Primary Teaching

twinklestar123

Hi, I am hoping for some advice. I am 25 years old and I am thinking of a career change. I have my degree in Busness from 4 years studying in college.I am curently employed with good salary and job ut i think i need to change. Heres my problem:

I would like to do teaching now, but i dont have honours Irish and my degree I got was a pass, however my cert and diploma are 2.2 merits.

IF I had to go to england to train i would as i am young and would go for it. have you any feedback on what I coud do? x

gaeilgegrinds1

Right, I've PMed you. Best of luck.

byhookorbycrook

Just be aware that there are very few jobs in primary teaching at present and that there is a huge oversupply of qualified teachers so it could be a good while before things improve. Have a look at educationposts.ie.

however, if this is really what you want, then go for it.

battser

I know this is dragging up an old thread HOWEVER!

I have been told recently that there is a demand for male teachers. This has come from women I know who are teachers. Is there any truth to it?

E.T.

No. It might seem easier for men to get jobs, but there are so few men who do teaching that there are always going to be more female teachers looking for work. There are thousands of unemployed teachers at the moment both male and female.

Brookie123

There are not many jobs for either male or female teachers these days. I would seriously think about changing career to become a primary school teacher & I know because I'm qualified & probated with no job!

EricC

I'm also looking into returning to college to do Primary Teaching in September 2012 as a mature student, I'll be 25 when I return. I plan to resit the LC Irish in June next year to get my C3 or higher so that I reach the specified requirements. Only problem is my level of irish is very poor and will need to put a lot of work into getting the C3, I was looking at a few night courses in Dublin, can anybody shed some light on what the best place to study irish would be or what other options they could advise on.

I qualified with an honours degree in Architectural Technology in 2010, and with my luck the building boom bubble exploded in 2008, leaving me with no possibility of work in this sector in Ireland when I did graduate.

I managed to get a job in February with an event management company but am unhappy with what I am doing, I feel kind of lost with what direction to take next. My heart always seems to return to Primary Teaching.

I've always had a love for teaching, I'm the oldest of 5 kids so I've been helping with homework, exams & MATHS since I can remember. I've also been coaching kids hockey for years and I loved every bit of it.

If anybody can give a bit of advice that would be greatly appreciated.

gaeilgebeo

EricC wrote: »

I'm also looking into returning to college to do Primary Teaching in September 2012 as a mature student, I'll be 25 when I return. I plan to resit the LC Irish in June next year to get my C3 or higher so that I reach the specified requirements. Only problem is my level of irish is very poor and will need to put a lot of work into getting the C3, I was looking at a few night courses in Dublin, can anybody shed some light on what the best place to study irish would be or what other options they could advise on.

I qualified with an honours degree in Architectural Technology in 2010, and with my luck the building boom bubble exploded in 2008, leaving me with no possibility of work in this sector in Ireland when I did graduate.

I managed to get a job in February with an event management company but am unhappy with what I am doing, I feel kind of lost with what direction to take next. My heart always seems to return to Primary Teaching.

I've always had a love for teaching, I'm the oldest of 5 kids so I've been helping with homework, exams & MATHS since I can remember. I've also been coaching kids hockey for years and I loved every bit of it.

If anybody can give a bit of advice that would be greatly appreciated.

All I'll say is don't give up your current job with the expectation of starting college in September 2012. It is extremely difficult to get into the post grad in primary teaching.
I give grinds to people in your situation year after year and often have the same students back year after year to practice for the oral part of the interview for the post grad as they have been unsuccessful in securing a place.
As for repeating higher level Irish, go for it. If you give it 100%, you have every chance of getting the honour.
I would also point out that helping with homework and maths is a far cry from teaching itself. Maybe do some observation and volunteering to see if it is really what you want to do before setting out on the long road that it takes to get into teaching nowadays!

EricC

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

All I'll say is don't give up your current job with the expectation of starting college in September 2012. It is extremely difficult to get into the post grad in primary teaching.
I give grinds to people in your situation year after year and often have the same students back year after year to practice for the oral part of the interview for the post grad as they have been unsuccessful in securing a place.
As for repeating higher level Irish, go for it. If you give it 100%, you have every chance of getting the honour.
I would also point out that helping with homework and maths is a far cry from teaching itself. Maybe do some observation and volunteering to see if it is really what you want to do before setting out on the long road that it takes to get into teaching nowadays!

Thanks for the feedback gaeilgebeo, I think the undergrad route would be more appropriate for myself, I have been speaking to a lot of people that have applied for the postgrad a number of times and have failed to get a place, I hear competition for places is unbelievable.

I totally agree with you that helping with homework and maths is a far cry from teaching itself. I have been looking into doing some volunteering in a gaelscoil to see if it is for myself and also to help improve my irish at the same time.

Dont worry I have no plans to quit my current job, I would really need to be 100% positive that this move is for me.

Do you have any advice on schools that do a comprehensive LC Irish for mature students looking to apply for primary teahing.

gaeilgebeo

EricC wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback gaeilgebeo, I think the undergrad route would be more appropriate for myself, I have been speaking to a lot of people that have applied for the postgrad a number of times and have failed to get a place, I hear competition for places is unbelievable.

I totally agree with you that helping with homework and maths is a far cry from teaching itself. I have been looking into doing some volunteering in a gaelscoil to see if it is for myself and also to help improve my irish at the same time.

Dont worry I have no plans to quit my current job, I would really need to be 100% positive that this move is for me.

Do you have any advice on schools that do a comprehensive LC Irish for mature students looking to apply for primary teahing.

You have a few options.
You could do Irish externally, grinds, night classes etc.. or you could repeat it in an actual school and attend classes(though I don't know if your job would allow for this.)
I have seen it done both ways.
In one case, I know a girl who came to school Monday-Wednesday as she worked Thursday-Sunday.
It is doable!

EricC

I was looking into doing the LC Irish Course in the Institute of Education, its a bit pricey but seems run fairly well. Then I was planning on getting grinds to help me with the oral work.

Has the curriculum for irish changed this year? Is there more enphasis on oral this year?

Also what do you this of the Rosetta Stone CD's?

gaeilgebeo

EricC wrote: »

I was looking into doing the LC Irish Course in the Institute of Education, its a bit pricey but seems run fairly well. Then I was planning on getting grinds to help me with the oral work.

Has the curriculum for irish changed this year? Is there more enphasis on oral this year?

Also what do you this of the Rosetta Stone CD's?

The exam consists of :
Tapework
Essay
2 Comprehensions
5 prose
5poems/or a novel/play
Oral exam (which is worth 40 %), however the criteria/format for the oral has changed and students will no longer get away with learning off a conversation!

I am not familiar with the Rosetta Stone CD's , sorry.

EricC

Thanks gaeilgebeo, appreciate the advice you've given here.

StrawDub

Hi all,

I am in a pretty similar position and have just completed my leaving cert Irish once again. I too was coming from a very low base and it took a serious amount of work for me to get up to standard. I went to a weekly grind in Dublin 15 along with spending every second I had listening to TG4 and Radio Na Gaeltachta. Fingers crossed I actually get the C3 now, I will find out in August.

I too am in a business/IT job after spending 5 years in college. But I find I don't really have a passion for the job at all. So I too have contemplated going the post grad route, but its a big risk to leave my permanent job and back to college.

I intend to apply down the post graduate route if I get the C3 and if I get offered a place the big decision will really have to be made.

A good number of my family and friends teach and I just find it infectious and something I feel passionately about.

gaeilgebeo

StrawDub wrote: »

Hi all,

I am in a pretty similar position and have just completed my leaving cert Irish once again. I too was coming from a very low base and it took a serious amount of work for me to get up to standard. I went to a weekly grind in Dublin 15 along with spending every second I had listening to TG4 and Radio Na Gaeltachta. Fingers crossed I actually get the C3 now, I will find out in August.

I too am in a business/IT job after spending 5 years in college. But I find I don't really have a passion for the job at all. So I too have contemplated going the post grad route, but its a big risk to leave my permanent job and back to college.

I intend to apply down the post graduate route if I get the C3 and if I get offered a place the big decision will really have to be made.

A good number of my family and friends teach and I just find it infectious and something I feel passionately about.

To be honest, the decision to take the course isn't going to be the biggest one. It's the decision that you are willing to be unemployed in teaching for X amount of time after graduating.
There are hundreds of qualified, probated(which you will still need to do after your post grad) primary teachers who are unable to get a few days subbing, let alone a job. You will be competing with them for jobs. A lot of jobs advertised require probated applicants only, so it's catch 22!
Things are tough out there but if it's what you really want to do go for it. Just go in with your eyes opened.
I'd also suggest some observation/volunteering in a school to see if it is really what you want to do.

Shikei

I'm doing the undergrad as a mature student and like some of the above posters, had to repeat my LC Irish. I went and volunteered in a Gaelscoil a few days a week for the year which gave me experience as well as being great for my spoken Irish, and also did the Institute course. In the interview to get into college they really focus on whether you have realistic expectations of what teaching is like (aka not a walk in the park!), as well as your previous experience with children. Good luck!

hunnybunny

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

To be honest, the decision to take the course isn't going to be the biggest one. It's the decision that you are willing to be unemployed in teaching for X amount of time after graduating.
There are hundreds of qualified, probated(which you will still need to do after your post grad) primary teachers who are unable to get a few days subbing, let alone a job. You will be competing with them for jobs. A lot of jobs advertised require probated applicants only, so it's catch 22!
Things are tough out there but if it's what you really want to do go for it. Just go in with your eyes opened.
I'd also suggest some observation/volunteering in a school to see if it is really what you want to do.

I think you need to positive and realistic. There is so much negativity out there. If you go in with the mindset of "I want to work down the road from my house and enjoy the long teacher holidays" you need to get out of teaching. Sadly there are potential teacher who think like that.

Things are tough everywhere but if its what you REALLY want to do there ARE teaching jobs globally. I've always wanted to be a teacher so I went all the way to the Middle East to get some experience. Then I wanted to qualify so I flew all the way to England for a PGCE interview (which I got). Then when I qualified there weren't many jobs in the north of England so I moved south. Simple as no moaning about situations just aiming towards the goal of teaching.

So many of the Irish on my PGCE went home to Ireland and moan about the lack of jobs and supply and my response always is "On yer bike"
I'd love to come back to Ireland someday and when I do I plan on having a good CV that I gained in England. It will at least show I have got guts and hell of a lot of determination.:)
What I am saying is "when there is a will there's a way"

gaeilgebeo

hunnybunny wrote: »

I think you need to positive and realistic. There is so much negativity out there. If you go in with the mindset of "I want to work down the road from my house and enjoy the long teacher holidays" you need to get out of teaching. Sadly there are potential teacher who think like that.

Things are tough everywhere but if its what you REALLY want to do there ARE teaching jobs globally. I've always wanted to be a teacher so I went all the way to the Middle East to get some experience. Then I wanted to qualify so I flew all the way to England for a PGCE interview (which I got). Then when I qualified there weren't many jobs in the north of England so I moved south. Simple as no moaning about situations just aiming towards the goal of teaching.

So many of the Irish on my PGCE went home to Ireland and moan about the lack of jobs and supply and my response always is "On yer bike"
I'd love to come back to Ireland someday and when I do I plan on having a good CV that I gained in England. It will at least show I have got guts and hell of a lot of determination.:)
What I am saying is "when there is a will there's a way"

I am a qualified teacher.
I was advising another poster.

It's not so easy to say "On yer bike" when you have children/a mortgage/ family commitments.

Not everyone has the option of traveling to the middle east!

Ruby-J

OP, im coming to the end of my Post grad and im in the middle of applying for jobs and have the exams in august. It is a really tough world out there for jobs for primary teachers and the NQTS are having a tough time up against all of those who are qualified or have been teaching for a few years. There is a surplus amount of teachers now and not enough jobs. If i were you no harm in going back to do the irish and getting the grade although please double check as i believe the grades for all the subjects have gone up and i think it is a B you need to get in Irish now. Please double check that, there is a discussion about it here http://forum.educationposts.ie/viewtopic.php?id=54099

dambarude

You don't need a B in Irish yet, that's only a proposal for now. Still only a C3 needed.