School Details - Washington D.C.
Situated among DC’s attractions, trendy bars, restaurants and music venues, you’ll feel at home in the nation’s capital. The center’s facility is located in the heart of downtown at 1413 K. Street. Just blocks from the White House, each classroom is equipped with whiteboards, student desks, wireless high speed internet and overhead projectors. The center also offers Mac computers and printing services.
Our graduates and current students unanimously agree that the biggest strength of this course is the systematized, consistent and constructive teaching practice. You can count on the feedback you’ll receive to be good advice because each course is monitored by an evaluator from Cambridge. The evaluation is systematized and consistent.
You'll be spending the majority of your CELTA days in class or preparing to teach a lesson, but once you've gotten your work done, you have the option to enjoy all the excitement of downtown Washington, DC.
Course Description
The Cambridge CELTA
The Cambridge CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching for Adults) course is the most internationally-recognized ESL teacher training course across the world and is highly regarded by employers in the U.S. and overseas. It is a hands-on practical course that equips trainees with the necessary skills to teach a range of lessons to students from an infinite variety of cultures.
The staff at this centre are nothing short of professional, courteous and accommodating, and they have extensive experience teaching in the U.S. and around the world, making them ready to help you find your dream job and location.
Our course caters to a range of clients. We have trainees with little or no ESL teaching experience who wish to gain the skills needed to enter the profession. We also work with trainees who have teaching experience (in or outside of ESL) and who want to further develop their skills and techniques in teaching ESL students.
We also train people who have taught ESL for a long time but are finding that they are missing out on certain job opportunities because of lack of certification.
A main component of the course is hands-on practice teaching genuine ESL students in the classroom and also receiving immediate feedback from professional trainers. You will work in small groups with five or six other trainees and one tutor. This low ratio of trainee/tutor interaction ensures you will get the individual attention necessary to fully implement and master the skills covered on the course.
You will also have the opportunity to teach two different levels of language learners. Each lesson is discussed with the tutor beforehand and is immediately followed with professional feedback to ensure that you are given the opportunity to reflect, make changes and progress as much as possible during the course.
Our student body comes from a range of countries around the world which ensures you get the opportunity to meet and teach a variety of different nationalities.
You will also observe experienced teachers, attend practical seminars on language, methodology and language learners, as well as complete four assignments that focus on applied skills.
During the course, you will be informed of your progress by written and oral feedback.
All of our courses are externally assessed by an assessor appointed by the University of Cambridge which ensures the very highest quality training and also the accreditation desired and sought out by your future employers.
Our course candidates are a diverse mixture ranging from recent college graduates to those looking for a second (or third) career to those who are retired or just looking for a few part-time hours teaching or volunteering. Usually candidates have a degree, but undergraduates will be considered, as will those with equivalent life experience.
The minimum age is usually 20, though exceptions can be made for qualified, mature individuals. There is no upper age limit.
Accommodation Options
Hostelling International
Hostelling International is the ideal option for someone looking to stay on budget and be close to the University. The hostel is clean, modern, safe and student-friendly, offering rooms in four-bed, six-bed, eight-bed, and ten-bed configurations. If you don't mind sharing a room with other guests, HI-DC is a great place to stay while earning your CELTA.
Amenities:
- 24 hour front desk
- No curfew, no lock-out
- Laundry facilities
- Self-service kitchen
- Free continental breakfast
- Free in-room lockers, linens, and towels
- Free pool table, books, puzzles, and game
Budget: $812 / 28 days - $1260 / 28 days, depending on the number of beds
Capitol Hill Stay
Capitol Hill Extended Stay
Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Capitol Hill, these cozy furnished apartments are a great escape when you are looking for some quiet time to prepare your lessons. Living in Capitol Hill is a great way to immerse yourself in a local DC neighborhood with a small-town feel. In addition to being safe and quiet, Capitol Hill is a short walk to the red metro line, which will take you right to the school.
Amenities:
- All utilities included
- Cable or satellite TV
- High speed internet
- Sheets, blankets, pillows, towels
- Iron and ironing board
- Fully stocked kitchen
Budget: Studios available starting at $2850/ month, up to $4850/ month, depending on time of year
Adam's inn-bed & breakfast
Adam's Inn is a Victorian-style Bed and Breakfast spanning three 100-year old buildings on a quiet residential street. It is centrally located in the historic area of Adams-Morgan, close to The National Zoo, The White House, and many attractions, not to mention just a few metro stops from John's Hopkins University. The Inn combines comfort, charm, and affordability to make your stay in Washington D.C. a pleasant one.
Amenities:
- Free wi-fi
- Daily continental breakfast
- Cable TV, DVD, VCR
- Air-conditioned rooms
- Garden patio
- Guest kitchen with refrigerator and microwave
- Guest laundry facility
Budget: $3000/ 28 days for shared bath, depending on time of year
Timetable
Monday - Friday, 9am - 6pm
Help for Jobs
Job placement assistance is included free of charge for all successful trainees of our training courses.
We aim to get each trainee into an ESL job in the country of their choosing.
This process starts when our trainees complete a resume at the start of the course. Tutors and trainees then work together during the course to develop their resumes while our administrative staff works with our network of partner schools in Latin America, Asia and Europe to organize interviews.
How to Apply
1. Choose the start date which interests you.
2. Register your details with Cactus TEFL (1 minute) to help us track your application.
3. Download the application form and save it on your computer.
4. Complete it offline in your own time
5. Go back to www.cactustefl.com, sign in and submit your completed form.
You can also submit an application by email. We will explain how to do this on the application form. Please contact us if you have any problems with the application procedure.
