Teaching House Review by ClassofDec08, January 1, 2009

The most intense and challenging four weeks of my life! I have never worked so hard and learned so much in all my years of education combined. A truly rewarding experience! The instructors were amazing. The ESL students were inspiring. The overall experience was life-changing.

Teaching House Review by CELTA graduate 2008, January 2, 2009

I highly recommend studying at Teaching House. Even thought it may be a little pricey, it’s worth every penny if you are truly serious about becoming an ESL teacher, whether you decide to teach adults in the US or adults/young learners abroad. The course had a perfect blend of theory and practice- we started teaching practice almost immediately! The instructors were supportive, gave us constructive criticism after our teaching practices, and were friendly and approachable if we had any problems or questions. In addition, we were allowed to borrow books related to TESOL methodology, grammar, and job searching, and had unlimited access to printers and photocopiers. We also have access to the Teaching House website, which enables us to keep in touch with other trainees, post questions/advice on forums, look up various language schools, and check job postings.

Because of the support that I have received at Teaching House, I feel inspired and prepared to enter the field of TESOL, and I am already planning on getting a DELTA in a few years!

Teaching House Review by John Bandman, January 3, 2009

The previous 2 comments pretty much sum up my experience with the CELTA course I took at Teaching House. The trainers gave very constructive feedback including some very important things about lesson planning and delivery that we don’t think about on an everyday basis when in the teaching profession. The input sessions were helpful in my development as an ESL teacher. (I have been teaching in an unrelated field but this is a different element). Those who plan to take the course definitely will have to do some all-nighters unless you are truly amazing. On the darker side, the input sessions pertaining to things we wrote about in the four assignments could have been done sooner so I did not have to end up cramming to get the additional information into the papers. The instructors I had taught me a great deal, especially about appropriate methods of student participation correction. I also appreciate the way Ryan and Kim are there for us whenever we have questions on their website regarding jobs, countries, standards of living, or specific schools. I count on being able to continue getting that.

Teaching House Review by Marnie, January 7, 2009

This was more challenging than Law School and infinitely more rewarding on a personal level! The team of trainers and the administrative staff were committed to the success of the class and gave us all the tools we needed to succeed in our chosen career. I would not hesitate to recommend the Teaching House and hopefully a few years down the line they will be offering the DELTA in NYC.

Teaching House Review by grad, January 13, 2009

This course was worth more than all the money I spent for my undergraduate degree. I recommend this program for anyone considering a Master’s program in TESOL or interested in teaching English abroad. The program will reshape your thinking on many levels. The challenges are rewarding and you will have the opportunity to work with talented instructors and supportive peer teachers. Move past the price for tuition and start filling out the application!

Teaching House Review by Maureen, January 13, 2009

If teaching is your passion and excellence is your aim, you can find no better program than is offered by Teaching House in NYC.
The instructors are among the most competent and creative professionals you will find anywhere. The course content is challenging and the workload demanding but you will come away with skills and confidence you need to pursue a career in TESOL.
The instructors and staff are with you every step of the way providing teaching practice, insightful feedback, resources and guidance.
I am left a better teacher and I would say a better person for having taken
the Teaching House CELTA course.

Teaching House Review by Mary P. Willis, January 14, 2009

I thought the Celta Course was truly excellent, in large part because the teachers were really dedicated and talented. The pace was intense, but the course was geared to help the students succeed. I liked that we had to teach from the get go and were able to start with 20 minute classes and work up to an hour. I also thought the peer review was invaluable.

I’ve just started teaching a class at the public library and though I still need practice, I realize how much I learned at Celta.

Teaching House Review by Teaching House Grad, January 14, 2009

This course was very well run and enjoyable. It is challenging but worth all of the hard work.

Teaching House Review by Eddie A., January 15, 2009

In retrospect, four terrific weeks with great instructors and wonderful classmates. At the time, I wanted to jump off the nearest building, so intense was the training and so limited my skills.

Now I’m in Moscow, teaching a mix of adults and teens, trying to recall all I learned, and again looking for tall buildings. Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way. At 48, to be reinventing myself in a world far from home, could only happen with an ESL job. TH gave me the chops and the wherewithal to survive and, on my best days, flourish. OK, maybe not flourish, I got carried away there….

Teaching House Review by coryg, January 15, 2009

Graduate of November 08 class. Very positive experience. I would recommend if you are going to make a career out of this (even if it is temporary)

Teaching House Review by jodoms, March 2, 2009

Taking the CELTA course with Teaching House NY was one of the best life decisions I’ve ever made. The course is very challenging and extremely rewarding. The instructors are all very helpful, they make themselves readily available at all times which is amazing because they are very busy people. I graduated from the course in Nov. 2008 and I still continue to have communication with the staff regarding any questions about teaching, employment or just letting them know where I am in the world. I gained the knowledge, experience and confidence I needed to feel comfortable teaching and as a career changer this is extremely important. I can’t sing the praises of Teaching House NY enough. Good Luck to everyone!

Teaching House Review by TH Grad, March 17, 2009

TH was challenging to say the least. Work, research, work, maybe sleep; every moment is filled but you get a load of knowledge and experience from it. The trainers were supportive and understanding, allowing for the occasional tears and keeping us from running away. I was bombarded by offers afterwards, alot were questionable, but some seemed promising - was offered a job in a few months later.

While TH offered all of this, I do wish there was more placement help after instead of just an expansive list of schools. And I was hoping to work in the EU before I took the course only to learn that afterwards it was really hard to even get an email response back (US citizens have a pretty difficult time getting considered for work in the EU).

Remember to ask the right questions, and a lot if need be before signing up or taking any job offer.

Teaching House Review by David Turner, March 19, 2009

The instructors at Teaching House bring humor, competence, and high expectations to the classroom. Their pace and the breadth of their course work are not for the faint of heart. But one gets from the experience exactly as much as one puts into it.

If you are willing to put almost everything else in your life on hold for one month, this exceptional CELTA school will give you the tools, knowledge, and practical foundation for a rewarding career.

My only advice would be to laugh at yourself when you fall on your face, because you will. But everyone at Teaching House is dedicated to helping you get up, helping you understand why you fell — and helping you stay on your feet when you meet similar circumstances in the real world. True pedagogy.

Teaching House Review by Steve Stark, April 3, 2009

I completed the CELTA course at Teaching House NY in March 09. It was an excellent experience.
I really cannot overstate how good the course was for me. I entered the course with no ESL teaching experience, and not knowing what to expect other than a demanding workload. I approached each class and every assignment with an earnest desire to do the best I could, and to give it every ounce of my energy. I came out the other side of the course with a strong portfolio (i.e. demonstrable experience that is of value to ESL program directors all over the world), as well as the knowledge and perspective necessary to be a good teacher.
I cannot think of what else one might want from such a course. True, it was expensive, but so long as you realize that you are not buying a certificate - you are enrolling in a class that will turn you into a quality teacher, provided you work hard - I think you will find it well-worth the price.

Teaching House Review by David Helman, April 8, 2009

Any TEFL course short of a Masters degree is going to be a bit of a mill, but I think is one of the better ones. The tutors/instructors do care about your progress and development as a teacher, and are very competent and knowledgeable at what they do. The assessment and teacher practice sessions were top notch, which to me is the most useful thing a brief course can offer. If you are going to be a teacher, shouldn’t you prepare yourself by teaching? As a CELTA course, the curriculum was intense and comprehensive covering both general and ELT methods and theory that I hope to put into practice with my first TEFL job.

While I was attracted to the course for its location and CELTA “brand name” TEFL credential, you get a lot more than than a officially looking certificate, you gain confidence and know-how to teach English well virtually anywhere in the world.

If you are able to take the course in New York (and are willing to work VERY hard) during this intensive course, I highly recommend it.

Teaching House Review by Sept 08 Grad, May 19, 2009

Great course, I think the people who wanted to jump off buildings are being a little dramatic, it was intense but anyone who went to college can handle that. Trainers were excellent, especially Tasha. Tons of feedback and accessible trainers when lesson planning. Great students too! Highly recommend.

Teaching House Review by anna, May 24, 2009

An excellent choice for TEFL prep. You’ll get your money’s worth and you’ll be in New York…and have a CELTA under your belt. Teachers are very knowledgeable and willing to give their time.

Teaching House Review by Pawel A. Slabiak, November 1, 2009

Review of the October 2009 Intensive CELTA course at Teaching House IH NY.

I enrolled in the CELTA training at Teaching House IH NY for common-sense reasons: First, it’s the only CELTA course available in New York City, where I live and work; Second, the Teaching House website looks professional, and reassuringly lacks promissory, overly optimistic babble; Third, teaching House has good reviews in online communities. I chose the intensive course model because it packs the whole program into four consecutive weeks. I chose that five weeks ago, and now that it’s over, I am convinced it was worth every penny.

Course Structure:
Our cohort comprised 18 trainees and 3 tutors. Almost every day consisted of input sessions and teaching practice. Input sessions were aimed at transmitting to us the ABCs of student-centered, communicative teaching. Teaching practice challenged us to turn that knowledge into a skill. The weeks were thickly layered with observation, analysis, preparation, practice, and feedback. Logistics worked very well: All trainees had copies of the schedule and necessary paperwork, so there were no surprises in terms of teaching practice dates, topics covered during input sessions, deadlines for written assignments, etc.

Tutors & Staff:
The tutors - undoubtedly experienced - are supportive, positive, motivating, and engaging. Aside from working with them, meeting them is a pleasure. The staff is friendly, and mostly out of sight (I guess they’re busy doing their jobs, making the courses run smoothly.)

Workload:
They don’t call it intensive for nothing. I pulled through the course while working about 20 hours a week, but those 20 hours meant I had 17-hour days for four weeks straight, and wasn’t able to complete all the lesson-related paperwork, which factors into trainee assessment. My interviewer advised me prior to enrollment that it would be difficult to maintain such a schedule, so I was prepared. However, I suggest that you clear your schedule before taking the Teaching House CELTA if you can - there will be loads of work, and then some. For all the intensity, though, I quite enjoyed the ride, and do recommend it.

Teaching House Review by March 8th class, April 8, 2010

Very effective and efficient method, the CELTA. Teaching House classes are taught by excellent and experienced trainers. Highly recommended for those both with and without prior teaching experience. Will make you a better teacher.

Teaching House Review by Pete, October 8, 2010

I found this company to be quite incompetent, and the course they offered to be very disorganized, especially for the $2,500.00 they charge.
They did not have interested students to practice teaching English to, and ended up having to pay students with free tickets to Sea World to come in for free English lessons. Often when you were supposed to teach, no students were there to teach, so the teaching practice time had to be rescheduled which interferes with the course schedule since you must again make time for the teaching practice. With the workload required for the course, extra time is not really available. Those “students” who did show up for English lessons were not really interested in being there, thus when trying to teach what few students that were there one felt like they were talking to robots.
The course is supposed to teach a prospective teacher of the English language how to teach foreign people the English language. The curriculum and jargon used is confusing to those who who have never taught English, and the instructors offered very little if any assistance or explanations for questions asked or assistance requested , usually telling you to “look it up in the book”.
I would not recommend this school for CELTA teaching to anyone. Find some other company to take a CELTA from.

Teaching House Review by Eric Snow, January 4, 2011

TH offers a wonderful program with great teacher-trainers. I would recommend this program to anyone with an interest in teaching English as a second language. Beware; the “job placement” isn’t as advertised, & the usual “intensive” program is a bit stressful. TH intensive CELTA side effects include insomnia, lack of appetite, lack of time to eat, high blood pressure, choking, & seizures…..SERIOUSLY. If you have a choice you should ask to be in Sophie’s course, she’s a wonderful teacher. I’ve taught English in the past without training and now know that was a colossal mistake. If you can shell out 2,500 clams, I can’t imagine a much better program. I think I learned more in those 23 course days than a typical semester in college.

Teaching House Review by Cheryl, March 18, 2011

I completed the course February 11, 2011. It exceeded all expectations. I learned enough in 4 weeks to go out into the world and teach. The students were enthusiastic and engaged, and enough of them showed up even during the blizzard for classes to proceed. Classes were not cancelled for snow! It is intensive–cancel all social life for the month except for 2 or 3 hours on the weekend. Robert Palisin and Abby Ward are excellent and well-trained tutors with a good sense of humor. I could complain about the copying machine breaking down, but a repair person did come promptly. I recommend Teaching House to anybody and everybody who wants to teach English to speakers of other languages.

Teaching House Review by Kristin, April 8, 2011

I loved this course and felt it taught me a lot. The most frustrating element for me was the fact that, as stated in other reviews, the “job placement assistance” was/is basically nonexistent. A couple things here and there, but then again, I am trying to stay in NYC to teach, which they have less offers for. That all said, I had some great teachers and amazing peers and really had a lot of fun. I don’t think it was as intense as some people have said. I never really felt that overwhelmed, but I did learn a lot in a short amount of time. I definitely recommend this to anyone!

Teaching House Review by Alexandra, July 8, 2011

I left this course extremely satisfied. Robert, Jackie, and Abby were great teacher trainers. We taught and observed every morning and learned teaching techniques, lesson planning, job search skills, phonology, etc. in the afternoons. It was a challenging course, and to do well, you must abandon your social life during the week or risk under-performing. I got a job while I was taking the course with the help of one of my trainers and feel prepared to start teaching ESL professionally. I recommend having a solid command of English grammar - speaking English is not enough! - and having some experience teaching ESL before starting the course because those two things will make it easier. I highly recommend getting your CELTA at Teaching House.

Teaching House Review by Luke, August 14, 2011

I took CELTA in Los Angeles & it was veeery informative. This course doesn’t waste any time; on the second day you will already teach your first 20 minute lesson to non-native speakers. Before enrolling I didn’t know anything about how to structure an english lesson, the difference between systems and skills, how to make sure the students are actually understood what I had them saying, and a whole plethora of other teaching skills that could not possibly fit here. Now I not only understand these skills, I’m can’t wait to keep using them!!! My teachers (Sandra and Lizzy) helped me in so many ways and were very patient when I needed clarification on anything (& I needed lots of clarification lol).

If you’re going to do CELTA, here are a few tips:

BEFORE THE COURSE:

1) Actually do the optional pre-course task; they didn’t send it to you by accident.

2) Familiarize yourself with pages 13-34 of the Intensive Celta Handbook. This whole class is basically about how you teach and these pages will get you prepared for what’s coming. (I’m pretty sure that NOBODY actually looks at this book or even knows what it is beforehand, so if you do you’ll be well prepared).

ONCE YOU’RE IN THE COURSE:

1) Thoroughly learn whatever target language you are going to teach in your next lesson. You want to be the expert teacher with the simplest explanations.

2) When preparing your next lesson, first briefly outline what you’re going to do, then use the 3 forms (cover page, procedures page, & language analysis) to help you make it a proper lesson. The mistake that many people would make, including myself, was to mindlessly fill out the forms, and THEN start thinking about how to put together the lesson with the little time left over. DON’T do that. NEVER-EVER. The forms can be your best friend if you let them guide you through your lesson-planning.

Best of luck!!!

Luke Sinquefield

Teaching House Review by John Gautreau, August 18, 2011

In all honesty this was the toughest month of my life, harder than my Master’s degree. But the content was well worth it. I only wish this was available when I began my teaching career, but I will use it from this time forward. A special thanks to Lizzy Adams and Sandra Kohls, two tough but wise ladies. This felt like boot camp and they were my drill sargents, but I love them nonetheless, thank you my drill sargents I hope to make you proud, you are a credit to CELTA and Cambridge!

Teaching House Review by J. Mann, October 25, 2011

Liked:

The input sessions were well-designed.

The instructors were (for the most part) experienced, considerate, and helpful with us developing our lesson plans.

There were real language students from a half-dozen countries to practice teach.

The feedback we got on our teaching was thoughtful and helped considerably.

The course is every bit as thorough, challenging, and intense as it claims to be. Either the inner teacher in you will emerge, or it won’t.

Disliked:

From what I could gather, the course is supposed to be taught by two instructors. We had one (Abby) who stayed with us for the whole course, and the other one changed twice due to disorganization within Teaching House, which led to us having four trainers overall. This was frustrating when we were trying to develop as teachers and needed consistent feedback on our progress. There were some other clerical things about the course that were rather disorganized, which wouldn’t be a problem in a college course, but in a hyper-intense teaching course, added to the misery.

A couple of times I was asking questions of a certain instructor, whom I won’t name, while she was walking to her office, and was told to get help from a classmate. WTF? I didn’t pay an exorbitant sum of money to be blown off when I need help.

The cost is exorbitant, considering that you can fly from New York to some training centers in Europe, take the same course, and fly back for almost the same price. For $2,500, I should not have to pay to use the school’s xerox machine, or be “limited” to only two transparency sheets from the office.

The “job placement” is a joke. Instructors said they would “research” the countries we were interested in, but this consisted of a printout about what it is like to work in each country and average salaries. On the last day, our instructor asked us if any of us had brought in a resume for her to look at for improvement. Since she hadn’t mentioned this the day before, no one had. She said she would offer input if we emailed them to her. Two of us did after the course ended, and heard absolutely nothing back from her.

Overall, I would not recommend TH New York. The CELTA is excellent and I don’t regret taking it, but if (God forbid) I had to go through that grueling month again, I would do it somewhere else.