Is CELTA for 'non-native' English speakers?

A common question from CELTA applicants: 'If English is not my first language- is this for me?'. This video from www.elt-training.com/ aims to answer that question and give a bit more information about the relative merits of being a 'native' or 'non-native' English speaker when you are training to be an English teacher.

[@miriamllamas224]

Hi Jo. I'm taking my Celta now and watched all your videos in the Cambridge website prior to stating. Extremely helpful. So I'm subscribing here now to help me through 🤗

[@elttraining]

That’s great- good luck with your celta 😀

[@gatablanca1949]

I completed the CELTA course successfully, I absolutely loved the experience and received lots of praise from my tutors for both the assignments and TPs. However, pursuing a career as a non-native speaker is an entirely different matter. Depending on where you're from and where your place of residence is, getting hired can be almost impossible. There's a whole lot of discrimination in many countries.

[@elttraining]

Hi Gata- sorry that you’ve had this experience- as I say in the video, it’s a sad truth that discrimination is still very present in the industry

[@roupingong2074]

Exactly. Am doing well on my CELTA with English as my second language. But finding a job? That's a completely different story!

[@Tulase]

As a non-native myself, I experienced the situation described in the video, where I lacked the English skills (compared to the native classmates), but I often caught myself giving them tips about grammar, like telling them that Present Perfect isn't exactly about the present haha
Great video as usual!
Is it possible for people with CELTA not currently living in the UK, to get help with the work visa to starting teaching there?

[@elttraining]

Hi- I suspect that it would be difficult to get a work visa in the UK for ESOL - the industry is in tatters with the pandemic situation and it wasn't great before then.... sorry not to be more optimistic...

[@Tulase]

@@elttraining That's okay, thank you for the answer! Maybe in a few years from now, when things are normal again, I'll think about it again! 😁

[@veroniquepascale115]

In which Center did you study for the CELTA ?

[@miriamllamas224]

I'm taking mine right not with Stafford House. Very happy with them.

[@samcarpenter4259]

What about if you ARE english? And suck at English

[@elttraining]

It depends a bit on what you mean… but if it’s grammar knowledge that’s the problem (a very common one) then try out my Grammar for Language Teachers course on my site