Accepted onto CELTA today...any advice very welcome!

[scaredofgrammar]

Hi there everyone!

I had my celta interview today and was accepted (isn't everyone, I wonder?!) The only problem is that the course starts on Saturday (it is a part-time course, as I work full time) so I have little more than one day to do the pre-course reading and exercises etc. The tutor was very nice (of course she was, I paid the full fee upfront!) and said that I should try to get as much of the reading done, especially the language awareness section.

Of course I won't be able to complete the whole booklet, but will I be grossly disadvantaged by not doing so?? My grammar is not great - I'm an English major but wasn't ever taught the 'terminologies' of grammar!! Does anyone have any advice to offer? What's the best way to approach this/the course in general/not being very confident in grammar? I don't want to sound like a whinging school kid but would appreciate some words of wisdom from those in the know, before I embark on what I know will be a gruelling 3 months!

thanks

[Tdol]

Let your tutor know at the beginning that you were taken on at very short notice. It shouldn't put you at a great disadvantage, but you will have to get top grips with the terminolgoy and concepts as they are fundamental in teaching.

[Anita1]

Hi, Where in UK are you doing your CELTA, i am doing in Bham. I am pretty crap at grammar and hence taking awful lot of time to do assignments. dont wat to scare you, but its very intense course, all nights out, social life is out of the window for me, i hope it will be well worth it in the end. Good luck

[scaredofgrammar]

Thanks for feedback, I had my second lesson yesterday evening - I'm actually quite enjoying it! They set the first assignment - which is the language related task

Tdol - what's the best way to really familiarise myself with grammar and being able quickly analyse the form of clauses/sentences? Just more practice? I bought some grammar books that were on the reading list - but am still quite apprehensiveness about it!

[Tdol]

Which ones did you get? I do like Muichael Swan's Practical English Usage, which covers both grammar and usage questions, ones that you will be asked about. It is really a matter of time and practice. In your first year of teaching, you will find yourself being asked questions that you don't know the answer to. Some people favour being honest about this, but I never did that. Make sure as you teach that you have got to gripos with each area first and don't be afraid to ask experienced colleagues for help and ideas.

[scaredofgrammar]

Belated thanks for this Tdol!

Just to keep you informed - I have my first teaching practice session this Tuesday! No grammar ...phew!

[Tdol]

Good luck with it.