Job Discussion Forums

[Aussie Chick]

OMG!!!!

I've just been accepted to do the CELTA in an Eastern European country.

I wonder what's in store for me????

[Gordon]

Work!

[denise]

Count on putting a lot of time into preparing your practice teaching sessions. I think I spent about six hours prepping a 30-minute lesson.

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[Gordon]

[denise]

Nooooooooo! I would go crazy!!!

I'm a fast prepper now. Where possible I recycle materials (with small modifications) or plan activities that don't require a lot of paper--less time on photocopying, cutting, stapling, etc. The only thing that really takes up time for me is internet searches when I'm looking for good reading material. I spend a lot more time looking for the material than I do editing, making worksheets, etc.

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[Gordon]

just kidding..

I remember doing my CELTA thinking how unrealistic it was that we have to prep so much for a short little lesson. That and the detailed lesson plan.

[denise]

Another thing...

I got my TEFL certificate in Prague. There was plenty of temptation to go out, see the city, hang out in pubs, etc. I resisted somewhat until the end. If you spend your evenings in bars and clubs, seeing the sites, etc., you could get very exhausted very easily. Not that you should be a puritan or anything during that month, but if doing a good job on the course is important for you, try to give your coursework priority over a night of drinking. (And there will likely be plenty of drinking nights once you start working! No rush!)

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[SF21]

[quote="Aussie Chick"]OMG!!!!

I've just been accepted to do the CELTA in an Eastern European country.

I wonder what's in store for me????


[/quote]


Congrats. But why are you teasing us? Where? Hungary? Czech Repub?

[tedkarma]

DO plan on a lot of work and very little party and socializing time - but that is the nature of such courses.

Another feature of CELTA courses tends to be lots of last minute busy work - but just go with the flow and don't let anything stress you out.

It really does take a lot of time to plan lessons - until you get the hang of it - then it is easy peasy.

[tanuki]

Hi there, Aussie Chick

In answer to your question "What's in stall for me?" I think the best answer was the first one: "WORK!"

If your training centre hasn't already provided you with a pre-course reading-list, then I'd be emailing them pronto so that you can start wading your way through it. This will be worthwhile to you in a number of obvious ways, the main ones for my money being as follows:

1. although you might not understand some of it, it will enable you to have questions ready for those particular input sessions

2. and the stuff that does make sense on first reading will sink in a lot faster come input session time!

3. you'll be able to concentrate on all that lesson-planning, which as the previous (clearly well-experienced!) posters have already pointed out, will take you an inordinate amount of time at first, but then taper off as it becomes more second nature.

Enjoy!

Tanuki

[Aussie Chick]

Just an update:

Due to the school deciding that I wasn't too gifted in the grammar department, and wanted me to sign a disclaimer admitting that I might fail (see the thread Now They've Changed Their Minds!), I started to look into doing more generic courses in Prague, which seems to be the mecca for newbie TEFL teachers.

I have been accepted into a school which seems to have a very good reputation (a factor I think is important) and seemed to be actually interested in its students.

So I head off to Prague in October and start my TEFL career there!

Yaye me!

[Jetgirly]

[denise]

Jetgirly, it sounds like you've got great time management skills, and I'd guess that you're fairly healthy. Some people can handle partying and still show up sober and mentally prepared the next day, and some can't... I remember a lot of people getting sick during my course. Whether it was from partying or just from a change in seasons/climates, they looked miserable! I try to stay away from bars and clubs for the first few weeks, until my body has adjusted to its new surroundings.

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[sandyhoney2]