How to Prepare for a Cambridge CELTA interview

Preparing for your CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) interview is crucial to making a strong impression and securing your spot on the course. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get ready:

1. Understand the CELTA Interview Structure. which typically consists of:

• A discussion of your background and motivation (Why CELTA? Why teaching?)
• A language awareness task (grammar/vocabulary questions)
• A written pre-interview task (often sent in advance)
• A teaching-related discussion (e.g., classroom management, learner needs)

2. Review Basic English Grammar

     You will quite  likely be tested on:

• Parts of speech (verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc.)
• Tenses (present simple vs. continuous, past perfect, etc.)
• Phrasal verbs, modal verbs, and conditionals
• Common learner errors (e.g., “I am agree” → “I agree”)

    📌 Tip: Brush up using resources like “Practical English Usage” by Michael Swan or online grammar quizzes.

3. Prepare for the Written Task

    If you received a pre-interview task, ensure you:

• Answer thoroughly and accurately.
• Proofread for grammar/spelling mistakes.
• Be ready to discuss your answers during the interview.

4. Reflect on Your Teaching Motivation

    Expect questions like:

• Why do you want to teach English?
• Why choose CELTA over other certifications?
• What challenges do you expect, and how will you handle them?
• Have you had any teaching experience (even informal)?

📌 Tip: Show enthusiasm, adaptability, and awareness of learner-centered teaching.

5. Demonstrate Awareness of Teaching Skills (not required but you might be asked)

     You might be asked to comments on:

• Classroom management (e.g., dealing with mixed-level students)
• Lesson planning (setting clear objectives, staging activities)
• Error correction (when and how to correct mistakes)
• Engaging different learner types (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)
  
  Note – the CELTA is an initial (pre-service) teaching qualification, but questions related to the pedagogy of teaching foreign languages is common, usually so the interviewer gains some insight about your teaching philosophy.

6. Ask Thoughtful Questions

     Prepare 2-3 questions to show your interest, such as:

• “What support is available for trainees during the course?”
• “How is feedback given on teaching practice?”
• “What percentage of trainees typically pass the course?”

7. Dress Professionally & Be Punctual

• For in-person interviews: Business casual is fine.
• For online interviews: Ensure good lighting, a quiet space, and a stable connection.

8. Mock Interview Practice

• Practice explaining grammar points simply (e.g., “What’s the difference between present perfectand past simple?”).
• Rehearse answers to common questions (e.g., strengths/weaknesses as a teacher).

Final Tips

✅ Be honest – If you don’t know something, say so but show willingness to learn.
✅ Stay calm – The interviewer wants to see your potential, not perfection.
✅ Show enthusiasm – CELTA is intensive, so they want motivated candidates.
✅ If the course is online – the interviewer will also want to make sure you are familiar with some elements of technology and you are not a beginner who is frightened by the use of online tools and applications. After all, Teaching Practices are going to be on Zoom on an online course!!!!

Different centres follow different scenarios in their interviews but what they need to find out about you during the interview is not just what you have written in your application form or CV.

Your interviewer may wish to doublecheck all or some of the following – whether you are a native or non-native speaker of English:

• that your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary is in place
• that your spoken English is at a high enough level
• that you have good personal communication skills
• that you have an awareness of the demands of the course
• that you are not going through a difficult time in your life which might prevent you from being successful on the course
• that you are open to learning and amenable to criticism as the course is high on critique of one’s teaching
• that you are well-organised and disciplined
• that you do not have any biases which might prevent you from offering equal opportunities to your learners

Your interviewer – who will usually be a CELTA tutor – will also give you a lot of information about the course, the number of assignments, teaching practices, about the workload and the resources available. Feel free to ask any questions which will help you understand how to organise your study time so that you can maximise your chances of success.

At some point during the interview, some centres might also ask you to do a quick writing task – something related to language or teaching which should take no longer than 10-15 minutes. This might be done in order to see if you can express yourself clearly, correctly and fluently when you have to write under pressure as some centres will not time you while doing the pre-interview task.

Above all, the interviewer will want to see if you

• are aware that teaching is a demanding profession,
• have very high or very low expectations of yourself,
• have the kind of personality that will allow you work well with others in your group (trainees collaborate in Teaching Practice groups)
• have an understanding of what it takes to be a teacher.

So, all in all, being accepted on a CELTA course can be a great thing but if you are not accepted, this will usually be done because the interviewer believes that at this particular stage, your chances of being a successful candidate are not very high – which not a bad thing, as following a CELTA course involves a great commitment of time, money and personal work during course hours and after hours too!

Having an idea of what it is that centres look for may help you prepare better and be accepted next time round.

We wish you Good Luck!!!

For more tips and study points to help you in your preparation, click here to access our free wiki space freely available to anyone wishing to prepare for the Cambridge CELTA (or similar TEFL qualification courses)

Connect with us and learn more about our CELTA courses here

CELT Athens, 3 G.Gennadiou Street, 106 78 Athens, Greece Tel +30 210 3301202| +30 6974065437   E-mail: info@celt.edu.gr