Cambridge Assessment English celebrates 30 years of CELTA by honouring the English language teaching community

English language teaching tutors and trainees took part in a series of birthday parties this month, as Cambridge Assessment English celebrated the 30th birthday of its industry leading CELTA qualification.

To show its appreciation to everyone who has championed the CELTA qualification over the past 30 years, Cambridge Assessment English provided CELTA centres with a ‘Birthday in a Box’ party kit. More than 45 CELTA centres hosted parties for their CELTA staff, alumni and current CELTA trainees.

Established in September 1988 by Cambridge Assessment English, CELTA is a qualification for teachers of English as a foreign language. Based on an intensive four-week course, or more extended part-time study, it combines theoretical study with assessed practical teaching experience. CELTA courses are available at over 300 approved centres in more than 70 countries.

Blandine Bastie, Country Head (UK and Ireland), Cambridge Assessment English, says:

“Over the past 30 years CELTA has become very highly regarded across the globe, and this is thanks to our dedicated tutors who teach the qualification year after year, and the bright trainees who use their CELTA qualification to teach English as a foreign language all over the world. We wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate with our centres. From London to Dublin to Malta, the birthday parties truly represent the strong international reputation that CELTA upholds.”

David Riddell, a CELTA trainer at International House London, the renowned language school that played the leading role in the development of the qualification that became CELTA, said:

“I have been teaching on CELTA courses for 30 years, and on every course I do it is inspiring to see our trainees develop their teaching skills as they progress through the course. Whether they use the qualification to seek work as an English language teacher in the UK, or go off to teach in other countries, it is always incredibly rewarding to see trainees go on to apply what they have learnt on their CELTA course to the benefit of English-language learners around the world. Through the 30th birthday party, Cambridge Assessment English has given us the opportunity to bring our community together and celebrate with current staff, trainees, students and alumni. We all look forward to the next 30 years of CELTA!”

CELTA is highly regarded internationally and, according to recent research which looked at requirements for English language teaching (ELT) jobs around the world, CELTA is the qualification most often requested by employers.

The study revealed that CELTA is requested by 71.5 percent of ELT employers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, compared to just 23.6 percent asking for CELTA’s nearest equivalent the Trinity CertTESOL*.  The data from the study further revealed that, in the UK, 88 percent of jobs that require an ELT qualification specifically ask for a CELTA qualification.