Basil Paterson College

About Us

Located in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town, Basil Paterson Edinburgh provides a unique academic learning environment where international students learn under the same roof as local students, as well as those taking the Cambridge CELTA Course.

We are an English language school, Middle-School, Tutorial College, Exam Centre and Teacher Trainer Centre.

The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) is a qualification for proficient English speakers planning to teach English as a foreign language. The certificate is specifically designed for those with little or no previous teaching experience. Awarded by Cambridge ESOL, CELTA is one of the few internationally recognised English language teaching qualifications.

As the oldest CELTA training centre in Scotland, we are best placed to help trainees through the training process. We offer the CELTA course on a full-time basis for 4 weeks.

What it’s like to work for us?

Basil Paterson’s CELTA course is designed to give new English language teachers the skills and knowledge they need to step into the classroom with confidence. The course consists of 120 hours contact time with over 80 hours individual learning and six hours assessed teaching practice.

After 4 weeks, you will be qualified to teach English as a foreign language to adults anywhere in the world. Increasingly, the CELTA is the most prominent teaching qualification for English. Every teacher in Basil Paterson College, for example, must be CELTA qualified. Worldwide, over 70% of job vacancies in English language teaching (ELT) now require CELTA.

The type of jobs we recruit for?

A CELTA qualification is your ticket to work, travel or career change. The demand for English language is increasing and it is estimated that by the end of 2020 there will be 2bn English speakers globally.

If you would like to start your career teaching English language, or are already a teacher but want to gain an internationally recognised qualification in the field, CELTA may be the course for you. The course is very practical and you will gain real classroom experience from day one. The morning input sessions and assignments help develop your language awareness and teaching skills. CELTA is a challenging but immensely rewarding course and you’re supported by experienced tutors every step of the way.

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to be an advanced speaker, with a minimum level of C1 or higher.