Background of “Queen’s” English:

The notion of the “Queen’s” English or “King’s” English, depending on who is the ruler of the time, can be traced back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries where the idea that the monarch’s usage of the language should be a model in speech and writing (Wales, 1994). During these times there was a development of a prestigious speech associated with the court and aristocracy. Wales, (1994) also points out that the phrase “The King’s English” was first used during the reign of James I.

The British Royal Family would generally be considered to be speakers of the standard English, RP, discussed in the Received Pronunciation section. However, Wales, (1994) differentiates between the way the older “royals” speak and the changes that can be seen in the younger members of the royal family.

Sociolinguistic Issues of “Queen’s” English:

The accents of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret (the Queen’s sister) reflect the conservative RP as epitomized by the old British films and Pathe newsreels of the first part of the century. The younger members of the royal family such as Prince Edward, Prince Andrew and the in-laws of the family, the Duchess of York (Fergie) as well as the late Princess of Wales (Diana), all speak an RP closer to “advanced” RP than to the conservative, more traditional accent.

The distance between the Royal Family and the “subjects” of the country was seen to be enhanced by the traditional speech of the royals. As the younger members of the Royal Family attempt to close the gap between the two, their speech reflects the changes. Wales, (1994) also cites examples of linguistic features traditionally associated with Cockney being found in the speech of this younger generation. Word-final glottal stops (there’s a lo’ of I’ about’) have been heard in the speech of Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Edward, the queen’s youngest son.

Features of “Queen’s” English:

• General pronunciationThe Queen and Older Royals might pronounce the following words as noted.
  Examples:

  house = hice [ ]
  off = orf [ ]
  tower = tar [ ]
  refined = refained [ ]

  Younger royals might exhibit the following types of pronunciations:

  really = rairly [ ]
  milk = miuk [ ]
  yes = yah [ ]
  St. Paul’s = St. Pauw’s [ ]

• The “Royal ONE“Wales, (1994) discusses the pronominal usage of “one” that is not only stereotypically associated with the upper classes, and especially the Royal Family, but that is also used frequently in their real life. There are a number of ways that the word “one” used in place of “I” and it has also been seen to be commonly used in those people connected with the Royal Family. Friends of the family as well as household help like the Queen’s dresser or an ex-cook have been heard to use the phrase “one” in place of “I.”Examples:
  “One says to oneself: “Oh God, there’s one’s daughter”
  (Father of the Duchess of York – quoted from The Star, July 1986)

  “One hesitates to use such a trite word as delighted, but of course one IS delighted”
  (The Queen’s dresser – quoted on receiving his knighthood – The Guardian, June 1989

Not only do some words mean different things but many are spelt differently, here are just a few of the most common.

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Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA)
Teaching English to speakers of other languages can be a highly rewarding career, offering you the chance to live and work abroad. You will need an internationally recognised teaching qualification, and CELTA — highly regarded throughout the world — gives you the skills you need and will make it easier to get a teaching job anywhere.

What is CELTA?
CELTA is an initial qualification for people with little or no previous teaching experience and opens up a whole world of exciting teaching opportunities. Because it is awarded by Cambridge ESOL, part of the world-famous University of Cambridge, you can rely on its quality and recognition.

CELTA can also be taken as Module One of the Certificate in Further Education Teaching Stage 3 with the Certificate for ESOL Subject Specialists, which is a qualification for teachers who want to specialise in teaching English in Further, Adult and Community Education in England and Wales.

Over 10,000 people successfully complete a CELTA course each year.

How does CELTA relate to TEFL/TESOL?
‘TEFL’ or ‘TESOL’ are terms often used to describe qualifications for English Language teachers. CELTA, the best known and most widely taken initial TESOL/TEFL qualification of its kind in the world, was previously known as CTEFLA and the ‘RSA certificate’.

Who is CELTA for?
People starting a career in English Language teaching

You may be considering a career in English Language teaching and view CELTA as an entry into a good teaching position in another country, or you may be a graduate wanting a qualification that provides a sound basis in the fundamentals of language teaching practice and gives you the confidence to take control in the classroom.

People looking for a career change or career break

Increasingly, CELTA candidates are professionals either looking for a new career opportunity or wanting a short break in their existing career. Many seek the exciting opportunities of living and working abroad. Whether you wish to teach English for the short or long term, CELTA gives you the training you need to help you adjust to a dynamic and challenging new profession.

People teaching English without formal qualifications

CELTA can also be a useful qualification for teachers who have little previous formal training. CELTA sharpens your teaching practice, confirms your ability, and may even lead to internal promotion or a better teaching job.

People who want to work in Further, Adult and Community Education in England and Wales

CELTA is also Module One of a 2 module course leading to the following qualifications:

Certificate in Further Education Teaching at Stage 3
Certificate for ESOL Subject Specialists
These qualifications meet the UK government’s teacher training requirements for people who want to work in this sector.

What does CELTA involve?
You can take CELTA full time (typically four to five weeks), or part time (from a few months to over a year). Your chosen course:

teaches you the principles of effective teaching
provides a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners
gives you hands-on teaching practice
builds your confidence.
There are five main units of learning:

Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
Language analysis and awareness
Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
Planning and resources for different contexts
Developing teaching skills and professionalism.
You will be assessed throughout the course, with no final examination. An external assessor, appointed by Cambridge ESOL, moderates each course. There are two components of assessment:

Teaching practice

You will teach for a total of 6 hours, working with classes at two levels of ability. Assessment is based on your overall performance at the end of the 6 hours.

Written assignments

You will complete four written assignments: one focusing on adult learning; one on the language system of English; one on language skills; and one on classroom teaching.

To be awarded the certificate you must pass both components. There are three grades — Pass, Pass ‘B’ and Pass ‘A’.

Who recognises CELTA?
CELTA is accepted throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers. The Cambridge CELTA has been accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework. Cambridge ESOL also works with international ELT organisations to ensure the acceptance of CELTA globally.

Am I eligible to apply?
Ideally you should:

have a standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education
be aged 20 or over
have a standard of English which will enable you to teach at a range of levels.
Centres may still accept you if you do not have formal qualifications at this level but can demonstrate that you would be likely to complete the course successfully. Some centres may, at their discretion, accept applicants aged between 18 and 20.

How do I apply?
CELTA courses are designed by individual centres, based on specifications produced by Cambridge ESOL. They are available at over 286 approved centres in 54 countries, providing almost 900 CELTA courses every year.