How much do we need to know before we do a course like the CELTA, or how much knowledge do we need to demonstrate at the interview stage?

Having a basic awareness of what phonemics is and the phonemic chart will help. During a course like the CELTA, the tutors will guide you in the use of the sounds and symbols and how to teach pronunciation. That’s what the course is for: for giving you the techniques and tools to be able to do that. You aren’t supposed to be an expert going in. But here's a little heads up - a quick intro to the wonderful world of pronunciation!

Phonics and Charts

The awareness of sounds or phonemes in spoken words and the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate phonemes is called phonemic awareness.  A Phonemic Chart is a chart of symbols that represent the sounds of English - the head image is a phonemic chart.