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Original poster

PGDE Fear

27 replies

FinancialTrain · 03/08/2022 20:45

Hi, I'm about to embark on a PGDE in Scotland but am getting really cold feet reading all the negativity. I was hoping to get the other side of the story, are there any positive experiences?

Bit of context - I've taught English as a foreign language to teenagers and adults for a number of years. I'd say my classes with teenagers were a bit better because the anxiety of managing them made me put in a bit more work. I then transitioned to teaching adults full time. In fact this was the second time in ESL where I taught full time (the first time it was my first job and I got sacked because I couldn't keep up with "the pace"). Anyways, this time I had a lot more experience but again couldn't manage it. I was teaching classes for 6.5 hours, so not just prep but actual classroom teaching. I found the strain of it too much combined with the commute and had to request to go back to part time - this eventually led me to being fired because they wanted full time teachers.

In my next job I had the teenager class from hell where I had to teach out of control feral teenagers for 4 hours with another teacher. They didn't listen to the him either. In fact when we swapped classes the behaviour in the second class was worse. Anyways I walked out of that job because I didn't get any support from the admin, in fact just gaslighting. I also had problems with IBS, exacerbated by early morning rises and would regularly fall asleep in the evenings as I'm a nightowl. I wouldn't say I'm smart, charismatic or good with bantering with "the characters". I'm a serious type rather than entertaining. Therefore I'm worried I'd be meat for the grinder in the Scottish education system.

I'm willing to adapt myself and deal with the issues I have, but at the same time I don't want to wash out after 3 months with 10k lost to tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses. I also have a problem with accommodation at the moment in that I can't get anywhere that's quiet enough (light sleeper/insomnia) and which has ensuite (IBS again). I'm concerned that if I have a stressful living arrangement this will compound the stress of the course and again I'll burn out. I want to give this every chance of success but the horror stories don't help and I'm wondering if I'm self-sabotaging before I even start. Simultaneously, I don't to stick my hand in a meat grinder as I may not be "the right stuff".

OP posts:
Original poster
FinancialTrain · 04/08/2022 00:12

In relation to the last question, no, it's not possible where I'm from as I don't know any teachers and wasn't seriously considering the PGCE until this year. I taught in Higher Ed too and studied to become a lecturer but it hasn't worked out as I have problems "selling myself" and am uncompetitive relative to my peers who are more illustrious.

In relation to the first job, it was my first job and I guess I was overloaded with work and couldn't handle it. I'd put that down to it just being my first job with an insane commute on top which did me in. You'd be surprised, a sizeable minority of adults were just there for the visa but would expect to be entertained at the same time. I did hold down that job from which I was eventually let go for 2.9 years. I'm currently in an ESL job where I'm doing ok. Teaching is all I know and all I can get employed at. I've been teaching for 15 years on and off and can't get hired for anything else (I've tried many other things/courses and despite many interviews, never made the grade). People are willing to hire me for teaching however.

OP posts:
Kite22 · 03/08/2022 23:43

After you first sentence I was going to say that teaching in Scotland is different from England in terms of all the rubbish you don't get from OFSTED, but as I read down your post, you really aren't describing the CV of someone cut out to be a teacher , tbh.
You say you've been sacked for not being able to keep up with the pace of teaching adults, who, as a rule will have chosen to be there and won't give you any of the classroom management issues you will spend so much of your time dealing with in schools.
Then
this time I had a lot more experience but again couldn't manage it. I was teaching classes for 6.5 hours, so not just prep but actual classroom teaching. I found the strain of it too much combined with the commute

Well, that is what it will be like in schools. Technically not 6.5hours straight of lessons, but you are still managing the pupils at break times / form time / assembly possibly..... and 30 of them at a time.....many of whom will have a wide variety of additional needs which you will be expected to differentiate for. You will still be teaching for up to 6 hours, every day.

I also had problems with IBS, exacerbated by early morning rises and would regularly fall asleep in the evenings as I'm a nightowl.

I have heard Scotland is not as bad as England, but I assume you will still need to get up at a reasonable time in the mornings to be ready for your first pupils, and you will normally be expected to work in the evenings as well.

I like to be encouraging where I can, but you really aren't selling yourself as a potential teacher in this post.
Have you shadowed teachers in schools ? Got any work experience before deciding to do the PGDE ?

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