And no, that's not as in insane...although of course some of you might quite legitimately think so..
No, the truth is that yesterday I received my TEFL certificate...yay!! At long last I am qualified for the job I have been doing for the last nine years..it's almost a relief in a way. Like coming out of the closet...
In the past, I've always had that fear that someone would decide I was a fraud because I didn't have the right pieces of paper...but no more! I can hold my head up now and not sneak out when people start TEFL talking around me. No more flushes of embarrassment when friends compare course experiences and teaching terms..I can do it too! Now I can discuss boomerang and patchwork ESA lesson plans with the best of them...hehe..
And even better, I've just sent off the first module of my Dip.TESOL course. For those of you who are wondering what mad trip I am off on now, it's a diploma in teaching English to speakers of other languages, and very interesting it is too. It was what I wanted to do in the first place, but they wouldn't enrol me until I had the TEFL certificate. I hope to complete this one in about seven months, and then I really will have a go at jobs in France or Spain or even Poland...can't wait!
RIVERGIRL: books, blog and barges: My posts are mini-memoirs about about life on a barge, our travels and the Netherlands. Oh and sometimes about my writing.
hehe on the title, it had my curiosity. Congrats!!! Who would ever doubt you, really?! Best of luck on the other course Val. Your jobs will await you all over the world. :)
ReplyDeleteGefeliciteerd! Very good :D So now you are a 'real teacher'? Haha... Have a great sunday!
ReplyDeleteHow's Koos exhibition going?
xx
Wow, Janis, we were just talking about that possibility. Wouldn't I love to do that? Teach in Venice with my boat as my base! Am popping over to your space now with a question on that subject in fact!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Grace thanks for the cote of confidence. I do so hope it's justified!
ReplyDeleteSimone, thank you too. With this rainy Sunday here, I fear I will just be marking exam papers all day!
Congrats Val and just in time for spring!
ReplyDeleteHi Vally, I have just completed my Cert TESOL course. It is more about the practical side of ESOL teaching, rather than concentrating on the theory like my English PGCE. I enjoyed the course and wished that I had done it when I started out on my teaching career, instead of learning the hard way!!! Good Luck with your Diploma.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Val!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who used to teach English as a Second Language to all the Japanese who visit Banff.
You have done well!
xx
Congrats, Val! It must be a huge relief to have that piece of paper to back up your real skills. Now you can be a portable teacher- down the river you go, offering English to the masses!
ReplyDeletexx
AM
Great new Val! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI kind of know how you may feel now because my wife, Ingela, finally got her Masters Degree after working for more than ten years and she then literally bounced of joy around the house... :)
Congratulations. That is great news. Now you are no longer an illegal teacher :p
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie,
ReplyDeleteWell done. Congrats ! Although, I never had the idea that you wasn`t a real teacher. During all these years yors lessons were great !
Alex
Thanks Janys...you don't know how tempting that sounds....
ReplyDeleteString, yes!
Fran, welcome! I think your Cert TESOL is pretty much the same as my TEFL certificate. I think the Dip.TESOL I'm doing now may be something similar to the PGCE. It goes into learning theories and methods in some depth; learning strategies as well. It's quite challenging.
Dale, Anne Marie, Hans and Stu, thanks for the congrats. Much appreciated! It was surprisingly hard work, but that maybe because I haven't studied myself for so long. I've just made other people do it! The new course is even more of a challenge though ;-P
Alex! Thank you so much. That's a lovely thing to say. Well, I was and am a real teacher - but hired for my degree in English not for teaching English to foreigners, which is of course what I've been doing all these years. Second language teaching involves different techniques from first language teaching. I miss giving you lessons by the way. Hope you are fine there in Gent, and hope to see you before long now.
you have my admiration, entirely. yes you do. congratulations!
ReplyDeletesuch a ditz to not even clue into the title... :P
ReplyDeleteAnd we should all study ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina! And welcome! I see you often on Facebook, and on other's blogs, but we've never really introduced ourselves to each other before, have we?
ReplyDeleteDale, LOL...I do all my titles for you ;-)
I have no doubt my friend. :)
ReplyDeletewell raise a glass to you from me!! Congrats! And you are feeling a little better I hope?
ReplyDeleteFunny how such a little thing as a piece of paper can affect so much, but is does in so many facets of our lives! Professional ones at least!
Well done you.
Many hugs
S
Wow congratulations! This will certainly expand your ability to have adventures far and wide! :) Such an excitement in your post, wonderful to see!
ReplyDeleteI'm very late wishing this, having been out of the blogging world, but congratulations belatedly!
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