CELTA course timetable
by celtaconfessions
Day: 10 Sep 2012
I’d been thinking that I can’t really survive a whole month without some form of income. October is normally the month when I start getting some classes by telephone, so I wrote to IH Seville to confirm the hours of class.
18:00! I thought it was going to be 9 am to 5 pm! That’s a bit worrying. I’m not sure what to make of the timetable. There are 3 breaks; no doubt, they’d be welcomed, although the final one is a mere 15-minute one. And an hour for lunch would probably mean a quick one in a café or a tapas bar – hardly any time to go back to the apartment unless I had something prepared beforehand… I don’t like the idea of eating out every day, not only for economical reasons but also for health. I’ll have to think on that one, perhaps I can prepare some salad or sandwiches to have in the park.
I wonder what the weather will be like in October…
It does look like the days are going to be long. Will I be able to cope with giving some phone classes? If I could do some at the weekend, that would be better. A little less pressure, that’s for sure. It’d be difficult though as these are normally corporate clients and I don’t think they’d sacrifice part of their weekend… I’ll have to play it by ear.
Post-CELTA Confessions 
[…] will be dedicated to recovery and the other mundane activities, like Anthony Gaughan suggested in a comment: shopping, commuting, housework, […]
Hi, I finished my CELTA course last week and agree with Anthony’s time estimates (but then I would as I was on his course!) and if you are not a good time manager you will certainly need more time. Apart from the time spent actually doing the CELTA work I found that I was thinking about it all the time and couldn’t really concentrate on much else. What about the time you will need to update this blog?! It’s only now that I have finished that I have any time to look at things like this,
Good luck with your course
Amanda
Thanks for dropping by, Amanda. I presume you passed! Were there any failures? I appreciate your first-hand account. So, it’s really as tough as they claim to be then? This blog won’t be a problem – at least I hope not! If I don’t have the time, I’ll start writing to it after I finish the course although it may be a good way of revising and reflecting on what has been taught.
I’m not surprised you were thinking about it all the time – I already am! I’d like to hear more first-hand accounts, so perhaps you can get some of your ex-classmates to reveal their feelings about the course!
Thanks…CC
Interesting blog you have got going here – looking forward to following it.
Speaking as a CELTA trainer, you need to add into the timetable above that you realistically need to find 2-3 hours per day in the week plus the equivalent of a full (6-8hour) working day over the weekend on course-related work.
This is to enable you actually to do the lesson planning, written assignment research and writing, and revision of course content necessary.
Looking at the timetable, there is a fair amount of time set aside each day for TP prep, but probably half of this will be taken up with feedback on the lessons just taught, so you will only be able to fit about 1 hours’ worth of non-contact time work into the day by my estimate, leaving 1-2 hours per evening after you get home.
This is assuming you are an effective and efficient time manager, and do not have excessive difficulty in engaging with course content and requirements.
Remember that you need to rest, recharge and find time to do normal things like food shop, laundry, commute etc – all usually more time consuming when away from home.
I therefore would not recommend trying to maintain any outside commitments: in my experience, candidates who try to do so suffer from stress and their performance is significantly compromised.
All the best,
Anthony
Thanks very much, Anthony for your comment and advice; it’s much appreciated. It’s a bleak picture indeed that you’re painting. I don’t consider myself an “effective and efficient time manager” so it’s kind of worrying. As to whether I’ll have difficulty in engaging with the course content and requirements remains to be seen.
The problem is that not only would I suffer the loss of whatever potential income there would be but there is also the matter of not being covered by social security if I’m not working. A dilemma. I was wishfully thinking that if I could have a few half-hour classes and even if these classes could actually serve as revising what I learn, it might even be beneficial. But, as I say, it’s wishful thinking.
I’d like to hear from other past CELTA students as well – that might be beneficial.
Thanks again,
CC