Honestly, I knew nothing about teaching when I started CELTA.
I knew my grammar well enough to get by and make sense (I still mess it up without knowing though), but not to the point that I understood or even could explain the rules. I'm not the most bubbly person you'll ever meet as a teacher, and I lacked patience. Bascially, I was full of doubts when I applied and signed up.
I did know that I love language and wanted to have a deeper understanding of it. I am bilingual and - sorry if I sound blunt - I might (finally) get a job after taking this course. *Update: I did!
When I graduated with my Master's degree in Communications, I honestly thought I could find a job in Melbourne. However, the industry still relies on connections and who-you-know to land a job, and I haven't really done networking well enough during my time studying...
I thus went into the CELTA course feeling torn and absolutely unsure of how I'll be able to survive that one month. Teaching was very far from where and what I thought I'll end up doing, and I earnestly wanted to continue with research, books, and the likes in my little, happy bubble of paradise.
I thought that I'll have to have a thorough knowledge of grammar (you do), that I'll constantly be talking and explaining (no) and I'll take a while to get into the groove of things (I did, but the "while" was a lot shorter).
But I ended up OK. I started from knowing zero about teaching to understanding the basics to making lesson plans, preparing materials, and the frameworks and techniques for student-centered learning. I think I improved a lot given the short time to grasp everything and put things into practice from the get-go.
It was worthwhile too. Whether it was my coursemates who were learning with me or the students I taught, everyone came from all walks of life and stories to tell. On the way, I also discovered aspects of myself that I didn't know I had before.
So, it wasn't - and I wasn't - as horrible as I thought it/I would be!
No comments:
Post a Comment