to think I can manage part time work and a CELTA course?(lone parent)

[CaramelisedOnion]

I think I can....if I do the online one it is 10-12 hours study plus one afternoon a week face to face (teaching practice)

I was originally thinking of taking a month off work at some point and doing the 4 week course however I think that might be a bit too much for me given my personal circumstances (my son is almost 3)

Does anyone have any experience of the CELTA course?

You could try teaching online through Skype, lots of companies seem to advertise this although I'm not really sure how to check if something is a scam.

you might consider doing an online MA/Dip in ELT part time which would be a good update of your skills in the meantime...?

I am a CELTA trainer. I also work on PGCE courses.

I am not sure who it was who said CELTA or DELTA aren't worth the paper they are printed on! They are both very rigorous and tough courses. The standard of teaching is higher on a CELTA than a PGCE and on DELTA very much higher. For some reason some people look down on ESOL and EFL teaching based on a hazy idea about weekend TFL courses and back packer teachers.

Some modules of CELTA can now be done online,though obviously not the teaching practice. Check that the course is Cambridge or Trinity. None of the others are proper accredited courses.

Without exception everybody who does CELTA says it is very tough. But, it's a short time in your life. If you are clear about what to expect,warn friends and family that you will be very,very busy and you get as much help at home as you can,then it will be fine.

I prepared for mine like you prepare for childbirth - weeks worth of meals in the freezer!!

And do you know what - it really helped I didn't realise how exhausted I would be to not even want to cook and it was fantastic knowing I had nutritious food available to help me study.

I heard this too, way back in 2008 before choosing to do a PGCE, then they were saying that both Celta and Delta weren't worth the paper they were written on
you mean one bitter unsuccessful person said this to you?

Just to add that on most courses I have taught there has been at least one lone parent. One of my trainees had 9 children, including one she was breastfeeding! I don't think that being a lone parent is necessarily a problem. The trainees who struggle are often young people straight from university who can't organise their time well. I guess you are already pretty organised and know how to make the most of the little chunks of time you get.

Great ideas, thanks. I'm in Bristol, so there should be opportunities here. I guess I could do some further study when ds2 starts preschool. I'll have a ring round of colleges to see what employment opportunities there are before forking out for anything though .

Well from what I was told, apply for the jobs anyway even if they require further study. Most will pay for your course and you study alongside your first year/6 months of teaching.

That would be amazing.

I never really though of ESL as something to do when the children are at school as I thought it would all be evening courses and summer holiday schemes but it's quite exciting to think I could go back to it again.

there is definitely scope for it beyond the summer schools - some of the schools run year round courses, all the FE colleges are doing ESOL and all the universities are offering pre-sessional and year round classes too.

Some great advice thanks. I'll definitely look into it. DH thinks it's a great idea and said he'll support me to do any courses etc I'd need to do.

its at a school in manchester i found it via this
www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-qualifications/celta/ways-to-take-celta/

I'm currently doing the three month CELTA (about to do TP7, so on the home straight)

It's been tough, (and I come from a teaching and linguistic background) - have loved every minute.

I am overseas (Asia)

I think it could be managed with part time work. I also have a volunteer role which is approx equivalent to a two day part time job (plus evening catch up on emails etc)
You have to be very very organised and disciplined, but can be done. Say goodbye to your weekends for three months though