The CELTA input sessions
WHAT ARE THE INPUT SESSIONS LIKE?
The input sessions in a CELTA are the classes in which you get the theory of how to teach. Most of them are quite practical and interactive. They usually last about 75 to 90 minutes, and they cover topics such as:
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How to present language (grammar, vocab, functions) using different methods or approaches;
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How to teach skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking)
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Teacher language awareness that cover language related topics, for example: tenses, futurity, conditionals, modals, etc.
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Segmental and suprasegmental features of phonology
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Classroom management
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How to correct learners
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How to write a lesson plan and language analysis
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Learning preferences
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Teaching one-to-one, teaching literacy, tests and exam institutions, professional development, among other topics.
Each center chooses and organizes the sessions as they want, but the core ones (#s 1-8 for instance) are present in all of them.
There's also a 'foreign language experience' right in the beginning of the course. In this class, candidates have a lesson in a different tongue to remember what it's like to learn a new language .
At Target, for instance, it can be Danish or Japanese, but each center decides which language it's going to be according to their tutors' knowledge. I've already seen Turkish, Korean, German, and Hebrew, and it's always fascinating to see candidates' reactions.
Another curiosity is how the sessions are delivered. It's common to see input sessions being delivered following the 'loop input' concept, which means, if you're going to learn how to teach listening, for example, your tutor will use a listening and follow the steps of a listening class in order to teach you how to teach listening. In this way, candidates see and experiment with the theory at the same time.
Input sessions are rich in information, take notes and don't be afraid to ask questions.
TEACHING WITHOUT THE THEORY
Not always you will have seen the theory before having to deliver a class, and that's ok. One of the main concepts of the CELTA is to learn by doing. The fact that you haven't had the input before teaching a particular lesson will be taken into account. Either way, if you have or haven't seen the theory before teaching, consider:
- reading the suggested bibliography. If you're going to teach grammar, find the chapters that describe the steps you need to follow and read the examples of activities and ways of presenting language;
- talk to your peers, see what they know abou the topic;
- try to plan thoroughly, this might help you feel more confident and less nervous.
- keep in mind that it's the attempts that count + your ability to do a self-assessment. Even if the lesson was terrible, if you are aware of that and open to listen to suggestions, you're doing the right thing.
INPUT SESSIONS ARE MODEL LESSONS
Not all candidates realize that input sessions are also model lessons. It's when your tutor is putting into practice everything you have talked about. So, pay attention to the sequencing of the sessions (stages), how he/she gives instructions, change patterns of interaction, or deal with classroom management. Every and anything you see in your input sessions can be duplicated in your own lessons. I once had a very clever tutor who used to say, "teaching is stealing", that's one way we increase our teaching repertoire.