CELTA training in Lisbon
Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) can be a thoroughly rewarding and life-enhancing experience, enabling you to pursue a career that can offer better job prospects, allowing you to travel the world, and helping your students achieve their life goals. Why not start this adventure and sign up for your Cambridge CELTA Certificate with International House Lisbon and Torres Vedras?
Who is CELTA for?
- new teachers with no experience starting their career
- teachers with some experience who want to develop their confidence and skills
- first-language English speakers and non-first-language speakers
- teachers who want to travel and teach English
- teachers who need an internationally recognized TEFL qualification
The CELTA in IH Lisbon and Torres Vedras is certified by Cambridge English Language Assessment. As such, it is highly regarded and recognized by the British government OFQUAL at level 5 on their Qualifications and Credit Framework.
What does the CELTA involve?
There are six key components of our CELTA courses:
Teaching Practice
- 6 hours’ assessed teaching practice per trainee supervised by a course tutor. You are given help in this via written guidance provided well in advance of your teaching slot, as well as supervised lesson planning and post-teaching feedback
Input Sessions
- Practical seminars on the various aspects of methodology as stipulated by Cambridge Assessment designed to develop your skills and confidence in the classroom
Observation of experienced Teachers
- 6 hours’ directed observation of lessons taught by experienced ELT professionals, up to 3 hours of which may be of filmed lessons
Tutorials
- Ongoing support and consultation from your course tutors
Written Assignments
- There are four assignments to complete at set times during the course, designed to help expand your knowledge and practical skills regarding planing, teaching and professional reflection
Peer Observation
- Trainees are required to regularly observe other trainees’ lessons in order as part of the learning developmental process
All our CELTA courses include at least 120 hours of contact between trainees and course tutors, and include:
- supervised lesson planning
- feedback on teaching practice
- peer observation of teaching practice (i.e. watching other trainees’ lessons)
- 6 hours’ directed observation of lessons taught by experienced ELT professionals, up to 3 hours of which may be filmed lessons
You should also allow for 80 additional learning hours for pre-course preparation, reading, research, assignment writting, lesson preparation and record keeping.
The maximum ration of candidates to tutors is one tutor for six candidates, and there are at least two tutors on each course.
About the CELTA – Did you know that …?
The CELTA as it is known today actually started as an initial teacher training course called the IH Certificate that International House first ran in 1962. This course rapidly set the standard for teacher qualifications in TEFL, with thousands of teachers worldwide becoming IH trainees and teachers. You can find out more information about International House World Organisation here.
Nearly half of all Cambridge CELTA courses are run by International House centres each year.
IH Lisbon and Torres Vedras has been involved in running these TEFL training courses since 1973. We currently run 3 part-time online courses and a full-time face-to-face course in July each year.
Who takes the CELTA?
You might be a graduate who wants their first job to be teaching overseas or someone who has worked in a different career for several decades and is looking for a change. Some people use the CELTA as a way to travel the world; others use this qualification in order to teach students in their home country. Many of our face-to-face candidates choose to stay on in Portugal after the end of their course to explore the history and cultural life of Torres Vedras, Lisbon and the surrounding countryside, and to make the most of our many hours of sunshine. But it is also the starting point for those who wish to teach in other parts of Portugal, Europe or around the world. Some recent graduates have gone on to work all across Europe and South America, as well as China, Australia and the UK.
English teachers from all over the world take the Cambridge CELTA. The entry requirement is that you are Proficient English language user (between CEFR Level C1 and C2 or above) and educated to the standard required for entry into higher education. If you’re not sure of your level, please contact our department and we will help you work out if you have the minimum requirements to start on your journey to become TEFL certified.
Do I need to speak the students’ first language?
No, one of the many advantages of following a CELTA course is that you’ll learn how to teach English without using the students’ native language, enabling you to teach both monolingual and multilingual classes. At IH Lisbon and Torres Vedras, our CELTA trainees come from all over the world with a wide range of first languages, and the students they teach on their CELTA course also come from various language backgrounds, such as Italian, South American, Spanish, Arabic, Ukrainian, German, as well as Portuguese.
How long is the CELTA course?
We offer two formats: either an online part-time option over 10 weeks, or a full-time face-to-face option over the month of July at our Training Center on Torres Vedras, district of Lisbon.
What are the advantages of our online part-time CELTA?
✔ follow the course from the comfort of your home, and save on accommodation and travel costs, and avoid any visa issues
✔ learn techniques and become familiar with tools relevant to both online and face-to-face teaching
✔ access and observe lessons of both online and face-to-face teaching
✔ access and complete the online Moodle modules asynchronously at any time to suit your schedule
✔ benefit from continued support from your tutor online via forums as well as live synchronous sessions with the tutor where your progress will be monitored
✔ the course follows the same syllabus and leads to the international qualification as the face-to-face course
✔ work independently or in groups with tutor support, evaluation and comments
✔ All teaching practice sessions are observed and assessed by our CELTA tutors who will give you valuable feedback on your performance
✔ observe and learn from the teaching practice of your fellow CELTA trainees as well as experienced teachers
Why take the CELTA course in Lisbon?
We believe that we offer one of the most highly regarded courses available. The courses have been running for a long time and our trainers are experienced, dedicated and eager to keep growing as professionals. They strive to be a model for you, as you enter the profession or hone your existing skills.
Lisbon offers an exceptional environment in which to take CELTA in Europe. The centre is a modern, purpose built school offering up-to-date technologies alongside extremely experienced and highly regarded tutors. Lisbon itself is one of Europe’s oldest cities and as a consequence it offers a rich history and cultural experience. Our trainees often mention the kindness and hospitality of the Portuguese as one of the best aspects of spending time in this lovely city.
The course centre is in the district of Lisbon in Torres Vedras. This historic and attractive town is a small but lively city within easy distance of Lisbon and the seaside town of Santa Cruz. It has numerous good-quality and reasonably-priced restaurants. It is steeped in history, being one of the focal points during the Napoleonic wars in the Iberian Peninsular.
Don’t take our word for it, please see below for some independent testimonials or take a look at some of the reasons why we love Lisbon here
You can also look at Timeout for some other hints and tips of things to do while you study for your CELTA certificate Timeout Lisbon
The centre has excellent working conditions for giving the Cambridge CELTA. The tutors are very professional and extremely helpful, ensuring everyone has a chance. (Carlota, September 2019)
Besides feeling we were very well prepared for the teaching world, you always made sure we felt supported while doing our Cambridge CELTA (Constança, May 2019)
Schedule
A typical day on the 4-week intensive CELTA:
| 9.00 – 10.00 | Assisted lesson planning |
| 10.00 – 12.15 | Teaching Practice |
| 12.15 – 13.15 | Feedback on Teaching Practice |
| 13.15 – 14.15 | Lunch |
| 14.15 – 16.00 | Input session 1 |
| 16.00 – 16.15 | Coffee break |
| 16.15 – 17-15 | Input session 2 |
On our 5-week CELTA courses, you will often have Monday mornings and Friday afternoons free.
This schedule suits those who would prefer to have slightly longer weekends and more time for reflection and preparation.
Part-time online courses have the same daily schedule, over 10 weeks.
Online CELTA courses are as follows:
| 9.00 – 10.00 | Guided lesson planning |
| 10.00 – 12.15 | Teaching Practice |
| 12.15 – 13.15 | Feedback on Teaching Practice |
| 13.15 – 14.00 | Administration and additional input |
All input sessions take place online.
The centre
Fees and Dates for Cambridge CELTA 2025
| From | To | Course Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 18 Jan | Sat 22 March | Part Time – Online | €1595 |
| Sat 26 April | Sat 28 June | Part Time – Online | €1595 |
| Sat 5 July | Sat 6 Sep | Part Time – Online | €1645 |
| Sat 20 Sep | Sat 22 Nov | Part Time – Online | €1645 |
| Mon 30 June | Fri 25 July | Full-Time – Face to Face | €1695 |
TESTIMONIALS
Contact us
FAQS
This is what some of our recent trainees have said about the course:
- “Because tutors are so amazing and highly qualified. The tutors are available to deal with your queries. They listen to you. They know how to deal with stress. It’s people that make this centre the right choice for the CELTA course”
- “The Centre is conveniently located in terms of public transport. It’s a pleasant area, with food options and if you choose to buy lunch, it’s nice to have outdoor areas to sit and enjoy lunch with colleagues.”
- “Well, it’s one of Europe’s prettiest cities! The 5 week course is at a nice pace! The tutors are extremely knowledgeable.”
- “Amazing, enthusiastic tutors. Great premises; nice atmosphere.”
Yes, an excellent one. The CELTA is a pre-service course and at least half of our candidates have never stood in front of a group before.
Most of our trainers have worked in ELT contexts for 15 years or more. They are aware of what schools expect from teachers and ensure that this expertise is shared with CELTA trainees throughout the course
Many candidates who have taught, find the course a very rewarding experience as it’s a chance to hone their skills as well as developing new ones together with the opportunity of getting a qualification that is widely recognised around the world.
Portugal is an amazing country and increasingly, a popular destination with people from other countries. Many cities in Portugal, such as Lisbon, thrive on tourism, so locals are very keen to improve their English. This means that there is often a lot of work available although most of the full-time positions start in October and end in June. Most trainees find that they are able to pick up some work throughout the year, although it may not be full-time initially.
The Centre has good ties to the Portuguese ELT community and schools often let us know when they have vacancies coming up. We have an online group for current and past trainees where we post job vacancies.
Unfortunately, not. Having the CELTA will definitely give you the edge over other candidates for jobs as most reputable language schools around the world would usually prefer to interview CELTA graduates rather than someone with no experience or training.
You will meet trainers and teachers throughout the course who will share their knowledge of the industry. There will be many opportunities on the course for you to ask questions about jobs and different contexts. We will also give you information on the recruiting service run by the International House World Organisation.
A CELTA course aims to ‘create’ a teacher from scratch in 120 hours so yes, it’s very true that it requires a lot of hard work and commitment. Sleepless nights are not essential, however. The long days are often the norm as most candidates are excited by their learning, want to do as well as possible and because they are professional and dedicated.
The timetable is designed in such a way that trainees have time to cover everything. It is, however, fundamental that you have good organisational skills or failing that, that you keep up with the pace of the tasks set by the tutors.
We don’t teach you grammar or vocabulary but will help you develop your general language awareness. You will learn a lot about the English language but most of it will come from your experience of teaching. In other words, each time you teach, your awareness of how language works will improve.
We ask you to prepare for the course thoroughly and to develop your language awareness. While the ability to teach grammar is important, you will also get opportunities to learn more about how to teach other aspects of language such as lexis
What does CELTA stand for?
CELTA stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. This certificate is issued by Cambridge Assessment (the teaching qualifications arm of the University of Cambridge) to anyone who has successfully completed an approved course. This English teaching qualification is the most widely recognised of its type and its reputation is based on the fact that only Teacher Training Centres approved by Cambridge Assessment can run courses, the course has a strong practical component and every course is externally assessed. The CELTA is suitable for candidates with no experience of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) as well as for candidates who would like to formalise their teaching experience.
What’s the difference between TEFL and CELTA?
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This means that the acronym can be used to describe courses (“TEFL Courses”), teachers (“TEFL Teachers”) and this educational sector as a whole. The CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is the most widely recognised course and qualification for TEFL teachers and, as such, offers a range of opportunities for those who are awarded the certificate.
Where can I find CELTA teaching jobs?
Many CELTA centres have some sort of jobs board advertising local vacancies. The EL Gazette is a good starting point and there are many TEFL job sites on the internet. A good one to check out is the International House World Organisation (IHWO) page: https://ihworld.com/job/
CELTA vs TEFL
The CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is one of many TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses. CELTA is considered to be the most widely recognised qualification for anyone interested in starting a career in TEFL. The certificate is issued by Cambridge Assessment (the teaching qualifications arm of the University of Cambridge) and the course can only be taken at approved centres and run by approved tutors.
TESOL or CELTA
TESOL stands for Teaching English as a Second or Other Language. The CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is one of many TESOL courses / certificates. CELTA is considered to be the most widely recognised qualification for anyone interested in starting a career in TESOL. The certificate is issued by Cambridge Assessment (the teaching qualifications arm of the University of Cambridge) and the course can only be taken at approved centres and run by approved tutors.
What does CELTA certification cost?
Course prices vary according to course locations and the type of CELTA course being delivered. In order to obtain a CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults), candidates have to take a Cambridge approved course at an approved CELTA Centre. The courses can be face to face intensive (over 4 – 6 weeks), face to face extensive (once or twice a week over a longer period), online or blended (a combination of face to face and online). All courses include teaching practice (TP) with ‘live’ students.
How can I get a CELTA certificate?
The CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is awarded to candidates who have successfully completed an approved CELTA course. Assessment on the course is continuous – there is no CELTA exam. To get a place on a CELTA course, you will need to apply to an approved centre. There is a pre-course task to complete and you will be interviewed. Each CELTA Centre has its own booking, enrolment and payment procedures – if your task and interview are successful, you will be told the next steps you’ll need to follow. Certificates are issued by Cambridge Assessment (the teaching qualifications arm of the University of Cambridge) to candidates who pass the course. Grades are: Pass A, Pass B, Pass and Fail. Ask us for more detailed information.
