Do you need to have your Degree course assessed for Primary School teaching

kennan

Could anyone tell me do you need to have your degree course assessed for primary school teaching ? I have an engineering degree and this is an area I would like to explore. I know you require to have your degree assessed for secondary school teaching but is there a difference between both of the assessments ?
Also is there any other requirements to get onto this H DIP?

gaeilgegrinds1

It's very difficult to get into the postgrad, Irish and English interviews are tough. You get onto the t.c. after getting onto the postgrad.

kennan

Ok I understand that it is hard with the interviews and this would be something I would be willing to work on when it arises. Is there a certain requirement you need in your primary degree? Do you need to have it assessed by the teaching council like you do for secondary school teaching?

From what I can see you need to have certain grades in English, Irish and Maths and an eligible degree. So I am just wondering how to get it assessed ?

Miose

No, the requirement is a Level 8 degree and the required leaving cert grades. Your Level 8 degree can be in any subject, and does not need to be assessed by the teaching council like it would be for second level. I guess its because all primary teachers teach all subjects on the curriculum, whereas second level teachers specialise in particular subjects that they have studied to degree level. Lots of IT, Engineering, Law students etc. are successful in getting on to the postgrads. A number of things will help your application, experience in working with children e.g. coaching, youth clubs etc., time spent observing in primary schools and skills you have that would benefit a classroom e.g. music, drama, sport etc.

A big thing that catches people is the requirement to have a Grade C in higher level Irish. Its possible to repeat Irish as a single Leaving Cert subject or do a 2 year part time Diploma in Irish in some of the uni's to meet this requirement.

St. Pats and Mary I run the postgrad on a full-time basis, Hibernia run it as 45% online which makes it possible though difficult to work for at least for some of the course.

ETA check out educationposts.ie forum for lots more information

Best of luck

dory

You could have a degree in jam making and get on the course. It all depends on how you can make it seem like your background makes you an ideal candidate and how well you perform in the interviews.

All in all, it seems like a pretty random selection to me (as a teacher who tutored people for it - not bitter rejectee)

gaeilgegrinds1

Was a part of one of these courses at one stage and would for the most part agree that it is random enough, unless you play g.a.a., are a gaelgóir or have great go in you. Just my opinion of course but I still wonder about their selection process.

christina Aiv

Hey all,
Sorry to just jump on this thread but I also have a few questions about this years dip applications too. Many of you seem to have experience with applicants and may have a good knowledge of the application process!

As far as I'm aware the applications for the public colleges haven't been released yet, has anyone any idea when they will be released. I heard last year they weren't released till Dec.

I also wondered if anyone had information on the oral/interview. I'm doing an Irish course at the moment just as a refresher as I did the leaving five years ago, but it's not specifically geared to the oral. I know its hard to say but what type of questions may they ask?Is it similar to the leaving cert oral eg. personal details etc or more about teaching itself?

ps. the standard requirements are minimum of a 2.1 level 8 degree (Hibernia take 2.2) minimum of a C3 in honors Irish, I think English is D in honors, B in pass.

Thanks!!!

dambarude

christina Aiv wrote: »

As far as I'm aware the applications for the public colleges haven't been released yet, has anyone any idea when they will be released. I heard last year they weren't released till Dec.

It will more than likely be the same. Last year the colleges didn't seem to know when they'd find out, they appeared to be as clueless about it as those applying. Whether that was the case or not is another question.

christina Aiv wrote: »

I also wondered if anyone had information on the oral/interview. I'm doing an Irish course at the moment just as a refresher as I did the leaving five years ago, but it's not specifically geared to the oral. I know its hard to say but what type of questions may they ask?Is it similar to the leaving cert oral eg. personal details etc or more about teaching itself?
!

Gaeilgegrinds et al. might have some more specific questions, but from speaking to people who did the interviews, and reading about them here and on educationposts.ie (you should check it out if you haven't) it would appear that they ask both about yourself and teaching. It probably depends on how the interview goes to be honest. It appears to be kept simple enough, nothing too nitty gritty about education matters (in the Irish part at least). In Mary I the interviewer you get could make a big difference to how hard they go on you in the English oral anyway.

dory

In general, St. Pats ask 'what are your hobbies' questions, and Hibernia asked more teaching specific questions for the Irish part. But both can throw in hard questions, so it's best to get lots of practice having random conversations as Gaeilge. They can tell a mile off if you've learnt off the answer.

christina Aiv

thanks for everyones help! I have a better idea of the type of questions I'l be up against.