following UK public holidays: 9 & 12 April, 3 & 31 May, 30 August.
Additional Part-Time Course Dates at London Highgate |
14 Feb 2004 - 26 May 2004
Easter: 5 - 14 April |
3 days per week:
Mons & Weds: 6-9pm +
Sats: 9.30am -1pm No classes on 3 May (Bank Holiday) |
4 Sept 2004 - 8 Dec 2004
Half Term: 25 - 31 October |
CELTA Fees, 2004 UK: (to be reviewed June)
Full time course in Brighton £835
Full time and part time course in Highgate: £795
(£835 from 21st June 2004)
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Fees include examination entry fee, pre-course task, training guide, photocopying facilities and teaching resources used on the course. You will only need basic stationery to make notes etc. The centre has a Teacher Training reference library solely for the use of trainees. |
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It is also advisable to buy our recommended teaching handbook Teaching English Worldwide by Paul Lindsay and a grammar book, for reference during and after the course. |
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Conditions of enrolment, UK
CELTA Fees 2004, USA: $2720
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The fee is fully inclusive of registration, tuition, Cambridge certification, and materials. This fee also includes job guidance and assistance during and after the course. |
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There will be an off-season discount of $300 to be offered on the courses beginning 8 March, & 12 April 2004. |
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Conditions of enrolment, USA
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TESOL
London Central |
5 - 30 January 2004 |
21 June - 16 July 2004 |
2 -27 February 2004 |
16 August - 10 September 2004 * |
1 - 26 March 2004 |
13 September - 8 October 2004 |
26 April - 21 May 2004* |
11 October - 5 November 2004 |
24 May - 18 June 2004 * |
22 November - 17 December |
* No classes on the following UK public holidays: 9 & 12 April, 3 & 31 May, 30 August.
TESOL Fees UK £795 per course
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This includes the Trinity College moderation fee |
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Trainees are advised to buy one or two reference books for use during and after the course. |
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Conditions of Enrolment
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We realise that the CELTA is quite a financial commitment on the part of trainees. It may be possible for trainees to seek assistance in funding through the following schemes:
Career Development Loans
St Giles CELTA and TESOL courses are registered periods of study eligible for CDLs. A Career Development Loan is a bank loan which provides an individual with initial help to pay for vocational training. Applicants may usually borrow up to 80% of the course fees from one of the participating banks. The government will pay interest while you are studying and then up to three months after the course has finished. It is your responsibility to repay the loan at this point, over a period agreed between you and the bank when the loan is arranged.
What now?
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Ask us for a leaflet giving further details on CDLs. |
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Contact one of the four participating banks for an information booklet:
Co-operative, Barclays, Clydesdale or Royal Bank of Scotland. |
Note: CDL applications can be very slow. It is vital that you make an application well in advance of the course you wish to take in order for funding to be in place in sufficient time.
Voluntary Service Overseas
VSO places TEFL teachers, among other skilled workers, in developing countries around the world. If you are considered suitable for such a placement by VSO, they may pay your CELTA or TESOL fees, on condition that you then take up the post. VSO has certain requirements which must be met by potential applicants, including the ability to leave and enter the country without restriction.
What now?
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Contact VSO direct to express an interest. |
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For further information, or to apply for a place, please contact the college of your choice directly. Alternatively, for information on Teacher Training courses at more than one St Giles college, please contact St Giles Educational Trust.
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