Part Time Primary Teacher course

macbarbie

Hi, Ok so I know there is similar threads about Primary Teaching but I cant find one about part time courses. Basically I applied for Teaching back when I did my leaving Cert but unfortunately I got a D in honours Irish so of course couldnt do it. But alternatively I was interested in Marketing and so I went with that and did a 2year course and got my higher cert. Then I wokred as an account manager for a year and now im in Marketing and well i know Iv gone the wrong direction, its just not for me and i know primary school teaching is what i want. So now what do i do? I cant go full time coz i now have responsibilies like paying for rent so I need to work full time. Does anyone know what i could do or has any1 done it part time? Thanks in advance!!

Rosita

From what I know that only part-time Primary teaching option is the on-line course with Hibernia College. But you appear to be stumped on two grounds - One: you need an honour in Irish from the Leaving Cert and Two: you need a primary degree as it's a graduate course.

It seems a long way away from where you are right now to be honest.

BoozyBabe

& it needs to be a Level 8 Honours Degree at that!

& Yes, Hibernia is the only part-time type course available.

If it's for you, it won't go by your though.

I'm repeating my Hons Irish in 14 days!!!! 11 years after 1st doing it.
& then I'll be applying for Hibernia.

macbarbie

ok so basically.... im not gonna be happy for a long time ha! Id have to do two more years and get my degree in something I dont want to do, resit my irish exam then do a course for a year and then I might not even get work straight away! Dam Irish wrecking everything! why would you even need honours, i dont remember doing much irish in primary except for sara is ainm dom!

Rosita

Saying "damn Irish is wrecking everything" in the context of an ambition to be a Primary teacher is a bit like saying you could be a Doctor if it wasn't for all that head wrecking stuff about hearts and blood and things.

It's a pre-requisite for the job as a Primary teacher is expected to teach it.

Why would you need honours Irish? Well, I suppose to ensure that someone who is going to be teaching it has some level of ability in it. There is a massive discrepancy in standard between someone scraping a pass at pass level and someone getting a decent honour.

If you sent a teacher in front of a class with just pass Irish - especially pass Irish not practiced for years - there is no guarantee that he/she would even know more than the Primary students. In my experience, for a teacher to teach a language even adequately they need to be comfortable at a level much higher than that they are teaching.

A language is one area where you cannot teach by being just one page ahead of the students.

sunflower!

I know you said you want to do it part time but would you consider going back as a mature student? if you repeated your Irish next year you could go back to mary i for the 3 year bEd?? i know it wouldn’t be ideal but in the long run its probably quicker? You might even be able to get some kind of funding if you haven’t done a degree before. Hibernian etc are difficult enough to get into and then you run the risk of not being able to do them even after going back to do the Irish! personally I was in a similar position had a degree though but not the honours Irish and I was worried that even if I did it I wouldn’t be able to get into Hibernian I decided to opt for secondary instead and I’m just finished the hdip!:D You could also consider trying that! maybe you could find a way to convert your cert into a degree without doing another 3 yrs??

macbarbie

Yeah I know but i got a high D in honours and i worked very hard I couldnt do Irish at all i did pass for my junior and I begged to be let into honours for leaving when i realised i needed a C in honours. I even got my examed rechecked just incase so i mean dam irish in the context that it was the bane of the last three years in secondary and i still was a few marks away from doing one of the main things i want in life. I though i could do something else but hence posting this, I jsu cant thats what I know i want to do! so now you see... dam Irish wrecking everything!

sunflower!

des bishop has a site that you can do an online irish course free!! Im actually doing it at the moment myself, there is a link to it on www.desbishop.com it might help you decide if you'd be up for trying the irish lc again!!:)

BoozyBabe

Do the Irish again anyway!
What have you got to lose?

If it's something you really want to do, & it sounds like it is, as you even wanted to do it while you were at school, it's going to take you a while.

Is it not better to start on that journey now, than wait another 5 years & realise that you still want to do it!

We only get one shot at life, we may as well try to achieve all we want to achieve.

You could do a part-time degree with the Open University while repeating your Irish & then go on to the HDip with Hibernia.

Also, jobs are very hard to come by in secondary, so you'd need to check out your subjects etc first before going down that route.

I, like you, always wanted to be a teacher, but was too 'cool' to admit it. I mean, only the swots went onto the be teachers, plus you had to be a swot to have any hope, & well I wasn't a swot, & wasn't smart enough.....
Those were the things I told myself.
I had no interest in Irish, wasn't doing Honours & had no interest in pushing myself to do it.

So, I put it down as one of those things I may have liked & moved on.

I went to college & studied IT. Did my diploma, worked, went travelling & then did my degree (Thank God!!)
In all that time, teaching would often come into my head, but the Irish thing would push it straight back out again!

That was until a few years ago when I realised I wasn't particularly happy in my career, & couldn't see myself here for another 30 or more years! :eek:

So, I decided Irish wasn't going to hold me back anymore!

I'm pretty confident I'll get my Honour, then I'l apply to Hibernia. If I don't get in 1st time, I'll apply again & again until they eventually let me in.

As I said, if you wanting something badly enough, you'll let nothing stand in your way! (Even the bloody Irish!!!:D)

BoozyBabe

macbarbie wrote: »

then do a course for a year!

Oh, & it's actually 18 months!!!

gaeilgegrinds

In order to be able to teach something one must have it to a higher level than they are going to teach, at least that's what we were always told in college. If you really want to become a Primary teacher you'll get there. Keep in mind many jobs are now in Gaelscoileanna too so a proficency in Gaeilge really is a plus. Best of luck!

ArthurDent

gaeilgegrinds wrote: »

In order to be able to teach something one must have it to a higher level than they are going to teach, at least that's what we were always told in college. If you really want to become a Primary teacher you'll get there. Keep in mind many jobs are now in Gaelscoileanna too so a proficency in Gaeilge really is a plus. Best of luck!

Agree with you - but why is there no de facto requirement for honours in Maths or science (or even the requirement for ANY science subject) to get into teacher training.....imo the level of science taught in many primary schools is dreadful - from interviewing easily 250 candidates for teaching posts over the past 6 years I haven't come across more than a handful of people that say they enjoy teaching science (and most of these were Hibernian or PGCE grads with a degree in science) and more often than not the least favourite area of the curriculum , if candidates are asked is science.

RealJohn

I'm a secondary science teacher and I've found (so far) that the level of science that the first year students have is adequate.

I also teach through Irish as well as teaching in the Gaeltacht during the summer and I find that the level of Irish of students coming from english speaking primary/secondary schools in general is way below what I would consider an acceptable standard.
I have also found that the average primary teacher not teaching in a Gaelscoil is of the opinion that "damn Irish wrecks everything". When this is the attitude of the teacher, is it any wonder that the students come out of secondary school with a lower level of Irish than they do French, German or whatever European language they've studied?

Apologies to conscientious primary teachers who genuinely try to teach Irish but I think you're in the minority (I might be wrong, I'm just going on my own experience).

OP, I think you need to adjust your attitude to what is a core, compulsary subject all the way up to leaving cert before you should consider yourself a candidate for primary teaching. If Irish is a problem, try secondary teaching. That way you can stick to subjects you'll be able to teach to the required level and with the required enthusiasm.

Rosita

RealJohn wrote: »

I'm a secondary science teacher and I've found (so far) that the level of science that the first year students have is adequate.

I also teach through Irish as well as teaching in the Gaeltacht during the summer and I find that the level of Irish of students coming from english speaking primary/secondary schools in general is way below what I would consider an acceptable standard.
I have also found that the average primary teacher not teaching in a Gaelscoil is of the opinion that "damn Irish wrecks everything". When this is the attitude of the teacher, is it any wonder that the students come out of secondary school with a lower level of Irish than they do French, German or whatever European language they've studied?

Apologies to conscientious primary teachers who genuinely try to teach Irish but I think you're in the minority (I might be wrong, I'm just going on my own experience).

OP, I think you need to adjust your attitude to what is a core, compulsary subject all the way up to leaving cert before you should consider yourself a candidate for primary teaching. If Irish is a problem, try secondary teaching. That way you can stick to subjects you'll be able to teach to the required level and with the required enthusiasm.

I have to be honest and say that much of this went through my head when reading some of the earlier comments. But as a non-teacher I didn't want to be too bolshie about it.

I spoke to a Principal of an English speaking Primary school recently and he said that the standard of Irish in most Primary schools is atrocious. He then said that "I get people coming here for jobs and they have an A in Leaving Cert Irish, have studied for three years in College but when you converse with them in Irish they are unable to hold a conversation."

I would be really concerned about the future if potential Primary teachers are going back repeating Irish just to get through the Hibernia course and regarding it as a chore while probably ensuring appalling standards and a negative attitude among their students.

BoozyBabe

Rosita wrote: »

I would be really concerned about the future if potential Primary teachers are going back repeating Irish just to get through the Hibernia course and regarding it as a chore while probably ensuring appalling standards and a negative attitude among their students.

I really hope you weren't refering in any way to me there, as I'd be hugely offended by this comment.

Yes it's true that when I was at secondary school I didn't really have much desire to learn the language, & would prob have been one of those students complaingin about the fact I HAD to learn the 'stupid' language!

It is also true that I'm repeating the exam just so I can get onto the Hibernia course.

But:- I DO NOT have a negative attitude to the language. I love it & have a great passion for it. I began studying it again at least a year before signing up for the course, because I didn't want to just pass the exam, I wanted to be able to speak & understand the language, so I went back to the complete basics.

I work SO hard at the Irish that 1/2 the time I find the Irish version of a sentence nearly always pops out of my mouth when talking to people.

To say that I will bestow a negative attitude to Irish on my future students is insulting to someone who has gained a real passion & respect for the language.

I'm not saying you were implying to me, but before anyone else decides to jump on that particular band wagon, I'd just like to clear that up!;)

Fruiti

OP another option for you may be the UK PGCE (or PGDE I'm not sure). It's a one year course for which you will receive a bursary of £6k which would certainly help you out moneywise for the year. You will still need a degree but perhaps if you finish your degree (2 years) then within another year you'd have the PGCE and from then on you'd have 5 years to complete the Irish exam. it can be done in several colleges across the UK - but maybe the UK isnt an option for you! just a thought.

RealJohn

BoozyBabe wrote: »

To say that I will bestow a negative attitude to Irish on my future students is insulting to someone who has gained a real passion & respect for the language.

Just to be clear, even though I don't think you were referring to me, I don't want to tar every primary teacher with the same brush. I know for a fact that there are many primary teachers who love to speak Irish and teach it with a passion. Sadly however, they are a small minority in my experience.

cobweb

Go back and do the Irish. You may discover a love of the language.

I did pass Irish in leaving in the 80s got a D. I repeated it in 2003 got the grades for Primary teaching and a deeper love for the language. I dont teach in a Gaelscoil but I try to ensure I speak Irish everyday and am just finishing my first year out teaching. Best thing I ever did.

Irish is important as it is our native language and it reflects our history. Going back as a mature student to do Irish can be easier the second time around as you are more au fait with how the leaving cert works and how to make it work for you, and this time you are choosing to do it.

Good luck with your decision

macbarbie

Thanks everyone for all your advice and sorry if i peed ppl off with the Irish. I guess i jus dont have a passion for it, never did but as some of you said i might find more of love for it if i try again i doubt it though and i understand that makes ppl made coz of the fear if i did become a teacher i reflect that negativity onto the children but the same can be said for any subject that is equally important im sure all teachers dont love maths but there not penalised for it. I hope thats making sense, hard to get my point across.

So some of you mentioned secondary... what is the route for this? as i said i have only a higher cert in Marketing, where do i go from here?

Thanks again really appreciate everyones help.

spurious

macbarbie wrote: »

So some of you mentioned secondary... what is the route for this? as i said i have only a higher cert in Marketing, where do i go from here?

Get a degree and then do a PGDE (H.Dp.) or do a teaching degree - P.E., Woodwork, Home ec., Religion etc.

FJH

macbarbie wrote: »

Thanks everyone for all your advice and sorry if i peed ppl off with the Irish. I guess i jus dont have a passion for it, never did but as some of you said i might find more of love for it if i try again i doubt it though and i understand that makes ppl made coz of the fear if i did become a teacher i reflect that negativity onto the children but the same can be said for any subject that is equally important im sure all teachers dont love maths but there not penalised for it. I hope thats making sense, hard to get my point across.

So some of you mentioned secondary... what is the route for this? as i said i have only a higher cert in Marketing, where do i go from here?

Thanks again really appreciate everyones help.

If you want to be a Primary teacher, apply to do the Irish Leaving Cert in 2009. If you enjoy that and still want to become a teacher you could apply for Mary I as a mature student and do the B.Ed.

If you wanted to do secondary - and were to continue on with the marketing and get the degree in business, you could only teach business subjects i.e. business, accounting, economics. It is quite difficult to get business jobs at secondary level - there are two streams, business graduates and non-business grads (i.e. everyone else) - which tells you they are trying to restrict the number of business teachers in secondary school.

You could of course also, instead of going doing the B.ed - do Arts in UCC (and UCD I think) - its a 3 year degree. If you pick Irish as one of your subjects and pass it, you wouldnt have to do the leaving cert irish, then you could choose to do primary or secondary teaching after that (and have more options for subjects at secondary level than you would if you had a business degree).

FJH

BoozyBabe wrote: »

Do the Irish again anyway!
What have you got to lose?

If it's something you really want to do, & it sounds like it is, as you even wanted to do it while you were at school, it's going to take you a while.

Is it not better to start on that journey now, than wait another 5 years & realise that you still want to do it!

We only get one shot at life, we may as well try to achieve all we want to achieve.

You could do a part-time degree with the Open University while repeating your Irish & then go on to the HDip with Hibernia.

Also, jobs are very hard to come by in secondary, so you'd need to check out your subjects etc first before going down that route.

I, like you, always wanted to be a teacher, but was too 'cool' to admit it. I mean, only the swots went onto the be teachers, plus you had to be a swot to have any hope, & well I wasn't a swot, & wasn't smart enough.....
Those were the things I told myself.
I had no interest in Irish, wasn't doing Honours & had no interest in pushing myself to do it.

So, I put it down as one of those things I may have liked & moved on.

I went to college & studied IT. Did my diploma, worked, went travelling & then did my degree (Thank God!!)
In all that time, teaching would often come into my head, but the Irish thing would push it straight back out again!

That was until a few years ago when I realised I wasn't particularly happy in my career, & couldn't see myself here for another 30 or more years! :eek:

So, I decided Irish wasn't going to hold me back anymore!

I'm pretty confident I'll get my Honour, then I'l apply to Hibernia. If I don't get in 1st time, I'll apply again & again until they eventually let me in.

As I said, if you wanting something badly enough, you'll let nothing stand in your way! (Even the bloody Irish!!!:D)

I'm in the same boat as you, though I'm not as confident about next monday and tuesday as you!! Finding it very hard to keep all the Paper 2 stuff in m'aigne!!