How to Improve Your CELTA Teaching Practice (Between TP Sessions)
So, you’ve
started your CELTA. You’ve had your first TP.
Maybe you messed up your instructions. Maybe your timing went out the window.
Maybe you survived... but only just.
And
now you’re thinking, “How on earth am I supposed to get better at this in,
like, two days?
Well,
here’s the thing: there is something you can do.
It’s not magic. And it doesn’t involve bribing your tutor with biscuits (though
I’m not saying that wouldn’t help).
It’s
doing some practice. On your own. And in this video, I’ll show you THREE ways
to feel more confident, get clearer and make your next TP a whole lot smoother.
Hi, I’m
Jo Gakonga, I’ve been a CELTA tutor and assessor for over 25 years and I’ve got
a website at ELT-Training where I make supportive material for English language
teachers at all stages of their careers. Give this a like and a subscribe- it
really helps- and do have a look at my site- the link is below.
Why
Practising Alone (Still) Works
OK,
you’re already teaching and yes, you’re getting feedback.
But
the biggest jumps I see in trainees?
They often come from what happens between the lessons.
You
see, teaching isn’t just about the learners- although clearly they’re
important! Partly, it’s about getting
comfortable in your own teacher skin: sounding like a teacher, moving like a
teacher, not freezing when you forget your instructions.
And
that kind of confidence?
You can build it on your own. Here are three ways to do it
1.
Teach to the Wall (Or the
Fridge. I Don’t Judge.)
Set
up your phone. Press record. And teach your next lesson.
To the wall, the bookshelf, your cat… whatever.
Go
through your instructions. Your boardwork. Your grammar point. Don’t just think
it. Say these things out loud, as if your real learners are in front of you
Then-
this bit’s important- watch it back. Preferably at 1.5x speed.
Yes, it’ll be painful. But you’ll hear what’s clear, what’s confusing and where
you sound like you’re making it up as you go along.
2. Scripting
Another
trick here is to take the tricky bits- your instructions, your CCQs, that
grammar explanation you’re worried about- and script them out.
Then
say them out loud. On your walk. In the shower. To the dog.
You’re not trying to memorise. You’re just helping your mouth get used to
saying the words before your brain panics in front of a real class.
You’ll
be amazed how much smoother everything feels when you’ve said it before.
3.
Mirror Check
One
more useful tip? Stand in front of a mirror. Preferably a big one. Talk
yourself through a section of your lesson.
Watch
your face. Your posture. Your gestures.
Do
you look confident? Friendly? Slightly terrified?
It’s
a great way to spot habits you don’t notice otherwise, like fiddling, rocking or
looking like you’d rather crawl under the desk.
You
can’t change what you don’t see. And this little trick gives you the chance to
see it before your tutor does.
Level
Up Between Lessons
Look,
CELTA is intense. There’s a lot flying at you.
But
you don’t have to wait for the next TP or the next bit of feedback to improve.
These strategies give you a way to actively rehearse and feel more in
control.
Just
10 minutes a day, on your own, can really help you walk into your next lesson
with a bit more calm, a bit more clarity and a lot less
“help-I-forgot-everything-I-know-about-the-present-perfect.”
Let
me know in the comments which one you’ll try before your next TP… or share your
own tip. I’d love to hear it.
And
if this helped, give it a like and subscribe. I’ve got lots more on my site to
help you survive (and maybe even enjoy!) your CELTA.
