Primary School Teaching

Mursey

Hi guys, again, I know this is an old thread!

My question is basically this-

I am about to finish my degree (a BA) and have been thinking about doing primary teaching as a postgrad course. I didnt realise how difficult this would be untill I read this thread!!

I don't have an honour in Irish, but intend to return and do my LC in Irish again next year. I plan to apply for a postgrad course starting in 2011. What exactly do you need in terms of standard of degree (like 2.1, 2.2 etc.), LC results and expierience in order to have half a chance of gettig in, or is it mainly based on the interview??

Is one better off having subbing expierience and how does one get this, what is needed to be able to sub (degree etc.)??

Also, are there some colleges easier to get into like Marino over Mary I or whats the story??

Finally, whats requiered to study in England/Scotland, are these courses hard to get into and are the degrees just as good as the ones in Ireland??

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

Cheers!

Toto Wolfcastle

I've moved this to its own thread.

Micilin Muc

Mursey wrote: »

I don't have an honour in Irish, but intend to return and do my LC in Irish again next year.

Why do the Leaving Cert again? If you have a Pass in honours LC Irish, you could do a Diploma in Irish which would be more appropriate for a mature student/adult learner. A Diploma in Irish would qualify you for the Post-Grad in any of the colleges or Hibernia.

Here are some links to providers of the Diploma in Irish course:
NUI Maynooth.
NUI Galway.
UCD and UL also provide the course.

Mursey wrote: »

Also, are there some colleges easier to get into like Marino over Mary I or whats the story??

The easiest course to get into would be the Hibernia. I've given grinds to people who have failed the interview for the Dublin colleges of education, but who have passed the Hibernia interview.

Mursey wrote: »

Finally, whats requiered to study in England/Scotland, are these courses hard to get into and are the degrees just as good as the ones in Ireland??

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!

Cheers!

I don't know how hard they are to get into, but if you want to teach in the Republic of Ireland afterwards, you'll have to do the SCG, even if you have a degree in Irish.

Mursey

Micilin Muc wrote: »

The easiest course to get into would be the Hibernia. I've given grinds to people who have failed the interview for the Dublin colleges of education, but who have passed the Hibernia interview.

Do you know is the Hibernia degree recognised as equal to one gotten through one of the colleges??
And is it possible to apply for Hibernia aswell as the Dublin colleges??

Thanks fo rthe help!

dory

Technically yes, it is recognised just as much. But there is a lot of talk of principals preferring people who have the more traditional type of course done.

I know a good few people who did it and the ones who were very employable; spoke good Irish/athletes/were men/musicians/good grades (don't need them all but you need something), were employed. So if you're good, you're good, doesn't matter what kind of course they'd done.
Different story for people who had no way of distinguishing themselves.

Mursey

dory wrote: »

I know a good few people who did it and the ones who were very employable; spoke good Irish/athletes/were men/musicians/good grades (don't need them all but you need something), were employed.

I know when I completed my LC is was said to be a big advantage to be a man if looking to become a primary teacher, in both being selected for a college course and in finding work once you had the degree. Is this still the case or is it beginning to even out???

dory

Mursey wrote: »

I know when I completed my LC is was said to be a big advantage to be a man if looking to become a primary teacher, in both being selected for a college course and in finding work once you had the degree. Is this still the case or is it beginning to even out???

Not 100% sure as I am neither a primary school teacher or a man, but I think so. Every principal would want a man or two on the staff to give children a different perspective on things. And with a lot of schools having all female staff.....

That said, lots of females are hired, you just have to stand out.

gaeilgegrinds1

Not a hope is Hibernia looked down upon now, my mother and aunt are both primary principals and love Hibernia graduates despite having had reservations initially. They find their life experience and technical skills invaluable. So don't count it out based on people saying that.

Posy

I'm thinking of applying to do primary teaching in the UK. So, basically if I wanted to come back here to Ireland to teach, I'd just have to sit the SCG exam and that'd be it?

gaeilgegrinds1

My opinion is that the LC or Diploma are easier. I taught a class a few years back as prep for the SCG and found it was difficult to navigate. Just my opinion though.

reganm6

Micilin Muc wrote: »

Why do the Leaving Cert again? If you have a Pass in honours LC Irish, you could do a Diploma in Irish which would be more appropriate for a mature student/adult learner. A Diploma in Irish would qualify you for the Post-Grad in any of the colleges or Hibernia.

Here are some links to providers of the Diploma in Irish course:
NUI Maynooth.
NUI Galway.
UCD and UL also provide the course.



The easiest course to get into would be the Hibernia. I've given grinds to people who have failed the interview for the Dublin colleges of education, but who have passed the Hibernia interview.



I don't know how hard they are to get into, but if you want to teach in the Republic of Ireland afterwards, you'll have to do the SCG, even if you have a degree in Irish.

Thats because Hibernia is a JOKE and needs to be stopped. Complete farce. It is vitally important to have a high level of both written and spoken Irish. If you don't please do not even bother considering primary teaching, its not fair on the children.

Toto Wolfcastle

reganm6 wrote: »

Thats because Hibernia is a JOKE and needs to be stopped. Complete farce. It is vitally important to have a high level of both written and spoken Irish. If you don't please do not even bother considering primary teaching, its not fair on the children.

Unless you have some proof that Hibernia is a joke and a farce, please do not post it again. Thank you.

gaeilgegrinds1

I don't know why anyone would say it is a farce. The only farce I personally see is with ALL Postgrads having so many places and very few jobs at the end. But people don't get into it blind, that is well known. I never heard anyone complain about their level of Irish before to be honest and as an Irish enthusiast I'd be the first to jump on that bandwagon if it were true.

Micilin Muc

gaeilgegrinds1 wrote: »

I don't know why anyone would say it is a farce. The only farce I personally see is with ALL Postgrads having so many places and very few jobs at the end. But people don't get into it blind, that is well known. I never heard anyone complain about their level of Irish before to be honest and as an Irish enthusiast I'd be the first to jump on that bandwagon if it were true.

I'm not too sure of the timetable in Hibernia but I know the students have less contact hours per week for Irish than the Dublin colleges/Mary I.

If there are any Hibernia students here, could you let us know what the Irish timetable is like please?

Toto Wolfcastle

Micilin Muc wrote: »

I'm not too sure of the timetable in Hibernia but I know the students have less contact hours per week for Irish than the Dublin colleges/Mary I.

That may well be true. From what I have been told by Mary I graduates, the commitment to the Irish aspect of the course there is less than ideal with a lot of the students. I don't know about any of the Dublin colleges. More contact hours mean nothing unless there is a commitment to do well.

Micilin Muc

janeybabe wrote: »

That may well be true. From what I have been told by Mary I graduates, the commitment to the Irish aspect of the course there is less than ideal with a lot of the students. I don't know about any of the Dublin colleges. More contact hours mean nothing unless there is a commitment to do well.

Post-Grad students in the Dublin colleges have 3 contact hours per week, and the class ratio is pretty good (16:1 or so). Regardless of whether a course is part-time or full-time, 1 hour per week is not enough for learning a language, except for maybe at the highest level. I believe Hibernia have one hour per week.

BoozyBabe

Micilin Muc wrote: »

I'm not too sure of the timetable in Hibernia but I know the students have less contact hours per week for Irish than the Dublin colleges/Mary I.

By your OWN admission, you DON'T know the Hibernia timetable, so you CAN'T say you KNOW we've less contact hours.

Please keep your sweeping statements to yourself please!

Hibernia is not based on weekly hours. We have weeks of FULL focus on subjects & Irish was BY FAR the biggest chunk of my course.

With exams in just under a week, I'm not about to go counting up hours for you either.

It's just ignorance & sweeping statements like yours that gives the course a bad name.


EDIT

I believe Hibernia have one hour per week.

I'd LOVE to know your sources.

Also, RE another thing you said: There was 23 in my class, one of the bigger groups, so I don't think your class ratio thing holds much water either.

Micilin Muc

BoozyBabe wrote: »

By your OWN admission, you DON'T know the Hibernia timetable, so you CAN'T say you KNOW we've less contact hours.

Please keep your sweeping statements to yourself please!

Hibernia is not based on weekly hours. We have weeks of FULL focus on subjects & Irish was BY FAR the biggest chunk of my course.

With exams in just under a week, I'm not about to go counting up hours for you either.

It's just ignorance & sweeping statements like yours that gives the course a bad name.


EDIT
I'd LOVE to know your sources.

Also, RE another thing you said: There was 23 in my class, one of the bigger groups, so I don't think your class ratio thing holds much water either.

1. I'm not saying Hibernia isn't as good as the traditional courses. I believe any course is as good as the student makes it, to certain limits. I'm not a Hibernia-basher in any way and I would recommend Hibernia to anyone. Every college has its strengths and weaknesses.

2. My knowledge of the Irish course in Hibernia is informed by Hibernia students who told me last year that they don't have as many hours as the traditional colleges. I can't remember how many hours exactly, that's why I'm asking.

3. There is a big difference between 16 and 23 when it comes to teaching adults in my experience.

EDIT:

BoozyBabe wrote: »

It's just ignorance & sweeping statements like yours that gives the course a bad name.

4. Who said Hibernia has a bad name?

s.hassett

Hi,
Im hoping to do the post grad in mary i next year. Just lookin for some advice really. I have a 2.2 arts degree from ucc in english and gaeilge, i graduated 2years ago. My level of irish isnt great at the mo as i was away for the last year, going doing a night cousre in ucc for the interview (if the course goes ahead that is!), just wondering has anyone done this course/applied to mary i already?What are the chances of it going ahead?
Any info would be great, thanks!

mat cauthon

Lets let the hibernia thing die... please - Irish - there is a three hour virtual lesson, a one hour live on -line lesson, and a five hour face to face contact every saturday, all running for one year.

Everyone happy now?

mat cauthon

And three weeks in the gaeltacht.

Shadow Lady

Hi,

I've heard that primary schools are crying out for teachers these days. I've heard that they will even take unqualified people and once you're in the school teaching, you are able to do the teaching qualification as you go along. Is this true???

I'm a qualified secondary school teacher and I'm not sure whether secondary level is what I really want to do. I have been contemplating the idea of primary school teaching, but I'm really unsure as to how to go about it. I don't want to, nor can I afford to, start a course to become qualified for something else, when I'm not sure.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions, they would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

byhookorbycrook

There are hundreds of unemployed primary teachers at present, so a secondary trained teacher might not get work so easily.If you are not qualified you will not get any kind of long term position.

E.T.

Shadow Lady wrote: »

Hi,

I've heard that primary schools are crying out for teachers these days. I've heard that they will even take unqualified people and once you're in the school teaching, you are able to do the teaching qualification as you go along. Is this true???

I'm a qualified secondary school teacher and I'm not sure whether secondary level is what I really want to do. I have been contemplating the idea of primary school teaching, but I'm really unsure as to how to go about it. I don't want to, nor can I afford to, start a course to become qualified for something else, when I'm not sure.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions, they would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

I think you may have misheard!!!!!!
There are hundreds (literally hundreds, not just a figure of speech) of QUALIFIED primary teachers applying for jobs all around the country. Unfortunately there are some schools still accepting unqualified personnel for subbing, but the department are clamping down on this thank god. I seriously doubt any school would take an unqualified person on long-term, there'd be uproar from parents, and rightly so.

You could apply to do the postgrad course with Hibernia/Mary I etc if you do want to become qualified as a primary teacher.

mat cauthon

Learn as you go? What do you think it is summer camp?:rolleyes: If your a secondary teacher, and employed stay there, hundreds of primary teachers out of work.

Learn as you go! Jeeze. :eek:

Zooey

I honestly don't see what the big deal about contact hours is anyway. In my experience, the majority of gains come from self-directed learning, with perhaps some guidance from lectures. Contact hours are by no means a proxy for excellence. Those entering Hibernia are mature students who already have degrees and experience of self-motivated learning. Plus- any principal who judges a potential candidate on where they've received their qualification as opposed to the individual merits of the candidate is an extremely petty and old-fashioned one, belonging to a school where I certainly wouldn't want to teach. There's so much aggro in these female-dominated professions, it's just laughable really.

dambarude

Zooey wrote: »

I honestly don't see what the big deal about contact hours is anyway.

There is an advantage to having contact and interaction between lecturers and students when it comes to certain teaching methodologies though. It's much easier for a lecturer to get students to pretend to be children and actually go through the processes involved than to have to communicate it through writing. This is particularly true for subjects like Music and Visual Arts I think.

mat cauthon

Zooey wrote: »

I honestly don't see what the big deal about contact hours is anyway. In my experience, the majority of gains come from self-directed learning, with perhaps some guidance from lectures. Contact hours are by no means a proxy for excellence. Those entering Hibernia are mature students who already have degrees and experience of self-motivated learning. Plus- any principal who judges a potential candidate on where they've received their qualification as opposed to the individual merits of the candidate is an extremely petty and old-fashioned one, belonging to a school where I certainly wouldn't want to teach. There's so much aggro in these female-dominated professions, it's just laughable really.

In that case, Mat Cauthon suggests respectfully that Zooey not bother herself/himself with such professions, but stick to manly ones like bricklaying.

Zooey

mat cauthon wrote: »

In that case, Mat Cauthon suggests respectfully that Zooey not bother herself/himself with such professions, but stick to manly ones like bricklaying.

Merely an observational remark on my part having worked in several places with varying male/female ratios. Also have several relatives and friends who are nurses and dear lord the amount of b**chiness and jealousy that goes on in that profession...If you are a male, you probably won't have seen it as it tends to be "amongst women"

Zooey herself is a female and far too delicate a flower for the bricklayomg profession. Thanks for the "respectful" tip, though

Zooey

dambarude wrote: »

There is an advantage to having contact and interaction between lecturers and students when it comes to certain teaching methodologies though. It's much easier for a lecturer to get students to pretend to be children and actually go through the processes involved than to have to communicate it through writing. This is particularly true for subjects like Music and Visual Arts I think.

Good point. I wonder how many contact hours is optimal, though.

NiCiarain

Hi, I'm hoping to go back to college (yet again) to do the primary teaching post grad. I've a couple of questions regarding the cost of it all and the time scale involved

I'll have to first sit the honours Irish in the leaving certificate, anyone know when I need to apply to do this (hoping to do it 2011)? I've tried contacting examinations.ie but got no reply from them. And anyone know how much study is involved? My Irish isn't great, its been 9 years since I did the leaving cert. I'm prepared to put in the study just wondering will I need to go part-time at work. I've heard you could do a diploma in Irish instead of going back to do the leaving but these seem to be two year course's...is that right?

Also if I did manage to pass the interview stage anyone know how much it'll cost to do the postgrad? Either the Hibernia one or the college based one? And what times of the year these course's start?

Also, anyone know how many subbing hours I'd need to clock up? My dad's a primary teacher in a tiny rural school and I'm really hoping I could get a small bit of experience there...but with only 5 staff it could be unlikley.

And finally(!), what kind of extras are required? I'm not the most athletic lad but I play football every week. Does that count towards the extras required??:o Is it a good idea to try to take up the guitar or piano or something?

Apologies for all the stupid questions but any help is much appreciated
Thanks
Paul

byhookorbycrook

Check out the forum at educationposts.ie , lots more teachers who would be more au fait with all your qs. I'm in my 20+ yr teaching so of no use, except to say, start watching and listening to TG4 and Rna G.

bruzz

gaeilgegrinds1 wrote: »

Not a hope is Hibernia looked down upon now, my mother and aunt are both primary principals and love Hibernia graduates despite having had reservations initially. They find their life experience and technical skills invaluable. So don't count it out based on people saying that.

Hi gailgegrinds,
Do you give Irish grinds still?

Thanks

gaeilgegrinds1

Afraid not, no time with babies but can advise you on a few options. I'll PM you.