Job Discussion Forums

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Hi all. I have a great job in a wonderful place (very much not a regular school, a medical place, can't be too specific as the boss reads this site) and it rocks.
The only thing is............. curriculum free teaching. Whilst it means I have a free reign and not many restrictions I am of the opinion that there is a big difference between being an awesome teacher (which I am) and a course writer (particularly when it is all off the top of my head, planned in advance of course, for very specific work).
I think putting together an excellent course is a real art form, which is why publishers and the like spend hundreds of thousands creating them.
I can teach a course and find the holes in it, who can't.... But to put together a full ESP course which flows from 1 class to the next is pretty daunting.

I always said I wouldn't do any curriculum free teaching again but this is a sweet gig in many respects. Most of you would tell me to stop moaning if you knew what I did and where I worked lol.

Your thoughts

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 12:42 pm Post subject:

Thoughts about what exactly?

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 12:59 pm Post subject:

Ah, I see now. I think, for what it is worth, that schools that don't have some sort of framework for courses tend to be on the more cowboy end of the scale. They are being less than profesh to rely on the teacher alone, especially for ESP courses. But don't complain too much, or they may get you to do it, for no extra pay.

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 6:00 pm Post subject:

Didn't miss the political reference, just chose to ignore it.

Make sure you get well rewarded for your course writing efforts, especially if the school is going to re-use it. It takes forever to do properly. Doing it for free is just....

Market Leader? Sinks like a stone, on account of being written by fellows who are businessmen first and EFL teachers second, if even at all. Look at how they treat reading tasks or (don't) teach lexical items. I'm not a course writer either, but give me a few dozen dated Financial Times articles, a PC and a colour scanner and I'd be hard put to come up with a more boring business course book than ML.

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Indeed. Market Leader is better than What I have been able to write in a 2 week span, which is my current situation.
I don't think it is boring, it is normal for a teacher to be expected to spice a book up a little, maybe you need a course in that. If ML is the most boring book you have seen you need to get out more, or maybe stay in more. Smile

Anyway, curiculum free teaching, any one have anything useful to say

powerrose · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 119 Location: Shenzhen, China

I would suggest buying a textbook or convincing someone like Longman/Pearson to send you samples. Hopefully you have access to a photocopier, so photocopy out of the book (I know this is a no-no, so this is a "desperate times" suggestion) and scour the internet for suplemental materials. Using a textbook, even if you're not physically using it in class, is a good way to divide up your classes. Even English for Busy People or something would be better than just freewheeling.......

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 6:27 am Post subject:

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

Ah, I see now. I think, for what it is worth, that schools that don't have some sort of framework for courses tend to be on the more cowboy end of the scale. They are being less than profesh to rely on the teacher alone, especially for ESP courses. But don't complain too much, or they may get you to do it, for no extra pay.

Ok, I write courses. Entire long ones. I also freelance for Cambridge.
Standard time paid for development in my situation is 3 hours:1 hour of materials. Needs analysis can take up to 12 hours.
I have some standard modules that can be modified to fit specific needs, and I can add new focuses also as needed.

I like it a lot - and I've produced many hundreds of hours of course materials.....but I think you have to really like the work.
The other important element you may be missing is a partner or development team. I can put together a pretty good package on my own - but two or more heads are ALWAYS better than one!

So far as the English for the medical professions, you might Google with a focus on Canada to see what you can find on-line. I helped edit a massive piece of work a few years ago that focused on most of the points you raised. I don't think they would allow you access to the actual materials, but even a syllabus can give some really useful framework ideas.

Tip of the day: if you have to write stuff, at least try to put together a syllabus as a first step - and you can often find them (course descriptions) online. Then it's easier to build a logical package, and it's also easier to think of mats to insert to meet the goals.

I dunno if this helps at all, but good luck!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

There are plenty of medical English books out there. Get free samples or pay for them, and see for yourself what good they are in your situation.

Same for office workers.

The main point is to define the goals of the courses, and THEN make the syllabus. Sounds like your admin is putting the cart before the horse.

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

can you pm me a hint on where to find them, you can have my sister as a reward, she is cute

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133