Working From Home. Is it what it's cracked-up to be ?

If you mean the TEFL/ESOL courses, then, no, they are not very useful unless you want to teach abroad or as a way of demonstrating an extra layer of expertise in teaching English to foreign learners abroad or foreign learners in the UK.

They are designed specifically as top-ups for already qualified teachers who have no experience in language teaching. You may find a few countries that will accept them on their own, but not many. 

For UK colleges, though, they are no use at all. UK colleges require a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training and these are the only teaching qualifications (outside of degree) for the post-16 sector that are recognised. 

I imagine with those methods it provides variety for you both and before you know it the lesson is over. Are those Cambridge, 4 week intensives any use for working from home ?

Both, Turtle.

I use film, audio, a whiteboard, powerpoint and any other audio-visual aid that stimulates learners and/or enhances a teaching moment. In the profession, they call it blended learning. All the terms are meaningless, though, it's just about finding a variety of resources to engage learners in the topic. 

The stand and preach method of teaching you're referring to (talking at the camera/students) is considered as poor teaching way of teaching nowadays. Not everyone is a purely auditory learner.

It's still quite prevalent in the domain of lecturing, but even lecturers have started to move away from it and introduce more varied approaches with the advent of technology. Most lecturers will now at the very least plant themselves in front of a powerpoint presentation.

The best lecturers will also introduce physical props into their lectures to cater for different learning styles. 

I'm doing a python programming course from Cisco.  It's supposed to be 70 hours long.  But I've put in a lot more hours and I'm only about 80% of the way through.

Because it's free, it's all online with no tutor support or contact with other students.

In the past I enjoyed the physical college environment.  I may be very unsociable, but it helps seeing others doing similar activities and a bit of social interaction.  Also it gets me out of the house and I get some fresh air.

I'm also serious about the canteen/restaurant comment.  I am a useless cook and many of these places have subsidised food.

Most of my previous college courses had low dropout rates.  On my first degree, I estimate only 20% left in the first term.

I had a couple of attempts at College part-time in a classroom setting 

Ability wasn't an issue. I just couldn't hack doing a fairly demanding full-time job at the same time. I mean, they say some of these courses are part-time but my most recent one had two subjects and it was a real struggle alongside full-time work.

Around 97% of the students were only working part-time or unemployed but what amazed me was 2/3rds dropped out well before the end of the first term and according to the tutors, this was normal. I guess they don't care once they've got your money. The plus was a small class size. 

I'd probably prefer the classroom but I doubt I would go back now and I wouldn't dream of doing it alongside full-time work, and as you say, running other areas of your life. Was it  IT you're studying ?

Do you teach on or off camera or do you have a preference ?

During this lockdown I've been doing a lot of online studying at home.  After a lot of soul searching, I prefer to do it in a proper college environment with other students.

At home, motivation is a problem, there's no one about to ask questions when I get stuck.  I need face to face contact and regular interaction with people doing the same things.

At home, I have to do my own cooking and washing up.  I prefer a canteen/restaurant.

May I ask what your area is ?

Yes I guess it's hard to strike a balance in some lines of work but I'm becoming more convinced prioritising what works for me to function better is number one. Otherwise, life can become robotic and can feel like you're living on autopilot which just doesn't work and isn't worth it long-term.

Thanks Michael. Much appreciated.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you need any additional support or advice. 

You are not obliged to have your camera switched on during online meetings unless it is absolutely essential to the work. 

I see this from a slightly different aspect. My wife works from home were I am retired and at home. She’s a information officer, deals with statistics, and on the fence whether it’s better at home or work. 

Being at work is better for thinking about work and putting personal stuff to the back of her mind. Being at home is better for seeing us. I can help by making tea and lunch. She’s saved a lot by not going out for lunch or buying a treat on a bad day. There’s no hour commute and she can vent work problems on me. Rather than simmer all day. She’s allowed headphones at work for music, so there is no difference there.

She also uses Microsoft teams and online applications to communicate with other colleagues all over the country.  They seem a good team. She also shuts down the laptop screen to hide. Her phone is also connected through her lap top so she doesn’t miss a call.

All in all I think she’s better of working from home, but this has put another two hundred pounds on our electricity bill. I have to remind myself not to bug her to often.

That's the first time I've heard that but it's interesting. I can't say whether it's true or not because maths does interest me to some point. And, in a sense, language works very similarly to mathematics.  

Never thought of mathematics like that before but makes sense. I think it was maybe ' left brain - right brain ' stuff I was reading in the past and their respective qualities. Fascinating but I never formed any more love of Maths after reading it .  I think there is more of a cultural stigma for Mathematics as being more difficult or disliked. 

I'm a whizz at music and music operates along mathematical principles at its core, it's just dressed up a little differently. 

Yeah, again interesting. It's all very confusing for me at least considering Language, Music & Mathematics require qualities of both brain hemispheres so maybe development and wiring connections between the two decides. Don't ask me though. I think some of my Maths connections amongst others were frazzled or something . 

Regarding teaching, your consideration questions are very helpful pointers. 

just two days a week for a couple of hours

Sounds ideal but obviously not doable for me if that was my only income. 

Doing something for sheer pleasure and no financial reward is always the best way to work out whether you're in the right job or not.

I've heard it before, phrased in a different context but still good food for thought.  

Turtle said:

You sound like you have a natural ability for language.

I don't know about that. I enjoy speaking French and English, and I enjoy teaching others to speak the two languages too.  

Turtle said:

I've read that a lot of people who excel in language don't really like Maths and those number guys are not big into English or language. Is there any truth to that ?

That's the first time I've heard that but it's interesting. I can't say whether it's true or not because maths does interest me to some point. And, in a sense, language works very similarly to mathematics.  

I teach 18+, Turtle. And that's a very different experience to teaching other age groups. Not because of the age of the learners, but because of the environments they have to learn in and you have to teach in and what is expected from you and from them in each setting.

Your first consideration might be answering the questions what can I teach and what would I like to teach? The answer to this e two questions will dictate whether you already have the training and expertise required in your subject area or whether you need to extend your knowledge and experience.

The next questions would be: where (in what setting) I want to teach and who (which age group) do I want to teach?

The answers to these two questions will show lead you to the right kind of teacher training as an adult entering the profession. 

The standard routes for teaching in schools and colleges are through a university degree and then an extra certificate of training (P.G.C.E/Post Graduate Certificate in Education).  Or, in further education colleges as an adult, you need a Level 5 Teaching & Education Diploma with an extra certificate of training in your specialist area (Literacy and Numeracy) which is usually included in your Level 5 Course. 

You could also look for opportunities locally to become a volunteer tutor in something that you're knowledgeable in. This is a great way to understand whether it's something you're interested in or not. Doing something for sheer pleasure and no financial reward is always the best way to work out whether you're in the right job or not.

yeh just costs so much to get anybody to do anything theses days. I'm in wales and it is all second homes round here, so the builders aren't interested unless they can get 150k and over  for a job .

Yep, it's a lot of physical work doing it all by yourself. I see a lot of warriors on Grand Designs doing everything themselves but you only do that once unless you're a glutton for punishment . Log cabin holiday lets are very popular these days it seems. If I win the lotto I'll get a team to do some developing for me .

Yeah, I would probably do that too. The thought of using Zoom or whatever does not appeal to me. It just sounds weird. I've never been one to post or send photos even. I can't imagine what an interview on camera would be like. 

Ended up buying a run down place ,not been lived in for 20 years .Just tidying it up really ,plumbing, kitchen ,bit of plastering ,bathroom, alot of clearing .

Would be nice to build a house but starting to feel old ,built a log cabin about 5 years ago ,and lived in that off grid for a year which was really good .So may do something like that ,if i can get the family into the idea again.

Yes I imagine teaching in the normal environment can be stressful enough. I hear what you're saying not being able to move around. I've seen many in their pajamas throughout the lockdown on my travels of work. I guess structure can be hard though for many during these times. Balance seems to be the key albeit hard to strike sometimes.