Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JacktheCat]

I am beginning to think the main reason Asian schools reject the CELTA is that the method of learning that it espouses is totally alien to their concept of teaching.

I can't count the number of times I've been corrected on my teaching sytle in Korea and shown the "correct way."

For example:

"Stop asking the students so many questions, just give them the answer."

"You let the students talk to much [in English] in class. Teacher must do most talking in class. Best way to learn for students speaking." (sic)

"Why put chairs in circle and sit in middle of class? Chairs should be in row and teacher in front of class." (sic)

I could go on and on.

I suppose it should bother me, but I lost my idealism a long time ago. I just nod my head, say yeah, and go back to what I was doing before.

[Badmojo]

[rok_the-boat]

The biggest difference between CELTA and other courses is the peer evaluation of lessons. Having your classes scrutinised, pulled apart, and critiqued every second day or so, and doing the same to your peers really forces you try to put the newly learned ideas into your lesson plan. It's kinda like having to show your driving examiner that you are looking in the rear view mirror by turning your head a little more than normal - so he can see; you have to show that you can do it etc. That is the whole point of it. Some people don't even realise it until their third CELTA week - after two plus weeks of critical bashing. It can be quite a painful experience for some people - and some fail too. Yes, you can fail. One guy on my couse failed. A friend did his in the UK and 3 (of 12) failed. Another told me 6 (of 12) failed on his course down under in Australia. The ones who fail are usually those with little or no prior teaching experience to draw upon - they key is, you have to show your are learning, and that means, putting the new ideas in your lesson plan. I had ten years experience yet still found it tough - but enlightening.

Incidentally, I found the USQ MA also helped me quite a lot. They were also quite tough on marking essays. It is not easy to get a good grade - you really have to work for it. I think USQ understands that.

[Badmojo]

[rok_the-boat]

CELTA is all about practical teaching. They give you techniques (in the mornings), then a bunch of students, watching you teach (in the afternoons). And you watch others. It is very practical. Ours was 9am - 6pm everyday with about 4-6 hours homework every night. The homework was the real sleeper killer. Once you get roasted after a duff teaching session you stay up all night trying to make a better lesson plan for next time. Everyone goes though it. Hard at he time, but content afterwards. As I said, all practical.

It is one thing to read a technique in a book, and quite another to have to deliver it the next day - it usually takes two or three times to get it right, and in the meantime, you get roasted alive The ones who come off worst are those who don't accept the new ideas - they start to critique the ideas (that they have paid for) mostly because they can't deliver. They will, if they try though - the key is to keep the pressure up to the end. It is quite something to have your lessons ripped apart - it only begins to make sense once you realise and accept how s**t your lessons really were. And even if your lessons were good thus far, you still have to break out and introduce the new techniques / ideas into your lesson plan, and into actual practice.

[TECO]

My USQ M.A. in Applied Linguistics doesn't even come close to being as valuable as the CELTA.

Reading about methodology in a couple of textbooks as opposed to actually using the methodology in practice and observed teaching are two different things.

USQ M.A., in my view was not difficult - it was easy. The papers I did were easy to do and I got good grades.

USQ M.A. coursework (Not thesis) is a cake walk IMO.

CELTA is much more intensive and practical related. I really feel that I've got some tangible skills now.

The USQ M.A. didn't leave me feeling this way.

[rapier]

[rapier]

[oldfort]

Best of luck, TECO, keep trucking! Week three was the worst for me because all these things started to make sense and I had a lot more to think about. It was worth it.

[TECO]

Oldfort,

Thanks a lot!

I had 3 lessons to prepare and teach and also Assignment 3 to write.

Week 3 was really stressful for me and I'm glad to put it behind me now.

Week 4 will be all down hill hopefully with 1 lesson and Assignment 4.

[VanIslander]

Has anybody done the CELTYL or YL endorsement?

It seems so relevant to teaching in hagwons or grade school in Korea, even if it's not appreciated by those who do the hiring.

[rapier]

TECO- incidentally, how many people are on your course? 12 on mine...of which 2 failed, because they allowed themselves to be distracted too much.
If you miss more than a day of the course, consider yourself doomed, basically.

[TECO]

There are about 15 people in the class.

There seem to be some 'head cases' on the course (a couple of Canadian girls specifically) and some arguing/bullying.

Cambridge guys don't do much about it.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of "Flakes" out there in EFL land and, even more unfortunately, many of them seem to be from Canada.

[VanIslander]

TECO seems to be developing some "issues" with those from The True North.

[oldfort]

Tensions rose during my CELTA stint, too. No romances, though, probably because there were only seven of us. No real fighting, either. We were kept busy with extra (non-observed) teaching time. Not busy enough, though, because I blew my chances at a B (marks were above-standard until then) when I found the local pubs.



I realize now, since I was the only Canadian girl on that course, that this must have been inevitable flakiness at work. heeeee!~ It was beyond my control.

Anyway, TECO, you're on the homestretch now! Week 4 went by so easily for me, I'm sure you'll find it easier going, too. Best of luck!