The Language Related Task (LRT) is the second written assignment on the CELTA course, and it’s by far the hardest for new teachers. This assignment required me to analyze four pieces of language—two grammar items and two vocabulary items—taken from an authentic text about a lobster diver who was almost swallowed by a humpback whale.
The goal was to demonstrate that I could identify, explain, and anticipate how learners might struggle with both form and meaning.
What the Assignment Involved
For this task, I analyzed:
- He was diving – the interrupted past continuous (past continuous + past simple)
- Packard was rescued – the past simple passive
- Relatively unscathed – an adverb + adjective collocation meaning “slightly hurt, but not badly”
- Plausible – an adjective meaning “believable or reasonable, even if rare”
Each item required a full breakdown of meaning, form, and pronunciation (MFP), plus anticipated learner problems and teaching solutions.
I created timelines, pronunciation drills, CCQs (concept checking questions), and examples to clarify usage—skills that are the foundation of effective grammar and lexis teaching.
What I Learned
Completing this task was a turning point in how I see language. Before CELTA, I used grammar intuitively; now, I could analyse it systematically.
Key takeaways included:
- Depth of preparation matters. Analysing language this precisely gave me tools to teach confidently without relying on the coursebook alone.
- CCQs really work. Clear concept-checking questions can reveal misunderstanding faster than long explanations.
- Pronunciation needs structure. Marking stress patterns and phonemic transcription (like /wəz ˈdaɪvɪŋ/ and /ˈplɔːzəbəl/) helped me understand where learners might stumble and how to drill effectively.
- Anticipation is insight. Thinking through common learner errors (e.g., He was dive or He rescue was) forced me to see how language is processed, not just produced.
Tutor Feedback
My tutor described it as a “strong submission”, noting that I had:
“Correctly identified all language items and described clear ways to convey meaning using appropriate timelines… Your CCQs are very clear. You anticipated several relevant problems and analysed language very well.”
It was rewarding to see that my attention to form, phonology, and classroom application paid off.
Reflection
This assignment deepened my understanding of why CELTA puts so much emphasis on MFP. It’s not just about knowing grammar—it’s about translating that knowledge into clear, digestible classroom teaching.
As I continue building my online portfolio, I’m turning parts of this analysis into interactive grammar and vocabulary lessons within LearnPress, showing how these theoretical insights translate into engaging, student-centered teaching practice.
