About International House Bratislava - The Caledonian School

IH Bratislava (formerly The Caledonian School) has been a language school since 1999. The school was originally a branch of The Caledonian School, Czech Republic. It was acquired by Akcent IH Prague in December 2003. In January 2004 the school became affiliated to the International House World Organisation and changed its name to International House Bratislava.

IH Bratislava is well respected and one of the largest private language schools in the Slovak Republic with over 40 teachers based in Bratislava and other towns around the Slovak Republic. The school offers courses in English, German, Slovak, Spanish and French.

The School

The main school is located in the city centre of Bratislava on Namestie SNP 14 (Slovak National Uprising Square). This is only a stone’s throw from the city’s historic centre with its pedestrian streets, myriad alleys and secluded squares, pavement cafes and restaurants and numerous small pubs. Of course, for the more adventurous, there is always McDonalds opposite the school entrance. A large TESCO (more a

department store than just a supermarket, for you Brits) is also within a two-minute walk from the school.

The school is located in a recently refurbished five-storey building with most classrooms being on the ground floor. The teachers’ room, library and Academic Management are on the fourth floor, but there is a lift.

All classrooms are equipped with a cassette player or CD and whiteboard and some have TV, VCR and OHP.

The library has an extensive range of coursebooks as well as supplementary materials,

cassettes and videotapes.

CELTA
The CELTA course provides speakers of English with initial training in teaching English as a foreign language, and leads to the internationally recognised qualification: the Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). The course is also suited to those who are already in the profession, but who have no formal or practical teaching qualification. The courses are validated, and syllabus and assessment criteria are fixed by, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES)

The course covers the general principles of teaching adult classes from beginner to post-intermediate level. Teaching practice is a significant component. Successful completion of the course indicates readiness to embark on a professional career in ELT, and although further guided experience and in-service training will be necessary, the trainee can begin to teach effectively with a firm basis on which to develop as a teacher of ELT.
Course Content: The course follows the Cambridge CELTA syllabus. Teaching techniques are practised by the course participants in regular teaching practice sessions with adult students of English. An overview of the topics covered:

- The general principles and techniques of teaching and learning a foreign language
- The English language: linguistic form, function, meaning and phonology
- Teaching and learning the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing
- Classroom techniques: presentation, practice, checking learning, error analysis, correction, classroom management, group work and pair work
- Lesson planning; course planning; timetables
- Different learning and teaching styles at adult level, adult learners’ motivations and learning styles
- The evaluation and use of published and non-published resources and materials
- Professional development: evaluating one’s own strengths and weaknesses, preparing to become a teacher, colleague and employee

Seminars, workshops and observation of experienced teachers take up approximately half the course time. Teaching practice takes up the other half, and is conducted in small groups, each with a teaching practice supervisor. Each trainee teaches for a total of at least six hours with graded classes of students. Teaching practice includes guided preparation, analysis and reflection on teaching practice sessions, and individual tutorials to monitor and discuss progress. Preparation and homework include written assignments and lesson preparation.

Why choose the Cambridge CELTA? Many organisations offer four-week TEFL training courses; why should you consider doing the Cambridge CELTA ?
The Cambridge CELTA is certainly one of the most widely known initial qualifications. Any potential employer, if they have any knowledge at all of initial TEFL qualifications, is likely to know of the Cambridge CELTA. The courses are validated, and syllabus and assessment criteria are fixed by, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES)

This assures quality control in a number of areas:
- All centres are subject to approval by UCLES, and have to maintain standards in order to retain this approval. If a centre is failing to meet the required standards, approval to run course will be withdrawn by UCLES. Similarly, it is not uncommon for institutions to have their application to run CELTA courses turned down by UCLES.
- Every CELTA course is moderated by an external assessor.
- Every centre is allocated a Joint Chief Assessor who monitors standards at the centre.
- Each CELTA trainer has to be approved by UCLES (which includes meeting UCLES requirements re teaching experience and qualifications) and has to undergo a lengthy induction process.
All the above contribute to the excellent reputation that the Cambridge CELTA enjoys.

Start and end times, both of the day and of individual sessions, may vary from course to course. However, the total hours spent in seminars and TP remains the same. There are no classes on Saturdays and Sundays.

Popularity: 19% [?]