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80daze · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China

Hi all,

I just want to comment on the PGCEi (Post Graduate certificate in Education International) that you can do online.

I have seen a lot of negative comments about this course and just want to comment as someone who has taken this course and now has this qualification.

I did it distance rather than going back to the UK to do the PGCE as I have a wife and life abroad and that simply was not an option.

The course taught me a hell of a lot about Educational theories that I had no knowledge of whilst teaching in the ESL industry. Such as Piaget, Vygotsky and Montessori et al. As the content is exactly the same as what is taught in the UK only it is taught distance.

The qualification helped me gain a job in a well known language school as a Director of Studies and most of my online classmates got jobs in International schools teaching whatever their main degree was.

It is also counted towards an MA in Education which I intend to do in the future.

Again, this is just my two cents as I do see a lot of negative comments regarding this course - naturally I would recommend going to the UK to do the PGCE as you get QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) with that but if you can't (as was my case) I believe it is still worth it as you do learn a lot on this course regarding Educational theories.

elliot_spencer · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 495

Did you do with Sunderland or Nottingham.

adaruby · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:09 am Post subject: Re: PGCEi

80daze · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China

Hi Elliot - I did it with Nottingham University.

Hi Adaruby - there is no observed teaching in the PGCE (i) that is part of the QTS program that runs alongside a PGCE taught within the UK. You can have QTS without passing the PGCE (I worked with a guy who failed his PGCE but passed his QTS) and vice versa.

As above the content and grading for the PGCEi is exactly the same as the PGCE- You must complete 4 modules that are all externally assessed and marked by at least 3 assessors.

They use a moodle platform for you to study through - you have set readings that you must do and complete written tasks to show you have read and understood them before you do your writing assignments.

They also have electives which you can choose but again you must complete written tasks on them too before you can move on to do assignments.

They can check to see that you have logged in and read the reading lists and that you are completing the tasks set. You have a student forum that you can engage in discussions with - some of these are a must.

It counts towards an Masters in Education in the same way the PGCE does. I looked at DELTA and as you say it also counts towards an MA but in TESOL not in Education.

I was told by Nottingham that most Universities in the UK would accept me on an M ed course with this certification and it is classed as a level 7 certification just like the DipTESOL I am starting soon.

adaruby · Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2014 2:33 pm Post subject:

80daze · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China

Yes, I start the Trinity Dip TESOL in December Smile

On their website they state it is classed at level 7.

http://www.trinitycollege.com/site/?id=202

adaruby · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2014 5:02 am Post subject: