I highly recommend the course for anyone who is looking to become a certified teacher. We got to learn a lot in just one month, with the practical side of the real classes and students, and the sufficient amount of research for language and teaching we needed to do. I'd say the best thing about it was the tutors, Jon and Bogdan, who were really supportive and helpful. Despite the intensity of the course, they made it enjoyable and fun for the trainees. The staff and facility of the centre were great as well - we felt like we always got the support we needed. Amazing experience!

The course was well-administered overall. The structure had clearly been planned and students were given ample instructions on teaching practices and assignments. The tutors were very experienced in their roles and went out of their way to assist students without compromising their learning potential. I particularly appreciated being treated as a mature-age student and encouraged to be independent in my learning from the outset. Some of the course materials were either outdated in terms of their content, or not culturally suited to students from non-Western backgrounds. Perhaps students could be asked to adapt the materials to suit their students’ cultural backgrounds and this could be taken into account in the marking. I believe the integrity of the CELTA was upheld throughout the course with tutors making numerous references to the criteria required to pass the course. This was important to me and my fellow students in knowing we were studying for a recognised qualification from a high-ranking institute. I would not hesitate to recommend Apollo in HCMC.

While I was in the process of researching TEFL courses in Ho Chi Minh City, a friend recommended the CELTA. He told me it would be challenging, but that I wouldn't regret the experience. Now, after successfully completing the CELTA course with Apollo, I can confidently say that was the best advice I could have received! As someone with no prior teaching experience, I walked away from the CELTA with a range of classroom skills and preparation techniques that I'm now applying to my real-life classes. Although the course was certainly challenging, it was 100% worth it. Beginning on the first day of the CELTA, our instructors helped make everyone feel comfortable by encouraging collaboration and communication between tutors and other trainees. Our group bonded well and I made several close friendships during the course. Our tutors set clear expectations and I never felt lost or overwhelmed. We were supported throughout every step of the course and you could tell the tutors really cared about our progress -- they were committed not only to helping us complete the course but to making sure we felt confident and prepared to begin a career in teaching. Another great part about the CELTA was that our progress was clearly tracked throughout each week and even each day. I always knew exactly how I was doing in the course and it was so rewarding to see myself improve both in lesson planning and classroom skills between each practice lesson. Not only did we get to teach in front of real students -- who were amazing -- but we participated in extensive lesson-planning workshops and spent time learning and researching teaching methodology. I am now a full-time teacher in Vietnam and I couldn't be happier with my decision. After speaking to other teachers who completed generic TEFL programs, it seems the training and practice they received doesn't even come close to what Apollo's CELTA course provides. Please, please, please, if you are considering a teacher-training program in Vietnam (or anywhere else in the world), take the CELTA! You won't regret it.

The course was fast-paced and you need to stay on top of the work to be successful. As a native speaker, I should have been better prepared in terms of English grammar. An introduction to phonology would also have been worth completing prior to the course. Overall, an excellent course that I thoroughly enjoyed. I met some amazing people from all over the world who made my time in Ho Chi Minh City all the more memorable.

The CELTA program is extremely intense but the facilitators were both amazing and really knowledgeable and helpful. The guidance and support that I received was great and it made navigating the CELTA course achievable. I would strongly recommend doing your CELTA through Apollo.