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BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

I'm sitting here in a city far from home with my language degree in my briefcase plus my CR check and my CELTA starts on Monday.

Ok I'm in a teacher apartment with loads of qualified teachers in the area telling me I'll be fine but I am really really worried that it's all going to go horribly wrong. I'm storming through the pre course tasks (2 days to go before the 4 weeks start) but I just have the following issues.

What if the course director thinks I haven't got what it takes

What if the students think I'm a bit wacky and don't take my teaching seriously. (I am slightly wacky)

What if I just lose the plot with other interesting things and somehow diverge from the lesson plan to the point that the essential goal of the lesson is nullified.

What if the other CELTA students think any of the above when observing me in all parts.

What if I just burn out mid way through the course and bail because my brain melts with all the stress and information being fired at me as well as the worry of the points above happening.

Ok it's 1am and I'm taking a break from the work I was doing before the course starts. Can anyone offer some advice or words of warning to make me start looking at the issues?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Ben, man, any of the above are possible!
But you're the equal or better of the majority. Everybody feels stressed, and you're gonna feel it for a few more weeks.
Yes, it is tough. Many of us (myself included) have been there - probably the most intense month of my life. But it's still 'just' a month.
Take a deep breath. Once you get started, you'll most likely be fine - most people are.

Be open and honest with your course director and trainers - but wait to vent unless/until you really have a problem that is affecting your performance - this may never happen!

The students wont' be likely to be critical. A little wacky can be quite positive for students. Be yourself, within the lines of what the CELTA trainers will tell you they want to see. You're entitled to your own style - it's a positive - just listen and try to conform to the borders and boundaries they teach you, and color inside the lines for one month!

You probably won't burn out midway if you plan to focus ONLY on the course - it's too tough for boozy weekends and etc to distract you and take up energy. FOCUS, FOCUS...

and you'll be fine Very Happy

fraup · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:03 am Post subject:

Although I know that CELTA courses vary depending on the tutors, mine (2003 at IH Budapest) was excellent, although intense. I came in with a BA, double major in English and German, MA in German, MBA, almost 10 years of teaching at the college level, and although I had a somewhat skeptical attitude at first, I can say I learned something new EVERY DAY, and enjoyed it. My fellow students were a mixed lot: one "refugee" from the Callan method, one who had been teaching in China with no ESL quals I could see (he used the "stand and holler" method), a Brit with an accent this Yank could not understand, a lovely California guy who was sadly clueless about any grammar at all...and me, over 50, correcting students' pronunciation only to have the tutor tell me (nicely) after class that it wasn't a mistake, it was BRITISH. Oops!

You'll have fun. You'll make friends. You'll learn. Enjoy.

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

Thanks guys. Just had my last lazy lie in for the next few weeks.

I guess I am ready to do it mostly but I feel a lot of pressure to do well in it.

I don't really have as much experience as the poster above as I am fresh out of my BA studies. Everything will be new to me so it isn't going to be a walk in the park by any means.

purple_piano · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject:

Best of luck with it Ben. I'm a few weeks ahead of you, about to start my 4th and final week of the CELTA.

The best advice is to keep your focus on the course and stay calm.
Don't leave assignments to the last minute, get them done as soon as possible, you don't want to be staying up the night before a deadline as you may well have to teach the following day too!
Get to know your coursemates, ask them for suggestions and proof-read each others assignments. It's not a competition.

From what I've observed of the experienced teachers a bit of wackyness goes down well with English learners!

The course tutors must feel that you have the ability to pass the course, otherwise they would not have accepted you!

Take the pre-course task as a learning experience, any questions you had problems with- put a bit of extra work into those areas, they'll have been part of the task for a reason!

Enjoy it, it's going to be hard work but should be so much fun too!

Madame J · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:24 am Post subject: Re: Pre Celta Panic

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

Good advice Madame J.

All is going well and I got really positive feedback in my 5 min evaluation.

The strangest thing but the thing that gives me a bonus is the fact that.....

I actually enjoy the grammar studying lessons. It's like a revision course for me.

silvertonguedcavalier · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Posts: 27 Location: Toronto

You make your own reality. If you believe you'll fail, you will. If you believe you'll succeed, you will.

dkbarnes · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:26 pm Post subject:

Looks like the class has come and gone for you Ben, I'd really like to know how is went.

Also, it has been years since I have taught English. Anything you would suggest I do as a refresher before starting the CELTA class?

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

It went really well in the end. I was with a really supportive group and we were told it was quite odd in the end because everyone passed. (no drop outs 3rd tutorials or fails!)

I messed up one lesson in the middle but got through the problems and it was made clear to me that I was going to pass when the evaluations came. I know I only got a 'pass' from what has been hinted but I know it comes with good feedback from the tutors about my methods, knowledge and practial teaching ability.

The only thing I'm miffed about is the fact I had to resubmit the 4th 'easiest' assignment because I just didn't really bother to answer the question but passed all the more complicated ones first time that others had trouble with.

All I can suggest you refresh on is some of the grammar knowledge and think about how you taught aspects of English and how you got the class involved without 'explaining' everything. (That was my mid course problem)