Teaching as a Career

[razzleydazzley]

oh yay! thanks so much for the help magical!

can't wait to see you too snowyz!

oh id idn't know we'll have orientation again.. hahhaa... i hope it's fun.. at least got chance to make new friends so i won't be that helpless when term starts...

actually i'm very looking foward to it... can't wait!! :wow:

[magical]

you're welcome, razzley.

hope you'll enjoy your studies in NIE. i'm definitely going to miss my friends after being there for 4 years, going through thick and thin with them..

[razzleydazzley]

sorry if i look like i'm hogging the whole thread! i just have so many queries and i have no one else to ask!

i've been assigned to teach geography and english in secondary school... cos i major in these two subjects in nus... the thing is i absolutely love geography but i don't like teaching english really... as much as i would love to learn about it i think teaching english is really a bore.. and i don't think i can change my teaching subject right?

so the question is.. do i really have to teach english after i get posted to secondary sch? or i would most likely concentrate on one subject only?

and i heard that i can still opt for teaching in primary school..... actually i love little children and i have no absolute confidence in controlling hormones-raging teenagers... the catch is i wouldn't be able to teach geography... any advice? i've been thinking of teaching primary sch for quite some time already... and i can deal with them fairly well since i had experience working with them before... sorry for the lengthy post...

Thank God for CozyCot where i can clear so many of my doubts!

[Xue]

Is English your CS1 or CS2? If it's your CS1, might be a bit more difficult to avoid teaching it.

It really all depends on the school and their particular requirements. I know of quite a few teachers who've had to 'specialise' in one CS because of a severe shortage of teachers for that subject. And some principals can be nice and take into consideration your preferences.

If you opt for teaching primary school, won't you then *have* to teach English? :huh:

Personally, I liked teaching English. It gives you a chance to get to know the students better.

[Pynkalita]

For PGDE, do they accept degrees from overseas (as in from distance learning in private schools, such as PSB, SIM, MDIS, etc.)?

[brainspoil]

razzleydazzley

I can understand your point about hormone-raging teenagers! An acquaintance of mine was posted to a neighbourhood school to teach, and basically, her first few months there were hell. Boys tried to look thru' her blouse to see what bra she was wearing, and the next time she came back after the hols, they even made snide comments like "'cher* you grow bigger!" (insinuating that her chest was bigger)

I can't even begin to understand why she can tolerate such nonsense because to me I feel it's almost like an outrage of modesty. So if you're posted to co-ed schools where the discipline is not that good and where the students are not well-behaved, do prepare yourself!

On a lighter note, I agree with Xue that teaching english allows you to get to know your students better. If i were a teacher, I'd definitely opt to teach English.


*"Cher"-student lingo for "teacher"

[Jenine]

Originally posted by Pynkalita
For PGDE, do they accept degrees from overseas (as in from distance learning in private schools, such as PSB, SIM, MDIS, etc.)?

It depends on what you did your degree in. I've friends who did Computer Engineering, engineering of any kind actually, and they were not accepted.

[Pynkalita]

Thank Jenine for the reply! I'm still in poly now, studying Engineering. But my results are not good (straight Ds kind :roll: ), and I want to teach English/Literature... I'm thinking of doing the Dip. in Education first, then take English Lit. at SIM Open U after that to upgrade to teaching English/Literature in Secondary School. Feasible?

[magical]

Originally posted by Pynkalita
For PGDE, do they accept degrees from overseas (as in from distance learning in private schools, such as PSB, SIM, MDIS, etc.)?

i have a colleague who has a degree from open uni and it is not accepted by moe. another has a degree from distant learning and it is not recognised as well. so they were offered the two years Dip in Ed instead based on their A levels or polytechnic diplomas.

[magical]

Originally posted by Pynkalita
Thank Jenine for the reply! I'm still in poly now, studying Engineering. But my results are not good (straight Ds kind :roll: ), and I want to teach English/Literature... I'm thinking of doing the Dip. in Education first, then take English Lit. at SIM Open U after that to upgrade to teaching English/Literature in Secondary School. Feasible?

that's the route taken by most non-graduate teachers. many studied part time at SIM. Actually you can try to apply for the position but i know that it is rather competitive nowadays so results do matter. those with polytechnic diploma or A levels can either apply for 2 years Dip in Ed or 4 years BA(Ed) or BSc(Ed).

[Pynkalita]

So after taking the part-time degree for non-grad teachers, will they be "upgraded" to secondary schools? TIA! :D

[razzleydazzley]

oh thanks brainspoil for the warning.. i sure do hope that those teenagers will be a bit more mature in the school that i will be posted to...

quite scary huh..

[razzleydazzley]

Xue and Brainspoil... i guess things would be better when i start teaching and really experience how i can get to know my students better through english lessons! =)

[razzleydazzley]

anybody read the recent newspaper report on how this trainee teacher had to pay $70000 if i'm not wrong.. for failing TP.. is it true? cos i didn't read it.. i heard it from a friend... what exactly happened? TP is that difficult to go through?

[magical]

So after taking the part-time degree for non-grad teachers, will they be "upgraded" to secondary schools? TIA! :D

usually not the case because if you're trained in primary education regardless of PGDE, BA/BSc(Ed) or Dip Ed, you'll most likely remain in primary schools. my SO sister is trained and teaching in secondary. she requested for a change to primary school but to no avail.