The final written assignment of the CELTA, Lessons From the Classroom (LFC), invited me to step back and look at the bigger picture: not just individual teaching practices, but the skills, habits, insights, and patterns that emerged over the entire course. It asked me to reflect on what had gone well, what I still needed to develop, and how I planned to continue growing as an English teacher beyond CELTA.
This assignment felt like a natural conclusion to the eight teaching practices and three previous written assignments. Where other tasks focused on isolated skills—language analysis, receptive skills, learner profiles—this one asked a deeper question:
What have you learned as a teacher?
What the Assignment Required
To complete the LFC, I had to:
- Identify at least two strengths in my teaching
- Discuss three areas for improvement, drawing directly on my observations of peers, trainers, and demo lessons
- Provide actionable next steps
- Reflect on how I plan to continue developing after CELTA
- Demonstrate clear, accurate written communication
My tutor confirmed that each of these criteria were met:
“You show a good awareness of your strengths and action points. Your action plans are solid and actionable. I can see the value you’ve gained from observing peers and learning from experienced teachers, and your reflections on professional development are insightful.”
Receiving that feedback on the final assignment felt like a meaningful closing point.
Looking Back: What I Learned About My Teaching
Two aspects of my teaching consistently emerged as strengths:
1. Context-setting & engagement
I learned early on that when the context is meaningful and relatable, learners engage immediately. Whether I was telling a playful story about my brother’s dirty dishes (TP3) or using personal South African photos to set up a reading task (TP6), building an authentic frame made every stage clearer and more communicative.
2. Materials design & lesson clarity
Across all eight lessons, slides, handouts, and staging became one of my biggest assets. My visuals, colour-coding, and pre-loaded answers helped learners follow the lesson smoothly—and helped me teach more confidently.
At the same time, I grew very aware of areas I need to develop:
- Timing and pacing, especially instructions
- Covering MFPA concisely
- Knowing when and how to correct errors on the spot
These came directly from observing tutors and peers: the precision of Bita’s instructions, the elegantly fast MFP demo from David, and Jayne’s confident correction strategies. Each offered a model I could adapt into my own style.
Looking Forward: What Comes Next
The LFC assignment closed with a section on future development, which was one of the most motivating parts to write. I now have a clear roadmap to follow:
- Deepening my grammar knowledge through structured study
- Strengthening my listening and pronunciation awareness with Underhill’s Sound Foundations
- Continuing professional development through a year-long TEFL diploma
These aren’t just “extra study tasks”—they’re stepping stones toward the teacher I want to become.
Closing This CELTA Blog Series
Writing these posts and building my online portfolio has been its own reflective journey. Each Teaching Practice became an opportunity to look at a lesson not just in terms of “Did I pass?” but “What did I learn?”
From TP1’s nerves to TP8’s confidence…
From over-explaining grammar to clarifying meaning in a few sharp CCQs…
From awkward breakout rooms to smooth, intentional staging…
CELTA is famously intense, but I’m walking away with something far more important than a certificate:
a foundation to build on, and a clear sense of the teacher I’m becoming.
I’m excited to continue learning, practicing, and growing—and to step into the ELT world with both humility and confidence, knowing just how far I’ve come in a very short time.
Thank you for following along through all eight TPs, four assignments, and countless reflections. On to the next chapter.
