New teacher looking for some advice!
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2014
Location: China, Chongqing
Posts: 2


First of all I would like to say hello, I'm hooded_Eskimo I currently teach ICT at a Cambridge international center in China, I registered to ask a very important question to me which is regarding my situation and what to do in the following year.
So after graduating with a degree in Computer Science, I went to teach English in China, after one year of teaching English, I found a position teaching at a Cambridge international center.
For my 1st year there I was asked to make my own curriculum based around getting kids to know how to effectively use a computer and use certain software efficiently, which is unheard of for a first year qualified teacher yet alone a not even qualified teacher, although I did my best and successfully created a curriculum. Which in my 2nd year of being there would be scraped because I would be teaching IGCSE ICT (Which I am doing now).
So I am in my 2nd year teaching at this Cambridge center, in my 1st year teaching IGCSE ICT, with 3 years of teaching experience? I would like to stay another year to finish the IGCSE ICT Curriculum with my current kids (so that would be 4 years of experience teaching)
In the future I would like to teach IGCSE ICT and AS/A Level ICT even perhaps Computer Science (IGSCE & AS/A Level) at an international school.
Now on to my questions: With 4 years experience would I need to still do a PGCE? Some international school require me to be certificated to be able to teach in my own country, in that case I would, though even in Britain if you have enough years of experience teaching you don't need one.
Perhaps a Masters in Education would be better regarding my experience? Although some require me to already have a PGCE before enrolling also how many years experience does a PGCE equal to?.
Being 24 can I waste another year teaching without a PGCE? Meaning should I go home after this year get the PGCE, end up losing a FANTASTIC job and another years experience?
Am I not thinking of any other options I have, such as over seas learning? ( Which I can't do for PGCE because it requires in classroom training, although I could for some Masters)
Additional information - I'm British - Have done an online basic training course on how to teach the IGCSE ICT curriculum by Cambridge themselves.
Thank you for reading and I warmly welcome any advice especially from International teachers!
So after graduating with a degree in Computer Science, I went to teach English in China, after one year of teaching English, I found a position teaching at a Cambridge international center.
For my 1st year there I was asked to make my own curriculum based around getting kids to know how to effectively use a computer and use certain software efficiently, which is unheard of for a first year qualified teacher yet alone a not even qualified teacher, although I did my best and successfully created a curriculum. Which in my 2nd year of being there would be scraped because I would be teaching IGCSE ICT (Which I am doing now).
So I am in my 2nd year teaching at this Cambridge center, in my 1st year teaching IGCSE ICT, with 3 years of teaching experience? I would like to stay another year to finish the IGCSE ICT Curriculum with my current kids (so that would be 4 years of experience teaching)
In the future I would like to teach IGCSE ICT and AS/A Level ICT even perhaps Computer Science (IGSCE & AS/A Level) at an international school.
Now on to my questions: With 4 years experience would I need to still do a PGCE? Some international school require me to be certificated to be able to teach in my own country, in that case I would, though even in Britain if you have enough years of experience teaching you don't need one.
Perhaps a Masters in Education would be better regarding my experience? Although some require me to already have a PGCE before enrolling also how many years experience does a PGCE equal to?.
Being 24 can I waste another year teaching without a PGCE? Meaning should I go home after this year get the PGCE, end up losing a FANTASTIC job and another years experience?
Am I not thinking of any other options I have, such as over seas learning? ( Which I can't do for PGCE because it requires in classroom training, although I could for some Masters)
Additional information - I'm British - Have done an online basic training course on how to teach the IGCSE ICT curriculum by Cambridge themselves.
Thank you for reading and I warmly welcome any advice especially from International teachers!

#2

Hi hooded_eskimo and welcome to BE 
As you have a specific enquiry I've moved your post over to our teaching section of the forum so hopefully the right people will see it

As you have a specific enquiry I've moved your post over to our teaching section of the forum so hopefully the right people will see it


#3
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,592












First of all I would like to say hello, I'm hooded_Eskimo I currently teach ICT at a Cambridge international center in China, I registered to ask a very important question to me which is regarding my situation and what to do in the following year.
So after graduating with a degree in Computer Science, I went to teach English in China, after one year of teaching English, I found a position teaching at a Cambridge international center.
For my 1st year there I was asked to make my own curriculum based around getting kids to know how to effectively use a computer and use certain software efficiently, which is unheard of for a first year qualified teacher yet alone a not even qualified teacher, although I did my best and successfully created a curriculum. Which in my 2nd year of being there would be scraped because I would be teaching IGCSE ICT (Which I am doing now).
So I am in my 2nd year teaching at this Cambridge center, in my 1st year teaching IGCSE ICT, with 3 years of teaching experience? I would like to stay another year to finish the IGCSE ICT Curriculum with my current kids (so that would be 4 years of experience teaching)
In the future I would like to teach IGCSE ICT and AS/A Level ICT even perhaps Computer Science (IGSCE & AS/A Level) at an international school.
Now on to my questions: With 4 years experience would I need to still do a PGCE? Some international school require me to be certificated to be able to teach in my own country, in that case I would, though even in Britain if you have enough years of experience teaching you don't need one.
Perhaps a Masters in Education would be better regarding my experience? Although some require me to already have a PGCE before enrolling also how many years experience does a PGCE equal to?.
Being 24 can I waste another year teaching without a PGCE? Meaning should I go home after this year get the PGCE, end up losing a FANTASTIC job and another years experience?
Am I not thinking of any other options I have, such as over seas learning? ( Which I can't do for PGCE because it requires in classroom training, although I could for some Masters)
Additional information - I'm British - Have done an online basic training course on how to teach the IGCSE ICT curriculum by Cambridge themselves.
Thank you for reading and I warmly welcome any advice especially from International teachers!
So after graduating with a degree in Computer Science, I went to teach English in China, after one year of teaching English, I found a position teaching at a Cambridge international center.
For my 1st year there I was asked to make my own curriculum based around getting kids to know how to effectively use a computer and use certain software efficiently, which is unheard of for a first year qualified teacher yet alone a not even qualified teacher, although I did my best and successfully created a curriculum. Which in my 2nd year of being there would be scraped because I would be teaching IGCSE ICT (Which I am doing now).
So I am in my 2nd year teaching at this Cambridge center, in my 1st year teaching IGCSE ICT, with 3 years of teaching experience? I would like to stay another year to finish the IGCSE ICT Curriculum with my current kids (so that would be 4 years of experience teaching)
In the future I would like to teach IGCSE ICT and AS/A Level ICT even perhaps Computer Science (IGSCE & AS/A Level) at an international school.
Now on to my questions: With 4 years experience would I need to still do a PGCE? Some international school require me to be certificated to be able to teach in my own country, in that case I would, though even in Britain if you have enough years of experience teaching you don't need one.
Perhaps a Masters in Education would be better regarding my experience? Although some require me to already have a PGCE before enrolling also how many years experience does a PGCE equal to?.
Being 24 can I waste another year teaching without a PGCE? Meaning should I go home after this year get the PGCE, end up losing a FANTASTIC job and another years experience?
Am I not thinking of any other options I have, such as over seas learning? ( Which I can't do for PGCE because it requires in classroom training, although I could for some Masters)
Additional information - I'm British - Have done an online basic training course on how to teach the IGCSE ICT curriculum by Cambridge themselves.
Thank you for reading and I warmly welcome any advice especially from International teachers!
Are you heading to any country in particular?

#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2014
Location: China, Chongqing
Posts: 2


Thanks sparkles!
I was looking to teach in Japan specifically, looking for a job next year while still working in China, another question that I have is does anyone know if computer science /ICT teachers are in demand? I know compared to the sciences and math it's not as in demand.
I was looking to teach in Japan specifically, looking for a job next year while still working in China, another question that I have is does anyone know if computer science /ICT teachers are in demand? I know compared to the sciences and math it's not as in demand.
