Job Discussion Forums

[sharter]

I understand what your saying Mozzar but it's the old 2 years experience and a certificate Vs no certificate and 10 years experience conundrum. For me personally I'd always go for the experience, but that's not how the world works. I agree a CELTA is a short course and PGCE is much longer, but that doesn't guarantee anything in terms of classroom performance. I think that a lot of long-term EFL teachers are exposed to a much more hands on kind of training through numerous work shops and further training like the DELTA. Let's face it an EFL teacher would have more classroom practical experience after his/her first year than someone on a PGCE. When you talk about applying stuff are you talking about practical ideas for the classroom or say an approach ie behaviouralist theories of cue, response, reward ie ALM. I think applying the latter is a pointless exercise. Course books determine the approach and methodology.......creative ideas, got from practical workshops, as opposed to reading, make for better more effective teaching.

[Mr Magoo]

For me, taking the PGCE is a lot more than one year's investment.

To get "home student status" and pay less, I'd have to be resident in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the course. Even though I'm British born and have worked for 10 years before doing a degree and then TEFLing, I'm still penalised by the system.

Then there's my degree: Social Anthropology. As it's not taught as part of the national curriculum, I'd have to do an extra year of specific subject training prior to the PGCE year if I wish to be secondary teacher, or I am stuck with doing a primary PGCE (no offence). Yes, I could be a Religious Studies teacher, but...

Finally, I have my children to consider. Cost of living and all that, in the UK. They would need schooling, and if my wife works, I pay a complete stranger to look after my kids, or my wife doesn't work and she looks after them. I know which I'd prefer. But then, as a FT student, I could only work PT (albeit tax-free), which would be a certainty as all income would be needed to try and survive being a student for two years in the UK.

So if I went back to the UK, I'm looking at either paying International Student degree fees, or doing any job (even being unemplyoed for 3 years would cut it for the gov't!) for three years (being out of the educational loop as I'd be working in a job that pays more!) and saving as much as possible, to then study FT for two years, all to be a qualified teacher at the end of it!

So I ask you, is it really worth it?!

:?

[Kofola]

If it is just the cost of the fees stopping you, then there may be a loophole. If you have spent some time in the EU in the last 3 years, then you can still get 'home status' if you can prove you were abroad (anywhere) because of work.

Not sure how much time or what you have to do prove it. But, may be worth looking in to...

[Dedicated]

Mr Magoo,

I have to agree with Kofola. You may still be able to claim home fee status if you can prove that your residence outside the EU during the previous 3 year period is temporary (ie. temporary employment abroad).
But for that employment, you would ordinarily be resident in the UK, presumably?

Some ITT providers prefer that you have a degree in a national curriculum subject, but it is not essential. If you don't, stress in your personal statement/application the relevance of your education to the curriculum you will be teaching (eg. mention your "A" levels if they are national curriculum subjects). What do you want to teach?

As for schooling, it is free in the UK ! Many schools now offer breakfast clubs for working mothers, and after school activities (ie. 8am to 5pm). Your wife could get work surely within those hours. You would probably be entitled to tax credits, as well as Child Benefit of �20 per week per child. You seem very negative, yet it can be done.

Good luck!

[Mr Magoo]

Hmm, I would like to give it a go, but I have no A levels. 11 GCSEs/O levels/GCEs, but no A levels.

I haven't lived in the EU since I left Blighty, and tax credits? I haven't paid any UK tax since I was a FT student and still allegedly owe the gov't 15k for my graduate experience. Negative? Nah, just realistic.

Last I checked, Kindergarten/Nursery wasn't free in the UK, although vouchers are given out.

And my folks (bless 'em) took me off the electoral roll years ago, so they could save on the poll tax thing. While I have contracts for one year here, two years there, I don't see how that would qualify me as a resident.

But, as always, I stand to be corrected in the above!

Cheers

[BrownSauce]

Have a look at this for 'taking the p*ss'...

http://tefltradesman.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-this-crap-job-of-year.html

Beggars belief, truly!!