I would have loved to copy and paste the whole assignment here, as evidence that I am finally done...or so I hope, since the final draft has been submitted, and I'm only waiting for some final comments from my tutor. It's been long and almost boring at times, showing that Cambridge only wants you to mention as many people as possible in a limited space, so rather than a useful way to assess that you now know how to design/develop a course, it looks and feels like an exercise in summarising concepts and naming people. Anyway. This time, with the new school, things have been a lot better, tons of input, a looooot of feedback, and my bibliography includes about 30 texts, so everything looks quite nice. The deadline for the final submission is in a couple of weeks, so I am pretty confident that things will work out this time, and I will have completed this thing once and for all.
As I said, I would have loved to copy and paste the assignment, but the website won't let me do it, so...nevermind.
This is now the time to think of other things, such as...getting my life back, somehow!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Module three is back
Module three has begun. And what a difference! For a start, I have downloaded pages and pages of information, guidelines, explanation of how everything works, and what I am supposed to do, and how, and what I can or have to read, and so on. That is already a big difference with the zero-information I received when I did the diploma at the other school.
Second, the deadlines. By tomorrow I have to submit the proposal grid of my assignment, which makes me focus clearly on what I will write about, and what I’ll have to consider. So my mind is already working, thinking, preparing. It does feel good, it makes me feel more prepared than I was.
My specialism this time is going to be teaching one-to-one (1to1). I have had enough of EAP, which, although useful, can be a bit boring after a while, and I certainly don’t feel like wandering into that field again; also, it makes me feel like there’s a lot of theory, case studies, and whatnot to consider, enough to go for a proper MA in that area, rather than a humble 4500-word assignment.
So, 1to1 it is. It also makes more sense, since I am moving to a place where most of my lessons will be in this format, and lots of students, I expect, will also be quite low level; a standard learner profile, then: professional, 30+, needs English for work, has been out of education for a while and whatever he knew of the language has long gone. Learner needs, wants, lacks, to be determined, although for my “subject” I already know…
I have managed to scan a few pages from some books that will be useful for the research and the course design itself, and am currently waiting to receive yet another Amazon order with the one book I think will help me understand and work on the assignment properly. I have tons of photocopies and books at home too, I can’t believe the money I have invested in my professional development so far…all the books that I’ve bought, and how many have I managed to read properly?
One.
But things are going to change soon.
Second, the deadlines. By tomorrow I have to submit the proposal grid of my assignment, which makes me focus clearly on what I will write about, and what I’ll have to consider. So my mind is already working, thinking, preparing. It does feel good, it makes me feel more prepared than I was.
My specialism this time is going to be teaching one-to-one (1to1). I have had enough of EAP, which, although useful, can be a bit boring after a while, and I certainly don’t feel like wandering into that field again; also, it makes me feel like there’s a lot of theory, case studies, and whatnot to consider, enough to go for a proper MA in that area, rather than a humble 4500-word assignment.
So, 1to1 it is. It also makes more sense, since I am moving to a place where most of my lessons will be in this format, and lots of students, I expect, will also be quite low level; a standard learner profile, then: professional, 30+, needs English for work, has been out of education for a while and whatever he knew of the language has long gone. Learner needs, wants, lacks, to be determined, although for my “subject” I already know…
I have managed to scan a few pages from some books that will be useful for the research and the course design itself, and am currently waiting to receive yet another Amazon order with the one book I think will help me understand and work on the assignment properly. I have tons of photocopies and books at home too, I can’t believe the money I have invested in my professional development so far…all the books that I’ve bought, and how many have I managed to read properly?
One.
But things are going to change soon.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
3 days to go
Really, I can't wait.
It's been the longest summer, and one that I have actually enjoyed, despite the high amount of stress, the unbelievable number of people around, the massive workload we have all been subjected to for the past 3 months. Unfairfly, the AY teachers are now back to full time teaching, which IS unfair, as they are basically just squeezing the life out of us just because the contract allows them to.
So, Wednesday is my last day. I have decided that in order to finish the Delta I need to take time off, as I couldn't manage this pace at work AND combine it with the tight deadlines of the distance Delta...but I do need a full time job to pay the rent and all, although the pay is ridiculous. Anyway, considering that I have also fallen into the trap of a nervous breakdown, understandably I might say, I DO need time off to recover, study, and not be so lonely and stressed during the long dark winter months.
On the upside, apart from going back home and having time to study and complete the dip properly, there is also the fact that for once I'll be able to actually revise and get back in touch with all my TEFL books and photocopies that I have quickly skimmed while I was studying for the dip, but which I've never had a chance to really digest. This also means that finally I'll be able to keep a proper teaching blog, the way I haven't managed for this whole year, regrettably.
So, I'll be back soon, with all things TEFL.
It's been the longest summer, and one that I have actually enjoyed, despite the high amount of stress, the unbelievable number of people around, the massive workload we have all been subjected to for the past 3 months. Unfairfly, the AY teachers are now back to full time teaching, which IS unfair, as they are basically just squeezing the life out of us just because the contract allows them to.
So, Wednesday is my last day. I have decided that in order to finish the Delta I need to take time off, as I couldn't manage this pace at work AND combine it with the tight deadlines of the distance Delta...but I do need a full time job to pay the rent and all, although the pay is ridiculous. Anyway, considering that I have also fallen into the trap of a nervous breakdown, understandably I might say, I DO need time off to recover, study, and not be so lonely and stressed during the long dark winter months.
On the upside, apart from going back home and having time to study and complete the dip properly, there is also the fact that for once I'll be able to actually revise and get back in touch with all my TEFL books and photocopies that I have quickly skimmed while I was studying for the dip, but which I've never had a chance to really digest. This also means that finally I'll be able to keep a proper teaching blog, the way I haven't managed for this whole year, regrettably.
So, I'll be back soon, with all things TEFL.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Several months later...
I am an AY teacher, and work my ass off about 45 hours a week between planning, teaching, doing lots of admin, observing other teachers, and performing random tasks as they spring in my ADOS's evil mind - no, before any misunderstanding occurs, this is the way it works:
5.05 on Friday - I have nothing left to do, have worked so much I can barely remember my name, I consider leaving 10 minutes early, which would be the first time in a week. I know on the DOS/ADOS's office door, go in, and say: Do you think I can go now?
Guess what the answer is (and here I paraphrase): "fuck no, I'd rather chew my arms off than let you leave one minute earlier than what you should, in fact I'll find some random useless thing for you to do to keep you here as long as possible".
And so there I was, an hour later, finally taking off my badge and leaving...
Other than that, it's a great job, I enjoy every minute of it, despite my constant complaining, but it's only letting the steam off, I love what I do, I love my class, the admin work which gives me more responsability and makes me very proud of what I am, and it's a good improvement in my career.
Having said that, I wish the weekend was longer...
5.05 on Friday - I have nothing left to do, have worked so much I can barely remember my name, I consider leaving 10 minutes early, which would be the first time in a week. I know on the DOS/ADOS's office door, go in, and say: Do you think I can go now?
Guess what the answer is (and here I paraphrase): "fuck no, I'd rather chew my arms off than let you leave one minute earlier than what you should, in fact I'll find some random useless thing for you to do to keep you here as long as possible".
And so there I was, an hour later, finally taking off my badge and leaving...
Other than that, it's a great job, I enjoy every minute of it, despite my constant complaining, but it's only letting the steam off, I love what I do, I love my class, the admin work which gives me more responsability and makes me very proud of what I am, and it's a good improvement in my career.
Having said that, I wish the weekend was longer...
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