Job Discussion Forums

[G Cthulhu]

[arioch36]

Hi ria,

This is a generalization of course. Yes, I think teachers who had no substantial work experience (working as a teacher, or even working for a year at Burger King/ McDonalds) make a worse teacher then the average BS degree. Lots of reasons

I think a Master (or even a cert course) is more valubale after you have taught. I did a cert course first, before teaching in America and now in China, (and 3 months in kuwait). When I took the course, it was great, had fun, hard work (not CELTA< but excellent). When I taught in America, I used it some. Teaching in China, I see so much of it was totally irrevelant or mistaken. I didn't know what i needed to know, what was really useful, etc. Yes, it gave some confidence, taught some english points, and it depends on your instructors.

I think I could get more out of a cert course now BUT, catch 22. I started my MA two years ago. Decent college. They people teaching, most of them don't know squat! I know I need to finish my MA, but I feel it is such a waste of time, so artificial. One teacher was a great lady, older like myself, some real experience, a TA/grad student. Another two Phd students/recent grad who never had a real job, listening to them talk about a subject like how to teach speech, geammar or linguistics was a hoot. I mean get real. People don't learn how to learn english by learning about dental fricatives, or writing papers about other people papers which are about meaningless abstract things.

And the professors??One was okay. All were most worried about doing things to get published, not learning or teaching. One old guy, very intelligent, would spend the whole class talking about some abstract idea that had little to do about the subject. (One entire hour about toilet paper, that we pay more for new improved which is softer because it has more air)

For instance...technically you say the "th" sound by parting your teeth and putting the tongue behind the lower part of the upper teeth. When you teach people for real, I have found that it is best to start them by forcing them to stick the tongue between the teeth. This makes it very hard to say the sound incorrectly, and then they can learn what the sound is like.

Well the young kid who never "really taught" in his life wants all to use all these technical terms, and insists that is not the proper way, etc. I am sorry, I am rehashing some of my nightmare classes

MA and Phd graduates have a lot to unlearn to become good teachers. But maybe it's best to do it that way, because then you can believe all your grad courses are great stuff. Who gets the least amount of training on how to teach? Phd students, followed by MA students who are not taking a teaching practicum.

Sorry for the rant. Hold your breath and get the MA