Teacher Training
I've been terrible at updating, I know. Don't think I've said anything about how my course is going since I started it in September.
It is, without doubt, the hardest thing I've ever done. Part of the reason for the lack of updates is a simple lack of time. In England, they do an intensive one year course to prepare you for teaching, combining MA level academic work with two near full-time placements in High School.
As well as the workload, the whole thing is an emotional business. You have a lot of fear and a lot of pressure. Walking into a classroom and trying to run it, trying to be the teacher is tough. There can be a lot of self-doubt, a lot of wondering whether you can really do this.
All that said, this is one of the best decisions I've ever made. As drained as I am right now, I am loving it to absolute pieces. I've had some amazing lessons: moments where I've really connected with a class, awed them to silence with something I've created, or inspired them to create something amazing themselves. That's just breathtaking.
It's going to be a fun year. I'm teaching in Lithuania over the Easter break and hope to be teaching in South Africa for two weeks in the summer. My novel looks close to completion (of course, it's perpetually "close" to completion), so I look to send that off again soon after Christmas.
So yes, I'm tired but happy. Hope everyone else is doing well!
It is, without doubt, the hardest thing I've ever done. Part of the reason for the lack of updates is a simple lack of time. In England, they do an intensive one year course to prepare you for teaching, combining MA level academic work with two near full-time placements in High School.
As well as the workload, the whole thing is an emotional business. You have a lot of fear and a lot of pressure. Walking into a classroom and trying to run it, trying to be the teacher is tough. There can be a lot of self-doubt, a lot of wondering whether you can really do this.
All that said, this is one of the best decisions I've ever made. As drained as I am right now, I am loving it to absolute pieces. I've had some amazing lessons: moments where I've really connected with a class, awed them to silence with something I've created, or inspired them to create something amazing themselves. That's just breathtaking.
It's going to be a fun year. I'm teaching in Lithuania over the Easter break and hope to be teaching in South Africa for two weeks in the summer. My novel looks close to completion (of course, it's perpetually "close" to completion), so I look to send that off again soon after Christmas.
So yes, I'm tired but happy. Hope everyone else is doing well!