Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Singing the CELTA Blues


In August I will be back in a classroom - but for the first time in many years not as the teacher. As part of my accreditation with the national ESL organization (TESL Canada) I need to go back and do some introductory TESL training. At first I was pretty upset about this because:
 
(1) I am applying for Standard Three and the course is for Standard One
(2) I have taught ESL/TESOL for universities in Canada, Korea, Japan and China
(3) I have three times the hours needed for Standard Three and six times for Standard One
(4) I hold an MA in linguistics with professional development in teaching
(5) I have spent most of my career specializing in Adult Education
(6) I have taught the same courses I am now needing to take.

However, after taking a deep breath and counting to 'ten,' I am fine with going back to school to complete my CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). I will walk away with the global standard for ESL - the course is recognized everywhere without explanation. Another perk is that it is issued by Cambridge University's extensions program (so I can now claim to be Cambridge ejimacated). It will also be a nice ramp up to the PhD classes that start in September.

All in all it isn't bad to feel flummoxed  once in a while cuz  - as Willie "Blind Dog" Brown says in Crossroads - "The Blues ain't nothing but a good man feelin' bad."
Migwec,
Ehkosit.

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