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Alexey Bogdanov achieved the highest rating in the CELTA course

Alexey Bogdanov, a specialist at the Institute of Foreign Languages, has successfully completed the CELTA course for English language teachers. This prestigious certification is recognised worldwide. Alexey received the highest grade, Pass A, which is a remarkable achievement as only around 5% of candidates worldwide achieve this level.

The CELTA programme requires participants to teach 8 lessons to students at different levels, write 4 papers, attend numerous workshops, and evaluate over 50 lessons from experienced teachers and colleagues.

The Institute of Foreign Languages congratulates Alexey on his accomplishment and looks forward to benefiting from his expertise and knowledge.

We asked Alexey to share more about his experience with this certification:

Why did you decide to get certified with CELTA? Who can get this certification?
I decided to take the course last fall. It wasn’t a spontaneous decision. I wanted to get an international certification, and I decided that in the first year of my master’s degree I needed to take a step in this direction. Besides, I knew that CELTA is one of the most prestigious and probably the most popular certifications. It is open to anyone over 18 years old, but I recommend it to those who have a higher pedagogical education or have taken advanced courses in teaching foreign languages. It will be much easier for you if you have some kind of formed methodological base. Having prior knowledge and experience from MCU made the course easier for me.

Can you share your experience of the learning process? What valuable lessons have you gained? Who were your mentors during the certification?
The learning process was very intense. I opted for a full-time course, but I don’t recommend it as it can be overwhelming for the nervous system. The classes started at 10 am with a short break, followed by pedagogical practice. We had another brief lunch break, and then classes continued until 7 pm, with a reflective session at the end of the day. After that, we would work on planning our lessons, which took me about 2-3 nights on average, considering my prior experience. This schedule continued every day for a month, with formal days off on Saturdays and Sundays, which were dedicated to completing written assignments. Throughout the course, we had to submit four written works, each around 1000 words in length.

Which aspects of your professional skills have you been able to enhance?
Certainly, my methodological skills have significantly improved. I have put a lot of effort into designing lesson plans, creating exercises and adapting  those presented in the textbook. I have also focused on improving my speech skills, such as reducing the amount of time I speak as a teacher, adapting my language level to the student’s level, and avoiding unnecessary repetitions. Additionally, I have developed the ability to self-assess and reflect on my teaching. I learned to evaluate my classes more objectively, analyse them critically, and make improvements based on the results of my analysis.

What specific ideas or techniques you’ve studied would you like to incorporate into your teaching?
the course has provided me with a crucial understanding of lesson planning. Each lesson is like a puzzle, and we were given numerous resources during the course to make this puzzle engaging to assemble. We were taught that there are no “one-size-fits-all” approaches; instead, we need to use our imagination and draw from our experience working with the group. One particular approach that inspired me is Guided Discovery – an underestimated approach in our methodology. I rarely observed it in teachers’ lessons. Still, it allows students to develop critical thinking through active participation, enabling them to deduce rules through tasks and guiding questions provided by the teacher. I believe this approach holds potential, especially for those who deliver lectures in various disciplines.

Were you anticipating such a high outcome? How did you feel upon discovering your score?
Honestly, I was exhausted by the end of the course, and my only goal was just to complete it. The course was incredibly demanding, and I didn’t have high expectations initially. However, when I saw my assessment, I was genuinely thrilled. It took me some time to believe that it was actually happening. This achievement marks a significant milestone in my professional journey.

Did your experience in participating in competitions contribute to your success in obtaining this certification?
Certainly. Firstly, I used the creative skills I had developed through years of participating in competitions when designing my lesson plans. Secondly, my experience in competitions taught me how to adapt to unexpected situations, which proved valuable during the course that presented numerous challenges. Lastly, the methodological experience gained from participating in Olympiads and championships greatly benefited me throughout the course.

What are your plans for professional development?
I have ambitious plans for the future. While I am not eager to reveal all the details at the moment, I can share that my next step in professional growth involves gaining international experience. Still, I will provide more information about this in our upcoming interview.

What advice would you give to those who are going to undertake the CELTA course?
Take a part-time course. But if you still took the risk and took full-time, then it is important to accept that you will not have time for family, sleep, household chores, etc. for a month. You will devote yourself entirely to CELTA. I honestly admit that I did not have time to work on my dissertation due to an extremely intensive schedule.

I would recommend considering a part-time CELTA course. However, if you decide to take the full-time option, it is crucial to understand that you will need to fully commit yourself to the programme. Be prepared to sacrifice time for family, sleep, household chores, and other obligations for a month. I honestly admit that due to the intense schedule, I was unable to dedicate time to work on my dissertation.

Another important advice is to be prepared to receive feedback and criticism during the course. There will be many cases where you will be given suggestions for improvement. It’s crucial to take this feedback positively and use it as an opportunity to grow professionally.

Photo: MCU