Becoming a 'real' teacher in England - Ajarn Forum

wildbill · 22nd November 2007, 10:08

I have been thinking for a while about training to become a 'real' teacher back home after working in Thailand as a ESL teacher for nearly a year.

I don't want to teach English though and was thinking of maybe Design Technology or Business Studies. (The subject I studied at University.)

I know I will need to do teacher training, (one year is it?) but I only have a HND too. Will I need to complete a one year degree top-up before the training? Also, what exactly does the training involve and how much does it cost?

Finally, what sort of money can a new teacher expect to earn? Someone said its 21,000+. Sounds good to me!

laoshi · 22nd November 2007, 12:26

Yes you'll need to upgrade the HND. Yes you'll need to do a PGCE. The training is free and they'll give you 6 grand subsistence for the training year. You should be applying now for a Sept 08 placement (But you won't be aiming for that until the topup HND right?...

defender · 22nd November 2007, 14:16

Have a look at some of the other routes in here TDA - Training and Development Agency for Schools and call up a few people at different agencies and institutions for advice in your home area.

That's what I did. Then I wrote to quite a few schools in the area saying that I was hoping to get into teaching, probably via the Graduate Teacher Program and could they offer me a placement or some unqualified teaching work or anything. For the GTP you need to have some experience within the UK system (preferably non-janitorial work

)

I'm hoping to start next September on GTP and have an interview in a school tomorrow. If it goes to (my) plan, they'll offer me some teaching assistant work or something for the next two terms and a GTP placement for next September. If it doesn't work out that way, then the university running the GTP (probably Notingham Trent) will be able to find me a placement as and when I get accepted on the programm

Well · 22nd November 2007, 14:38

good work def, and good luck!

Cyrille · 22nd November 2007, 14:47

I hate that term 'real' teacher, even in inverted commas.

I've been teaching for nearly 20 years. I have a degree in English Literature, a CELTA, Trinity Diploma and an MA TESOL.

In what sense am I not a 'real' fucking teacher?

If you mean a PGCE qualified teacher can you use that term, please? Especially on an EFL teachers website.

We cop enough flak without shooting ourselves in the foot as well.

Thanks,
Cyrille.

Well · 22nd November 2007, 14:48

whoo...simmer down pup...

chip on shoulder?

defender · 22nd November 2007, 14:52

O h dear, oh dear Cyrille! I knew what he meant and I'm sure others did too ..... and that in no way means that you are not a 'real' or real teacher in my opinion - with all that experience I'm sure you're a fantastic teacher

To be fair, he did go on to qualify what he meant by 'real' teacher

Well · 22nd November 2007, 14:53

and there's the inverted commas, ya see...

Cyrille · 22nd November 2007, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Well

chip on shoulder?

One on both - I'm well balanced.

Just think it's utterly idiotic for ESL / EFL teachers themselves to use that term.

Quote:

Originally Posted by defender

I knew what he meant

If I use the term 'wog' or 'nigger' to describe a black person then you 'know what I mean'.

Hardly the point!

Well · 22nd November 2007, 15:01

riiiiiiiiight...

defender · 22nd November 2007, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrille

If I use the term 'wog' or 'nigger' to describe a black person then you 'know what I mean'.

Hardly the point!

It wouldn't worry me mate to be honest. I would still know that you probably aren't a racist. Use whatever terminology gets the message across, it's a social web-forum FFS

Cyrille · 22nd November 2007, 15:07

Listen - otherwise the OP is a fair question, so I don't want to sidetrack it further.

Let's agree to differ.

One thing I can tell you, bill, is:

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildbill

Will I need to complete a one year degree top-up before the training?

Yes, you will need a degree to do a Post GRADUATE Certificate in Education.

defender · 22nd November 2007, 15:18

Are you saying that the OP will have to do a PGCE before he starts his teacher training? Either way it's a very misleading post - there are other ways to get into teaching as I posted above

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Becoming a teacher â€“ how to enter the teaching profession â€“ TDA

paully · 22nd November 2007, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildbill

I know I will need to do teacher training, (one year is it?) but I only have a HND too. Will I need to complete a one year degree top-up before the training? Also, what exactly does the training involve and how much does it cost?

Finally, what sort of money can a new teacher expect to earn? Someone said its 21,000+. Sounds good to me!

You'll need a degree to do the PGCE, although there are other ways in to teaching as defender has said.
A Secondary PGCE involves around 3 months studies at uni plus 2 school placements of around 3 months each during which you put the theory into practice and are assessed. There are also 3 skills tests to do. You can get a bursary payment of 9,000 for the course, although you'll now have to pay £3,000 or so towards the course fees.
Starting salaries for new teachers are around £21k now, I think, but you may get more if you have some relevant work experience.

Jon · 22nd November 2007, 21:36

Yeah, check out the link by LDMA above. Tells you all you need to know. Basic requirement to begin teacher training is GCSE English and maths at grade C, and degree. Although you could possibly join a BEd course, but I don't know whether they would give any acknowledgement to your HND.
Basic requirements - Teacher training - TDA
so what the OP needs to do first is complete the degree. That subject is in high demand at schools, so the OP should be well placed to get a few points up the pay scale in the first job offer, also taking into account Thailand teaching experience. My TEFL (with only a 1 week intro course under my belt) experience in Thailand and a bit in UK, totalling 2 yrs, plus PGCE got me 2 yrs 'seniority' on the pay scale in my high school job in England, which was worth a grand or two.