(a) CELTA Pre-Interview Task

7/27/2019 (a) CELTA Pre-Interview Task

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Cambridge CELTA Pre-Interview Task

Complete this task carefully. It is an important factor in considering your application. CELTA is an intensive course of study. Becauseof this, candidates need to be fully prepared for the demands of the course and show that they are able to research language

structures, a skill required of ESL teachers. Keep in mind that we cover language analysis on the CELTA course, so we do notexpect you to be an expert in grammar before the course starts. 1-9, teacher practice, feedback, pass/fail

For help you may refer to a grammar book such as Practical English Usage by Michael Swan (Oxford University Press) or

any other grammar reference book you might have at home or find in the library/book store.

The internet is also a great source of information. If youre looking for a site, try:

http://esl.about.com/od/englishgrammar/English

=> Please make sure you read the directions for each section and proofread your work carefully! The CELTA courserequires a high level of written English. When you have finished, please send it to [email protected]. Retain acopy of this task for your interview.

Part 1: Language awareness

A. Error correction

Each of the exchanges below contains a mistake. In each case:i) write the corrected version in the space providedii) clarify your correction in simple English to explain the mistake

ExampleMr. Smith: Do you have much experience in the restaurant business?Giorgio: Yes, Ive been working as a chef since 10 years.

i) Ive been working as a chef for ten years.ii) We use since before a point in time for example, since Tuesday, since 1992, since 5 oclock. We use

for before a period of time - for example, for two weeks, for six years, for ten minutes. In this case 10years is a period of time, so we need for.

1. Maria: Id like some informations about your courses.Receptionist: Certainly, heres our brochure.

i) Id like some information about your courses

ii) The word information, does not become plural by the addition of an s, because it is not a countable noun. Anotherexample is evidence, which is also not pluralized by adding an s.

2. Jack: How do you get to the CELTA center every day?Pierre: Im walking and then taking the subway.

i) I walk and then take the subway

ii) The phrase Im walking, and taking, indicate that the speaker is currently engaging in these activities.

However the questioner is asking about what Pierre habitually does- i.e. how he gets to the CELTA center. Thus Jack

must form his verbs on the pattern of I walk, which indicates a habitual action.

3. John: Did you see the movie on HBO last night?Helen: Yes I did, it was so a good movie

John: Yeah, I think Tom Cruise is such a good actor.(Comment on the difference between so and such)

i) Yes I did, it was such a good movie

ii) The word so (in this context) is a word that intensifies an adjective; it is similar in meaning and usage to very, as in Heis so smart, or the movie was so excellent. It must be followed by an adjective; thus one cannot say It was so a good movie,

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http://esl.about.com/od/englishgrammar/Englishmailto:[email protected]://esl.about.com/od/englishgrammar/Englishmailto:[email protected]


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To illustrate this difference I would draw two pictures. One would be of a young child with bright shining

eyes, and above his head there will be two thought bubbles- one filled with towers of dollar bills, and theother filled with images of vacations, diplomas, nice houses, mansions, etc. Near the first thought bubble I

would write If I and near the second I will... (i.e. If I have all this money, I will be able to get allthese things). The second picture would be of an old man on his deathbed with a saddened face, and

above his head there will be two thought bubbles with exactly the same images as that of the first picture.But near the first I would write If I had and near the second, I would have (i.e. if only I had all this

money, I would have been able to get all these things). This would explain the differences in meaning

between the two sentences.

C. Word Stress

All words of more than two syllables in English have one specific syllable which is stressed. For example, in the noun record (boughtin a record store) the stress - i.e. the louder syllable - is the first syllable: REcordOo. But in the verb to record (e.g. Elvis tried torecord an album every year) the stress is on the second syllable reCORDoO.

With the following words, put the word into the correct column below according to the number of syllables and the main stress.

examples: banana hospitality menu

momentous bystander superb independent undeniable reliable

computer burger ratio photograph photographer photographic

oO Oo Ooo oOo ooOo oOoo ooOoo

record (verb)superb menurecord (noun)

burgerRatio

photograph bananamomentousbystandercomputer

UndeniableIndependentPhotographic

PhotographerReliable hospitality

D. Sounds

Match the underlined sound of the words in column A to a word in column B with a corresponding sound. Note: the sound cancorrespond to any sound in the words in Column B. For example: advice goes with sip. Beware! The spelling of the sound may bedifferent!

Column A Correct Letter Column B

1. advice f a. unit

2. advise h b. jump

3. day c c. eight4. beach g d. though

5. lodge b e. thick

6. th in e f. sip7. breathe d g. week8. y oung a h. zoo

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Part 2: Approaches to teaching and learning

Write a minimum of 100 words about what you think constitutes a good language lesson, based on yourexperiences.

A good language lesson is one which combines theoretical lecture with applied usage. For example, alesson on the future tense should begin with a lecture on the uses of the future tense, and how one

identifies and forms sentences in this tense. The teacher should then provide a series of examples of

sentences which illustrate these principles, and have the students repeat them together. Then the teachershould allow the students to converse with each other using the future tense; he may divide the class into

pairs and have each pair prepare a dialogue using this tense. Each pair should then present its dialogue tothe class. The combination of theoretical knowledge with practice is essential in inculcating proper

understanding of the English language and the ability to use it. This approach is based on my experience,as I have seen people from various countries such as India, who are able to read English textbooks with

ease but are unable to converse clearly in the English language. This underlines the importance ofincorporating both theory and practice in the classroom.

DisclosureBefore submitting your pre-interview task, please read the points below and type your name with the date below . If youhave any questions concerning these points, please send your queries to [email protected].

1. I understand and acknowledge that if I decide to withdraw from a Teaching House CELTA course less than 5 business days beforethe course begins, or during the course, the course fee will not be refunded. I understand I will not be allowed to transfer betweencourses or defer to another course less than 5 business days before the course begins.

2. I acknowledge that the Teaching House CELTA course is a Pass/Fail course, and that if I receive a 'Fail' grade, the result cannot bechanged, and that the course fee will not be refunded.

3. I acknowledge that the Teaching House CELTA course requires 100% class attendance, in addition to work outside of scheduledcontact hours. As a result, absences, tardiness, incomplete or late assignments may compromise my grade on the course.

4. I confirm that all of the information disclosed in my application is complete and accurate, and I know of no circumstances relatedto my health, personal situation, work commitment or learning ability that may affect my performance on the course.

5. I understand that if I am accepted onto the Teaching House CELTA course, I should pay a $200 enrollment fee to reserve a placeon the course of my choice (availability permitting). This fee may be transferred between course start dates within 12 months ofmy interview date, but is non-refundable.

6. I confirm that the pre-interview task is my own work.

Signature(=> Please type your name and the date in the space below)

Name: Fazil Munir Date: June 24, 2013

The Interview

Thank you for completing the pre-interview task!

Once we have received the pre-interview task we will get back to you to set up a suitable time for an interview. We run most of ourinterviews during daytime working hours from Monday Friday.

Please complete the following grid to give us an idea of the best time for you.

Candidates will be calling into our office for telephone interviews.

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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What type of interview would you like?In-person

New York and BostonBy telephone

All cities

Preferred Interview Time:

New York City, Washington D.C, LosAngeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta

Eastern Standard Time

10:00 AM 12:00 PM 4:30 PM 5:20 PM

Preferred Interview Time:

BOSTON, CHICAGO and PHOENIXONLY

Eastern Standard Time

09:45 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:00 PM 4:30 PM

Candidates for all other cities will becontacted to arrange a mutuallyconvenient interview time.

During the next two weeks, are there

any dates you are not available? If so,when?

Available in next two weeks

Is there any other information that willhelp us to set up a suitable time for an

interview?

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(a) CELTA Pre-Interview Task

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