Meet Brian, One of Our In-House CELTA Trainers
Top Tips for Managing your time effectively and making the most of your CELTA experience.
At CELTA Cambodia, our trainees have the privilege of learning from experienced tutors who are passionate about helping teachers succeed. One of our main course tutors, Brian, brings years of classroom experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to thrive on a CELTA course. Known for his practical approach and friendly guidance, Brian has helped hundreds of aspiring teachers develop the confidence and skills needed to excel in English teaching worldwide.
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤
𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤 is a seasoned teacher, teacher trainer, and academic coordinator at ACE. He is a CELTA main course tutor and has delivered CELTA courses to hundreds of trainees in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and internationally. He also has served as a DELTA local tutor and has delivered teacher training courses internationally for the U.S. Department of State as both a Virtual English Language Fellow and a Virtual Educator.
Prior to his current roles in Phnom Penh, Brian gained valuable classroom experience as a teacher and Lead Teacher at ACE’s Siem Reap campus. He has expertise in teaching diverse learners, from young learners to adults, and has delivered courses in General English, IELTS preparation, and English for Academic Purposes, both in face-to-face and online settings.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐮𝐭
𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘊𝘌 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘋𝘌𝘓𝘛𝘈, 𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘌𝘚𝘖𝘓, 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘴.
Top Tips from Brian
for managing your time effectively and making the most of your CELTA experience.
1. Prioritize Your Tasks
On a CELTA course, you will juggle lesson planning, teaching practice, observation tasks, and written assignments. Focus on the tasks that directly impact your teaching and feedback sessions first.
Tip: “Each evening, write down the top three things you need to complete the next day. This keeps you focused and prevents last-minute stress.”
2. Break Down Lesson Planning
Effective lesson planning is at the heart of CELTA success. Break down planning into manageable steps:
- Set your lesson objectives clearly.
- Decide on activities that support those objectives.
- Prepare materials and anticipate student responses.
Tip: “Don’t try to create the perfect lesson from scratch every time. Start with a simple framework and build on it as you gain confidence.”
3. Stick to a Schedule
CELTA courses are intensive, and time can pass quickly. Create a daily timetable that balances teaching practice, preparation, and personal time.
Tip: “Even a short 30-minute review session can make a huge difference in consolidating your learning. Consistency beats cramming.”
4. Use Feedback Wisely
Feedback from trainers and peers is a valuable tool for improvement. Review your feedback immediately after your lesson and noting specific areas to focus on in the next class.
Tip: “Feedback isn’t criticism; it’s a guide to becoming a more effective teacher. Implement small changes step by step.”
5. Manage Your Energy, Not Just Your Time
Time management is also about maintaining energy and focus. Schedule short breaks and take care of your wellbeing, especially during long course days.
Tip: “A 10-minute walk or a quick stretch can refresh your mind and make your next lesson planning session far more productive.”
6. Collaborate and Share Ideas
CELTA is as much about learning from others as it is about self-development. Form small study groups with fellow trainees to share lesson ideas, resources, and practical tips.
Tip: “Sometimes the best lesson ideas come from seeing how others approach the same challenges. Collaboration saves time and sparks creativity.”
7. Reflect and Adjust Daily
At the end of each day, take a few minutes to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and how you can improve tomorrow.
Tip: “A few minutes of reflection daily prevents small issues from becoming big problems and keeps your learning on track.”
Conclusion
Time management is a skill that can make or break your CELTA experience. By following Brian’s tips, staying organized, and balancing planning with reflection, you can maximize your learning and confidently progress toward becoming an effective English teacher. With guidance from Cambridge-approved CELTA tutors like Brian, trainees gain practical strategies, hands-on experience, and the confidence to succeed both on the course and in their teaching careers.
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