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A Day in the Life: What to Expect on a CELTA Course in London

Collage with text "A Day in the Life of a Trainee Teacher on a London CELTA course," featuring smiling people, buildings, and an interior staircase.

If you're considering taking the CELTA in London, you're probably wondering what a typical day looks like. At our London centre, based in the renowned St Giles College in Bloomsbury, each day is structured to balance hands-on teaching, expert guidance, and opportunities to reflect and develop.


Here’s what you can expect from a day on the CELTA course in London.


St Giles is a busy English language centre, and you'll pass students from all over the world, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Switzerland, and beyond, as you move through the building.


9:15 a.m. – Input Sessions Begin

The day starts with input sessions, which are interactive workshops led by our experienced London tutors: Jo, Phil, Neil, Elaine and Rebecca. They have all taught English both in the UK and abroad, and have worked with as CELTA tutors at St Giles for many years. They're friendly, knowledgeable, and committed to your development as an English teacher.


Morning sessions cover topics like:

  • Teaching techniques (e.g. how to ask effective questions)

  • Lesson frameworks (e.g. how to teach grammar or reading)

  • Classroom management

  • Assignment preparation

  • Lesson planning


You'll usually have two sessions, each led by a different tutor, with a coffee break in between. Everyone is in the same group for these sessions. It's a chance to share questions, insights, and support with your fellow trainees.


12:15 p.m. – Assisted Lesson Planning

If you're scheduled to teach the next day, you'll have a 1-to-1 planning session with your tutor. Early in the course, this guidance is step-by-step, helping you build confidence. Later on, the support becomes more light-touch but of course tutors are always available to guide you if you need help.


At this point, you can also use the photocopying and printing facilities located near the main classroom. You'll have access to computers and all the course books you need to prepare materials for your lesson.


1:00 p.m. – Lunch Break

You’ll get a break for lunch. Options include:

  • A canteen upstairs at St Giles, offering hot meals (and a microwave if you've brought your own food).

  • Russell Square, directly opposite the school, a peaceful Georgian park perfect for a break outdoors. There’s a café in the park, or you can bring your lunch and find a quiet bench.


1:50 p.m. – Teaching Practice (TP)

Every afternoon, you'll take part in Teaching Practice (TP). This is where you teach real adult students who volunteer to come for free lessons with you and your colleagues.

Each TP group consists of around five to six trainees and one tutor.


Each day:

  • Three trainees teach 40-minute lessons.

  • You’ll teach students at a consistent level (e.g., pre-intermediate or upper-intermediate).

  • You’ll also observe your peers and support each other.


The students are a mix of international residents and learners from the St Giles morning programme. They’re friendly and appreciative, and they know you're learning too.

There are short breaks between lessons to give you time to reset your board, use the loo, or prepare mentally.


4:15 p.m. – Feedback Session

After the lessons, you'll attend a small group feedback session led by your tutor. You'll:

  • Share how your lesson went.

  • Hear from your tutor and peers.

  • Discuss what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve.


This is a supportive, practical space where growth happens. You can also ask questions about upcoming lessons or clarify anything you’re unsure about.


5:30 p.m. – The Working Day Ends

While the official course day finishes at 5:30, the St Giles building remains open into the evening. Many trainees stay on to:

  • Work quietly in one of the free classrooms

  • Use the teacher's resources

  • Plan lessons or assignments in peace


With a central London location, commuting is easy. We’re:

  • Around the corner from Russell Square Station (Piccadilly Line)

  • A short walk from Holborn, King’s Cross, and Euston

  • Well connected to trains, buses, and cycle routes


Why Choose Our CELTA Course in London?

Our CELTA London centre offers the best of both worlds:

  • A highly structured, internationally recognised training course

  • A friendly, experienced team

  • A vibrant, central London location

Whether you're new to teaching or changing careers, this is an intense but deeply rewarding course, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.


Find Out More


Dr Connor O'Donoghue hails from Ireland and he started teaching English as a foreign language in Poland in 2003 and he became a CELTA trainer in 2008. He has taught and trained in Ireland, the UK, France, Italy, Slovenia, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Kazakhstan and Vietnam. Connor also holds a Masters and a PhD in Education from Trinity College in Dublin. He has previously managed large teacher training centres in Vietnam and in London before founding DC Teacher Training.

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