Unemployed and a year to waste.

Choclolate

Just found myself unemployed and no sign of work.

I have a maths and engineering degree and would love to try teaching. Do I need to wait untill next year to start college.

Anyone got any ideas - No jobs out there.

spurious

You need to make sure your degree is on the list of approved degrees for recognition, apply for and get accepted to a PGDE.

Teaching would not be wasting a year.

There are even less jobs out there in teaching.

theredletter

I'd have to agree with Spurios, it's most definitely not a waste of a year. You may end up loving it.

I also believe that you do not need the PGDE to teach in VEC schools. As long as you have a degree in the subject you should be able to teach.

Choclolate

What I mean is this year will be a wasted year as I will have to wait untill next year to study teaching.

Correct?

My Engineering and Maths degrees are definatley accepted and recognised.

Is there any courses I can do this year.

spurious

Get as much experience as you can volunteering with youth groups.
Get easily obtainable qualifications like First Aid, get a D1 licence if you can - all those sort of things can make the difference when applying for jobs.

maria gstones

Have you asked all the colleges in Ireland if there are any spaces left? I know there is a pretty slim chance but I think this course is part time in DCU or Maynooth so it mightn't have as many applications.
There are definitely spaces in England to do Maths teaching if you rang up the uni's there and it was practical to go there.
Also, Hibernia online college do the UK teaching course online through Cantabury University for Secondary School Maths teaching, its not the usual way but its fully recognised and it might be worth investigating. They are only starting now so it mightn't be too late to look into it.

Choclolate

Thanks,

I have a family and kids in school so the UK would not be an option.

Do you think there is any point contacting the colleges in Ireland.

As far as I am aware Trinity and Maynooth do teacher training,

maria gstones

Look up the Hibernia course, It doesn't start until Oct. I think you can get student bursaries through the UK for it for the fees since its the PGCE and not the irish qualification (recognices in Ireland though) . I have attached the links here. The only thing is one of the placements for 6 weeks is in the UK but you can do the others in Ireland. Worth a little research if the alternative is "wasting a year" like in the title.
http://www.hiberniacollege.net/SchoolofEducation/iTeach/tabid/133/Default.aspx

http://www.iteach.ac.uk/AboutiTeach/FAQs/tabid/93/Default.aspx


the one in DCU is 2 years part time
http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=GDED&originating_school=70&mode=full

The only people who can tell you if its worth calling is the colleges. No one on boards can tell you if there is a place. If you are interested in doing it just look at the links above.

As others said look into work in schools, or volunteering in youth groups to get experience and see how you like it.
Give grinds - Advertise in Local shops etc.

Teacher Training in Ireland is in all more than two Universities (UCD, TCD NUIM UCG and maybe UL and UCC but I am not sure) Applications through www.pac.ie,

Choclolate

Thanks,

Tried PAC and no luck, try in December

Will continue to try Trinity (no answer at moment).

Would be great to be studing something useful rather than sitting at home on the dole.

Any suggestions would be great.

drusk

Your application to do the PGDE must be in before December.

In the meantime, pop into all your local schools with your CV and let them know you're available for subbing.

Choclolate

Would you say there is any chance of blagging my way on to a course starting this month.

Hate the idea of waiting a year to start studying.

delta_bravo

Choclolate wrote: »

Would you say there is any chance of blagging my way on to a course starting this month.

Hate the idea of waiting a year to start studying.

UCD started a month ago, so no

Choclolate

[URL="javascript:__doPostBack('dnn$ctr472$FAQs$lstFAQs$ctl07$lnkQ2','')"]
Q8. I am an overseas student. Can I apply for the course?

[/URL]Answer: No. This course is not available to overseas students. It is however available to people who are classified by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) as 'Home/EU Students'.


from the iteach website.

Mybe my old school Trinity might help.

dory

There's no way you'll get in anywhere this year through PAC when there is such demand for the courses. I had the same thought as you in February and I was too late then. So in late September you are definitely too late!

Choclolate

crushed


would appriciate any chink of light - if anyone has one

rainbowtrout

theredletter wrote: »

I'd have to agree with Spurios, it's most definitely not a waste of a year. You may end up loving it.

I also believe that you do not need the PGDE to teach in VEC schools. As long as you have a degree in the subject you should be able to teach.

With so many qualified teachers out there looking for work the VECs do not need to hire unqualified teachers.

Choclolate wrote: »

Would you say there is any chance of blagging my way on to a course starting this month.

Hate the idea of waiting a year to start studying.

No offence, but why should you get a place on the PDGE this year just because you want to start it this year? Plenty of other people got their applications in before last December and didn't get a place because the courses are over subscribed and they weren't one of the lucky ones. Why should you get a place before any of them?

Choclolate

Becuase I have been paying taxes for the last 10 years while you have been sitting in school.

I will also be paying big money for the course ( I assume) as a mature student.

So after you have put something back into the system, then talk to me about what is fair and what is not.

delta_bravo

Choclolate wrote: »

Becuase I have been paying taxes for the last 10 years while you have been sitting in school.

I will also be paying big money for the course ( I assume) as a mature student.

So after you have put something back into the system, then talk to me about what is fair and what is not.

You sound like a pretty abrasive character

littlebsci

Choclolate wrote: »

Becuase I have been paying taxes for the last 10 years while you have been sitting in school.

I will also be paying big money for the course ( I assume) as a mature student.

So after you have put something back into the system, then talk to me about what is fair and what is not.

Eh....I think that's way off the mark.

Like a lot of posters around these parts Rainbow trout is a teacher so just like you has been paying taxes for years and not just "sitting in school". And from her (I think!!) various posts in the variety of education forums seems to have put a lot back into the system.

Going on the attack like that isn't particulary helpful!

I would second what some other posters have said about dropping your CV into local schools so they know you're available to do subbing. That sort of experience is invaluable when it comes to your application for Trinity.:) Plus it'll help you get a feel for the job before you go and do the course.

Also just so you know, you pay no more than anyone else for the dip fees as a mature student. They're around the €7000 mark for most of the colleges I gather.

Good luck!!

rainbowtrout

Choclolate wrote: »

Becuase I have been paying taxes for the last 10 years while you have been sitting in school.

I will also be paying big money for the course ( I assume) as a mature student.

So after you have put something back into the system, then talk to me about what is fair and what is not.

I have been teaching in school for the last 10 years as littlebsci pointed out. To be honest if you had even thought about my post you would have copped on that I was not a second level student. I doubt there are many second level students who know the difference between the qualifications needed for teaching in a VEC or elsewhere.

Whether you have been paying taxes or not does not give you the right to jump the queue for a course. Do you not think the other applicants have to pay course fees too? It doesn't matter what age you are applying for the PGDE. It's a postgrad so you are not going to be counted as a mature student. That only applies if you are applying for an undergrad.

I have put plenty back into the system so I think I can comment on your situation.

Actually your sense of entitlement for a place on the PGDE ahead of college students just because you have been working sickens me. They will be paying fees too so you're no better than them.

gaeilgegrinds1

God I can't believe this, beginning to wonder if it is a joke really. Coming on looking for advice is one thing, insulting those who give it would seem rather counterproductive in my eyes really!

Choclolate

I was only winding you up.

But really, pissed off that there is nothing I can do this year.

I cant hand around for a year doing the odd bit of teaching work as by the time next October comes around I will be broke and unable to go to college.

I am married with 4 kids.

Whats the craic with these iTeach or online courses.

rainbowtrout

Choclolate wrote: »

I was only winding you up.

But really, pissed off that there is nothing I can do this year.

I cant hand around for a year doing the odd bit of teaching work as by the time next October comes around I will be broke and unable to go to college.

I am married with 4 kids.

Whats the craic with these iTeach or online courses.

No, sorry I don't think that's good enough. Your post was not in jest. You're only changing your tune now because other posters disagreed with you. You won't get much help on a Teaching forum if you're going to spend your time attacking other posters (teachers). Time for me to bow out of this thread.

Choclolate

So funny.

Only a teacher could post in that tone.

Sometimes you are not talking to your students.

spurious

'Hanging around doing the odd bit of teaching work' is what many qualified teachers are doing as a means to make ends meet.

I think you really need to look at what job prospects are out there.

Choclolate

I know they are bad right now, but I assume that will be a short term thing.

We will always need teachers.

What is the situation for Primary teching, I hear that takes about 4 years to qualify.

Nead21

Choclolate wrote: »

So funny.

Only a teacher could post in that tone.

Sometimes you are not talking to your students.

There are other options out there for people who want to continue education and retrain. Judging from your previous posts, i dont think that teaching is the right road for you....apart from anything else, you will need a longer fuse that you seem to possess at the moment!

I would suggest talking to your local VEC regarding night courses in your area and about applying for university courses.

Finally, i would strongly suggest a change in attitude....a positive one will open far more doors than the one you currently have!

Ollchailin

Choclolate wrote: »

Only a teacher could post in that tone.

And yet you want to be one... People are only trying to help for God's sake.

Anyway, my take on your original issue:

You can't just start studying for something when it suits you- the secondary teaching diploma (PGDE) starts in September, and you need to have applied for it by the December previous to that. So the earliest you could start would be September 2011. And as previously stated, the cost of this course to you would be the same as anyone else, regardless of your age, as it is a post-grad.

I'm not sure if you did higher or ordinary level Irish for Leaving Cert but you need to have gotten at least a C3 in higher level in order to do Primary teaching. Even still, if you were to do it from the beginning (as a mature student on a Bachelor of Education degree course), it is too late to start this year and it takes 3 years of study (plus one year in your first year teaching to obtain your teaching diploma). There is the possibility to do an 18-month post-grad in primary teaching, but I'm not sure if that's even being run this year as there is a massive surplus of teachers so even if it is run, the numbers being allowed to do it is less and less every year and thus the competition is even higher. If it is running, it will start in February- contact St. Patrick's in Drumcondra, Marino College or Mary I in Limerick.

Finally, I'd just say to you that I am aware of a number of people who have found themselves unemployed- and whilst I am sympathetic to their situation, there is a tendency nowadays to turn to teaching as a back-up or safety net. A lot of people seem to think that teaching is definitely something they could do because they've seen it from the student's perspective- a risky view to take!! It's true that teachers will always be needed, but there is massive unemployment in teaching also, with far too many qualified at the moment. I am in my 7th year teaching and am not on full teaching hours. The jobs just aren't there. You would need to be very very sure that teaching is a job that you really want to do before entering into it.

If you are sure, then definitely visit your local schools so that you can apply for any subbing they may have going (but again, be aware that there are many already qualified teachers out there that will be looking for this subbing too!!). Best of luck whatever you decide.

gaeilgebeo

Choclolate wrote: »

I know they are bad right now, but I assume that will be a short term thing.

We will always need teachers.

What is the situation for Primary teching, I hear that takes about 4 years to qualify.

To think that the job crisis is teaching is going to be short-term is very naive of you. None of us know what cuts are going to come in Decembers budget not to mention further down the line.

You seem to have a massive sense of entitlement with regard to becoming a teacher. You can't just stamp your feet and get into teaching. Some people wait years to get into a PGDE course and "hang around" as you've put it, teaching small hours/subbing here and there.

Furthermore, I strongly advise you to get rid of the chip on your shoulder and change your attitude before you consider standing in a classroom in front of 30 teenagers. It would be a recipe for disaster!

maria gstones

Ok, so I am going to try advise you again... but I have to say for the most people who consider becoming a teacher its because they want to follow that career path not just because they have a year to waste as you put it and can't seem to think of something better...

If you were bothered about really becoming a teacher rather than asking these general questions you would have researched the answers by ringing the colleges...

"Q8. I am an overseas student. Can I apply for the course?

Answer: No. This course is not available to overseas students. It is however available to people who are classified by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) as 'Home/EU Students'.
from the iteach website. "

If you are from Irealnd you are not an "overseas Student" look at the TDA link and you will see that you are classified at a Home/EU student.
this course starts in October so you can still do that! Thats is why the hibernia college are running the course in Dublin.

Other options generally could be .... teaching Maths grinds since that is the subject you are looking at doing.

You really need to help yourself and not just expect the all the work to be done for you!

violets

maria gstones wrote: »

Ok, so I am going to try advise you again... but I have to say for the most people who consider becoming a teacher its because they want to follow that career path not just because they have a year to waste as you put it and can't seem to think of something better...

But she didn't say she HAD a year to waste (apart from the title but she clarified that in a later post) She doesn't want to waste a year and thats totally understandable. She said she would LOVE to get into teaching! So perhaps she didn't realise this conveniently before the December deadline. With a family and 4 kids she's achieved a lot already and simply wants to see if its possible to accelerate the process. Maybe its not at this time.

Best of luck Chocolate!! I'm sure this year will fly by anyway so hope you have good experiences (work related and otherwise) and find out if its the path for you.