Here we go

[temris]

I'm opening the book for education once again after many years. From the beginning of this year, until about the half of May; I put myself through a very intensive studying schedule. I'm not going to lie, I didn't do a half-bad. Like I mentioned it on here before, I only studied for TYT and I think my rank was alright for studying that short of a period.

Choosing the major was harder than studying, like it was for me many years ago where I went through the same path. "Computer Programming", a two-year online course with full scholarship -- that was my intention from the start; from the first time I actually started studying for the exam again, I told myself it would be the best diploma for me. I tried getting into programming, but it was more of a hobby for me and I couldn't pursue it long enough -- the constant financial worries often block me from getting into anything.

Well... That's literally why I put on my mind to get a diploma after all.

I mean, in this day of age, and in my country, it's hard to get a job that's not a work that should be done by three different people, or a proper wage for the hours you put in; but I could only do translating jobs for a foreign company because in here, everyone asks for you to graduate from a university. So I said "f--- this life of misery, I'm going to get that diploma". We'll see if I can manage it and not drop out in the first week like before !! 😂

That's right... In the end, I chose "English Language Teaching". Quite different from where I started, and I could have gotten into the programming one very easily. I changed my mind at the very last second and wrote in the closest school to my accomodation. One of the reasons why I hated going to my old university was that it took me about 2 hours of traffic, WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT MIGHT I ADD, to reach there!

Another reason is because computer programming would not be too different from what I already do -- I have to work as a freelancer before getting into a company, making some projects on my own to build my CV, my name and also to practice too. And it's been long ago that I actually had that kind of luxury, where I can spend time freely. I've filled my quota on that one.

ELT sounded the most logical (after I literally ate my brains out for two weeks) because even if I can't make it to the public schools after graduating, I can maybe work for private schools or weekend courses at the very least -- I know the conditions won't even compare to the ones I would get from public ones but at least... I'll have a bit of financial securicy; I want to hope for that.

I won't lie. Being the anxious wreck I am, I'm so scared to start over with so many strangers around me. Not to mention, most of those strangers are going to be teenagers -- I'm too old for this! 😭 Every day, I think that I'm not built for this. But I don't have much choice, because I had about enough of this household. THIS IS FOR MY MENTAL HEALTH!!

So yeah... Wish me luck :P

(I really can't imagine myself as a teacher! 😭 Maybe I'll try for interpreting for a while too... We'll see, we'll see...)

Comments

[hexmix]

I really can't imagine myself as a teacher

i had the exact same thought when i started teaching hahah. i had to take an instructor job through my university to get funding in order to pay tuition, and i was so stressed about it, didn't think i'd be good at it, etc., and then it turned out that not only was i good at it but that i genuinely enjoyed teaching. no one was more surprised than me lol.

anyway, i really feel you there, and i'm wishing you luck with your studies! starting over in a program where everyone is younger than you can be stressful, but i'm really hoping that things go smoothly for you! (also don't blame you in the least for going with the closest school; long commutes are horrible -_-)

[temris]

In general, I always had problems presenting so I thought it might not be the best career choice for me and I don't really know how to communicate with kids too. Consoling myself by thinking that I don't have to teach at high schools... 😭

How many days did you teach in a week? What were the toughest parts of that job?

+ Thank you so much for your wishes (*^▽^*)

[hexmix]

i also always had problems presenting (and i still hate it tbh) due to how terribly shy i was, so that really added to the dread i had regarding teaching, and it was admittedly rough at the start, like speaking in front of a classroom, but it did get easier! it kind of helped me with some of my anxiety surrounding public speaking in general, too.

so altogether i taught for around 10 years, and the first half or so of that i was teaching 4 days a week (with one really bad semester where i was teaching 5 days a week) and then the second half i was typically only teaching 3 days a week. because i was teaching while attending classes the toughest thing was typically just having time to get everything done. but aside from that i would say that making all of my own materials (tests, homework worksheets, handouts, powerpoints, etc) from scratch was pretty rough. the good news there, however, is that once you make those materials, you really don't have to do it again, aside from minor edits. (also, depending on where you teach, they might just give you the materials to use pre-made.)

when i got started time management was a little tricky too, but that's something you'll get the hang of gauging after you teach a few classes, like just how long certain types of activities will take. there were a bunch of things like that that were overwhelming at first, like the first semester i taught was pretty rough, but it really does get so much easier just once you kind of have an idea of what to expect. my second semester teaching went SO MUCH smoother than the first, for example :)

anyway, please let me know if you have any more questions! i taught university students (mostly freshmen), so i won't be able to help as much when it comes to teaching young children, but i did mostly teach a foreign language (Japanese), so i can probably be of more help when it comes to questions about teaching a language in general.

[temris]

I tried to research it as best as I can before choosing and most of the time the people in the videos talked about one thing in common that made me nervous -- teachers' materials and coming up with activities for the students were the things that scared me the most. I'm glad to hear that I wouldn't have to constantly come up with new ones :D

But TEN YEARS WOW! I applaud your hard work!! Hearing that a shy person like me can get this good is honestly very inspiring (┬┬﹏┬┬) And thanks so much for your detailed insight on this subject! <3

[hexmix]

glad i could be of help! :) best of luck once again!