School in London - Assessment

October 6, 2005.

So, is International House in London worth the time and money for the student looking to get a CELTA certificate?

The short answer is yes.

IH London certainly has a large network of affiliated schools in more than 100 countries to help you find work -- the qualification there is you must not be terribly picky about where you go or for how long. Getting a CELTA certificate from a school with the reputation of IH in London can certainly stand you in good stead over the years, particularly if you want to move up in that particular world of teaching specialization. Or so it seems to one as new to all this as I am -- and if you put stock in general hearsay at any rate.

Remember I know so very little about the subculture of teaching English overseas (or anywhere else for that matter). Still, having spent a month doing this very intense "thing" I must have some insight somewhere (give me a minute and I'll start looking for it right away). In fact any insight I have I gleaned from this experience actually comes from those other 14 people who shared those four weeks with me; 14 of the most interesting and truly special people -- each very different and each with their own unique flavor of what the course meant to them. But what I learned from them is worth every single penny (or pence) I spent in those four weeks. You can't buy that kind of experience.

The longer answer is that while IH in London has a great strength in its people the staff and ultimately the students -- indeed the student teaching practice groups are everything or at least mine was to me -- the school needs updating. While the library is more than adequate the hours need extending. Photocopying facilities are severely limited as well.And these are two key components for the student teacher. In fact the facilities overall are a bit worn and in some cases need serious attention. Rooms are often poorly laid out (white boards mounted on the short wall not on the long side for example) and nearly all used tiny desks rather than tables (resembling more a middle school in the states than a training school for adults). The school is also somewhat behind the technology curve: no WiFi hotspots and although they have quite a few computers in the media access lab they use EXTREMELY slow internet servers. And no DVD players or CD players. In fact they could use better A/V facilities throughout.

The school is preparing to make a move from Mayfair to the Holborn area, a move which should take place within the next year or so, and which, we were told, would effectively resolve some of the problems we encountered.

Ultimately, you cannot go wrong being in London.

Before you do anything about going anywhere, just ask yourself two questions: what is it you hope to get out of learning to teach English abroad and what are your long term goals? Then start your research with those answers uppermost in your mind. When you've done that then take the plunge, put your money down and get ready to go to work for four highly satisfying and very stressful weeks. Because you're going to have to find all this out for yourself.