An important development we look for during the CELTA course is trainees becoming more independent in their approach to lesson planning and professional reflection.
At the beginning of the course, it’s completely normal for trainees to rely heavily on their tutors, that’s part of the process. But as the course moves forward, we hope to see a gradual shift from dependence to autonomy.
Rather than asking,
❌ “What should I do?”
We want to hear,
✅ “This is what I’m thinking of doing. Does it make sense?”
This change shows that they’re not only learning the techniques, but also learning how to make informed decisions, justify their choices, and reflect critically – key skills for any effective teacher.
As Jeremy Harmer puts it, “Learner autonomy is about people taking more control over their own learning.” Donald Schön also reminds us that skilled professionals must become “reflective practitioners”, constantly evaluating and adapting their practice.
On CELTA, fostering this kind of autonomy doesn’t mean leaving trainees to figure things out on their own. It means encouraging them to take initiative, while we continue to support and challenge their thinking in meaningful ways.
I’d love to hear from other CELTA tutors and teacher trainers – how do you help your trainees make this shift? And for those who’ve done the course, when did you start feeling more independent?
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