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Ways to make 2011 better for teaching

 
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Professor



Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 7:52 pm    Post subject: Ways to make 2011 better for teaching Reply with quote

Every year people make New Year's resolutions regarding work, family and many other things. For the professional EFLer's, any suggestions on how we can all make 2011 better for teaching EFL here in Mexico?

Spend more time on lesson plans
Be more energetic
Read more books and journals on EFL
Join mextesol.org.mx
Get more students

Feel free to jump in with ideas. Very Happy
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Dragonlady



Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Of late, I've hit the wall at least twice each year.

What gets me back up and on track, is the promise to myself to give less time to teaching matters and more time to personal matters.
For the past (too many) years I've been consumed by my responsibilities to my students, this includes professional development.
If I'm physically and mentally exhausted, I'm hardly fit to be teaching.

Regards,
DL
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Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 11:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was surprised not to see the idea of getting another degree or IB training as a suggestion in the previous threads about professional development. It isn't easy to do from a distance or in Spanish (studying locally) of course. Moving onward and upward into a Master's in education, linguistics, English, etc for those that want to make a career of teaching here, at home, or another place.

Does anyone know of a specific program available online? I've been looking into an early childhood education program available online through an Ontario, Canada college...tossing the idea around of a career add-on.

I'm not sure how many other schools in Mexico offer this, but the ASF offers master's degree courses through a US university for their teachers, on campus here in Mexico City. My girlfriend got her MS in Interdisciplinary Studies this year, with the school paying for about half of it through the ASF. Tec de Monterrey offers certification courses in IB, as another example.
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Dragonlady



Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 12:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wrote:
I was surprised not to see the idea of getting another degree or IB training as a suggestion in the previous threads about professional development.

Why is this so surprising? Look at the stats on the 'How old are you' thread. Of 34 teacher who responded, 22 (65%) are 41 years and older � 10 (almost 30%) are over age 60, whereas 12 (34%) are under 41.

Aside from perhaps professional development through what we used to call continuing studies and which is now more commonly referred to as Open Studies* I believe the majority of us that fall in one of the more mature Very Happy groups have either a) already acquired, a/o b) already spent the time and money we allotted for post secondary education, a/o c) achieved 'onward and upward' without having to invest in the latter.

***
Now w/r/t tossing around the idea of an early childhood program as a career add on - IMHO, unless you have a personal curiosity, this is a waste of time for a male in Mexico, in fact male or female over the age of (I'll be generous) 30. Why? In all my years of teaching here, with the exception of the physical education teacher, I have never seen male teachers hired for Primary. Language schools as well, are more accustomed to hiring female teachers for ages groups under 13. I'm told it's a cultural thing.

Personally, unless you are Hercules, the energy and patience needed to work with this age group wanes rather quickly. Of course anyone who actually owns or manages a school that caters to this age group may find the information presented in such a course study somewhat helpful. My question might be how an online course addresses the practicum required by most early childhood education certification.

Regards,
DL

*Open Studies, students register in university-level credit courses and study part-time, without committing to a degree or diploma program. This is an ideal option for professional development, upgrading post secondary qualifications and general interest. Credits for these courses may count toward future degrees and diplomas.
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Guy Courchesne



Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 3:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

No new tricks for the old dogs then?

I've become interested in ECE from having my own child and from having looked at some of the programs available here in DF. I've never thought of myself as restricted to Mexico but you make good points about actual job possibilities. I don't see myself restricted to an actual classroom either though. EFL program design is my strongest suit at this point and I'd like to explore that at the very young learner level. Perhaps.

Quote:
My question might be how an online course addresses the practicum required by most early childhood education certification.


The practicum for this specific program I'm looking at requires travel back to Canada for a period of several weeks each year. It would take some planning to do and this is why I'm still mulling.
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FreddyM



Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 180
Location: Mexico

PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2010 3:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

CENEVAL (Central Nacional de Evaluacion Para la Educacion Superior) offers a way to get a licenciatura (similar to a Bachelor's degree) in Teaching English, and many other fields, through a test and documenting relevant work experience. I've thought about doing it, since none of the degrees I have are actually in education.

More info here:
http://www.ceneval.edu.mx/ceneval-web/content.do?page=3910

Regarding IB training, I've always been interested in that because it more closely reflects my own philosophy towards education. But I didn't think one could get training for that unless one worked for an IB institution, which I don't.

None of the training or workshops I've attended through my school have I found to be very relevant or interesting. I've done my own reading (books and articles and online) to better myself professionally, albeit without having any nice looking diplomas or certificates to show off for it.

I'm interested in doing more however, in the coming year. Perhaps CENEVAL, maybe mextesol, definitely read a few books, and see if I can publish a paper or two somewhere.

As for males working in primary schools, there is a niche market for that, though most of the schools are religious in nature. You don't have to be religious to be hired at such places. I seriously doubt that's what Guy was aiming for with his interest in early childhood education.
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