Job Discussion Forums

txbyrd · Joined: 05 May 2010 Posts: 4

It seemed to me they were more interested that you followed the standard suggestions for the STRUCTURE of the lesson more than creativity.... or even if students had a clue at the end of the class....

Sashadroogie · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:32 am Post subject:

Creativity is wonderful, but needs to be directed towards a learning goal. It can happen that teachers, in a fit of creativity, get carried away with their need to be creative, to the detriment of the learning process. Hand drawn pictures are not much good in themselves if they teach nothing. Playing the guitar in a lesson can have a specific learning goal, but usually doesn't. Unharnessed creativity doesn't do much for the learners, and hence doesn't do much for CELTA feedback either.

Look at this clip. Teacher is very energetic, lively etc., but how much do learners really learn? What sort of feedback would you say he'd get from CELTA trainers after this lesson? Not very positive, I'd guess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY7xw-jMDo4&feature=player_embedded#!

Just from the "I'll say" lesson alone:

TTT through the roof; teacher's own speech is also degraded; dubious staging of lesson places pron drilling before learners know meaning; not much context provided for lexical item; no info re formality of phrase; almost exclusively teacher-centred; whiteboard under expolited.

Plenty more, but you get the idea.

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Dear TS (thread starter, not transexual),

First, well done. You got a pass.
Second, it is possible you were not all that good. Being popular with students is not a show of ablility. I have met some real clowns who, due to entertainment factors have well paid jobs even though they are cra*.

It might be the training dude didn't like you ass has been hinted at.
Glenski has been around. Walking out as a newb and calling a long term teacher an 'idiot' shows you can't accept critisism.
Just as you can't accept the CELTA bloke's (man I assume for some reason) words of wisdom.
Some people are cocky and need grounding.
I personally kissed CELTA ass and got a High Distinction. (smug grin)

mimi_intheworld · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 167 Location: UAE

OP: Another take on "to standard" is that graders (reviewers, instructors, observers, etc) are actually instructed to save "above standard" for absolutely outstanding lessons. My lesson observations (I was a teacher for 3 years in the US, 1 in the UK) which were marked the equivalent of "to standard" were so marked because as a first year teacher, too many "outstanding" observations were frowned upon by the school district.

Accept your "to standard" marks, be glad you've apparently proven your ability to teach to standard, and affix that CELTA certification to your CV, then go get a job. No need to fuss about being up to par.