Job Discussion Forums

[struelle]

Well, the last day of the course is here. I sent a flurry of posts earlier, as the pressure was on full steam. Now all of us have finished our teaching practice, and it's a downhill coast at this point. A nice wind-down as we have our final review class and party with students.

The amount of material we learned in this course was intense, and the work far harder than any of us expected. It's exactly as others had told me before. I figured the course would be easier for me because of previous teaching experience, but not so. It was nose to the grindstone all the way.

Still, looking back, it was a great investment of $1400. The tutors incessantly picked our lessons apart, and at times the criticism was brutal. There were times I thought I wasn't going to make it. Earlier this week was critical. Either I delivered two high quality lessons in a row or I was history. Spending many hours planning and preparing, and giving up email in the process ensured that those lessons succeeded. The tutors, though, began to loosen up during the last week, and in retrospect, the lesson evaluation was fair. Everyone who deserved to pass did so.

What I have now is an accurate and consistent record of all the lessons I did, and a solid action plan to improve in future. There are aspects of the course, i.e. grammar, which may not be necessary in my teaching for future in China. However, there are valuable teaching skills, such as concept checking, that can be immediately applied. Best of all, I can add more tools to the teaching kit, and supplement my existing experience.

So, gripes about the course aside I had earlier, this CELTA course definitely is a good investment. It is a solid program, and well-recognized (because it's from Cambridge). The tutors may not be friendly, but you will learn solid professional skills as well how to build self-discipline.

But if there's a 'word from the wise' to offer for those considering the course, it goes especially to those with previous teaching experience. I'm convinced that the trainers pick harder on those who have pre-CELTA experience and they don't look highly on it AT ALL. I find this surprising, as at least 50% of the teachers in our group have had experience. Concurrently, teachers need to reconcile their backgrounds with the CELTA expectations. In some cases, like mine, the difference is like night and day. Ironically, teachers with experience can fall behind on the learning curve, as they need to unlearn previous skills or bad habits.

Arguably, it's better to go into the course with no experience. That way, it's easier to pick up the methods propagated by the tutors. But the danger is unquestionably accepting those methods and using them in future jobs where the employer expects something different. At my previous job, for example, we saw a pattern of RSA certified teachers conduct classes that were teacher-centred, boring, and full of grammar.

Not all RSA certified teachers are like this, though. I think the best way to approach the methodology dilemma is to read Jeremy Harmer, "The Practice of ELT", especially the chapter where he explores all the mainstream teaching methods. Go into the CELTA with an open mind, realize it's one of many valid approaches, and try not to get too hung up on how superior the previous experience is (even if it's true).

That's about it. Well, I'm going to enjoy the party now.

Steve

[Gordon]

I agree with you Steve 100%. I did my CELTA 4 years ago and I also had a fair amount of teaching experience prior to the course. I went into the course with an open mind to try to unlearn my experience. Most of it was bad anyways. I'm not saying they teach you to become a clone, but their methodology was far superior to mine and I wasn't going to spend the money for nothing. The ones in the course with a chip on their shoulders had it knocked off early on or failed (deservedly).
Enjoy your party, you deserved it and good luck in China.

[khmerhit]

Hey struelle---------------- congrats! Not easy. Ce n'est pas evident, as the Russians say.

PM me and we'll meet up at Starbucks for a teetotal de-brief. all the best.

kh