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If you are already teaching English and want to improve your skills in your current working context, the In-service Certificate in English Language Teaching (ICELT) can be an important stepping stone in your career.
What is ICELT?
ICELT is ideal if you are already teaching English in a specific context — e.g. teaching adults or young learners in the private sector, teaching within a university environment, teaching primary or secondary school learners. This qualification can help you to deepen your knowledge and develop your ability to reflect on and improve your teaching.
Course programmes are designed to reflect your specific needs and working context. The main aim is to develop your skills in the following areas:
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language awareness and language use in the classroom
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planning, teaching and evaluation
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assessment and evaluation.
With ICELT you will normally be assessed teaching your own classes. Your level of English should be at least Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages but ICELT is also suitable for first language speakers of English. ICELT is a new qualification, developed to replace the Certificate for Overseas Teachers of English (COTE).
Who is ICELT for?
Because ICELT is flexible it is difficult to describe a typical candidate. However, some examples are:
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you may be teaching English and wish to develop your knowledge and skills
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you may have been working in a primary school for several years, and have begun to teach English without any previous ELT training
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you may be returning to language teaching after a period of time and wish to review and develop your English Language skills
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you may be teaching adults in a private institute. You trained to teach at secondary level but that was many years ago
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you may have completed a pre-service teacher training course for secondary teachers a year ago
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you are currently working in a secondary school and also work in a private institute teaching adults two evenings a week.
ICELT is also suitable if your previous training has not included a formally assessed teaching practice component.
What does ICELT involve?
Courses may be delivered either entirely face-to-face or face-to-face with distance training support. The combination of contact hours plus distance learning support must be at least 120 hours.
There are seven units of learning:
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Language knowledge and awareness
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The background to teaching and learning English
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Resources and materials
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Planning and management of teaching and learning
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Evaluation, monitoring and assessment
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Professional development
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Language for teachers.
The ICELT course is offered part time and can take from a few months to over a year. It gives you insight into the principles of effective teaching and a range of practical skills for teaching English in your teaching context. You will:
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have hands-on teaching practice
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observe experienced teachers in the classroom
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complete four practical written assignments and four language tasks.
Four lessons are assessed by your course tutor. A Cambridge-approved moderator visits each course to moderate candidates' work.
ICELT is divided into two modules. You can take Module One as a stand-alone module or progress to Module Two to achieve the full ICELT qualification.
Module One
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Language for Teachers (Assessment component 1)
You will complete four to six tasks designed to improve your use of English for teaching purposes. The number of tasks depends on whether you are taking Module One only or in combination with Module Two.
Module Two
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Teaching (Assessment component 2)
You will plan, teach and evaluate four lessons, which are assessed by your course tutor.
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Methodology (Assessment component 3)
You will complete four classroom-related written assignments.
Courses are moderated externally. Samples of coursework are submitted to Cambridge ESOL for further moderation at the end of the course.
You will be awarded an overall grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction as well as component grades of Pass, Merit or Distinction.
Who recognises ICELT?
Cambridge ESOL Teaching Awards are recognised by organisations which employ English Language teachers as providing quality teacher training. Cambridge ESOL works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of ICELT globally.
Am I eligible to apply?
Ideally you should:
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be a practising teacher who will have had a total of at least 500 hours of relevant experience by the end of the course
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be at least 18 years of age
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have a standard of English which enables you to participate effectively in the course and to meet the assessment requirements.