All Primary / Secondary Masters Courses - Post Q's Here Please

JFitzgerald

Balmom wrote: »

Thanks, that's going to be a lot of schools then. I got offered UCD. The school has to be in a 25km radius. I'm hoping it is not as hard as I have been reading.

i would email out as many cvs and cover letters to as many schools as i possibly could. and hopefully not go off my head in the process.
i'm going to UCC so i was looking at sending out more than 65 emails when i got up this morning. eek.
luckily i got a placement after email number 22 was sent out.
i would've sent emails to all 65 though.
how many schools are there in the 25km radius?

Balmom

That's great that you got somewhere and no you are right. I sent 10 today but already a few no's so I think I will just have to start sending indiscriminately. Really don't know how many there are in the 25km radius but will do as many as I can, thanks for the tip. Good luck in UCC.

JFitzgerald

Balmom wrote: »

That's great that you got somewhere and no you are right. I sent 10 today but already a few no's so I think I will just have to start sending indiscriminately. Really don't know how many there are in the 25km radius but will do as many as I can, thanks for the tip. Good luck in UCC.

thanks.
if you look on the PAC website under the UCD section is there a document that you can download? a list of available dublin schools and their contact details?
there's a list done up for UCC.
i printed off the UCC list and started emailing the schools one by one from the list.
it was so tedious but i reckon i could've done them all in about 5-6 hours, had i kept at it.

Balmom

Thanks, I just had a look, can't find any list, but that's not saying it's not there just can't see it lol

JFitzgerald

Balmom wrote: »

Thanks, I just had a look, can't find any list, but that's not saying it's not there just can't see it lol

i just had a look too - out of curiosity.
i couldn't see one for ucd. that's a pity.
the one for ucc is very handy, it gives enough detail to contact each school and gives each school's distance from ucc.
you could google secondary schools in dublin and you might get a list of schools.
if you know dublin, then you could roughly guess if each school is near enough to UCD.

Balmom

Thanks for checking yeah it's a pity. Yeah I am in Dublin (just about) so I have an idea, just using google but it's time consuming, a list would have been good.

JFitzgerald

Balmom wrote: »

Thanks for checking yeah it's a pity. Yeah I am in Dublin (just about) so I have an idea, just using google but it's time consuming, a list would have been good.

i found this list - you might have it already:
http://www.schooldays.ie/secondary-schools-in-ireland/Dublin-City
it doesnt show each school's email, which is a pain.
i'm surprised UCD don't give out a list of schools - it's the least they could do - they make enough money from all their students year in year out.

nellnewman

Hey everybody, I'm a newbie to boards.ie and I'm looking for some help and advice. I recently got offered my PDE in NUIG and I've been in shock since I wasn't expecting it but I'm excited as well as terrified!! I guess I just don't no where to start!?!!! I know teaching placement is vital and should be organised asap so I'm wondering has anyone any pointers on how to make my cv and cover letter stand out from the crowd? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!! Also I know that some colleges require that you do your teaching placement in a school within a certain radius to the college and I'm just wondering does anybody know if NUIG is one of those colleges? I haven't seen it in anything I've read but I just want to be certain.

Thanks!!!

Nell

JFitzgerald

boomtown123 wrote: »

Also does anyone know what the parking is like in and around UCC?

i'm sorry to tell you that parking in and around UCC is non-existent.
there's virtually no free parking in the UCC area.
you'll either have to walk, park-and-ride, take a bus,
or park your car god knows where and walk.

boomtown123

JFitzgerald wrote: »

i'm sorry to tell you that parking in and around UCC is non-existent.
there's virtually no free parking in the UCC area.
you'll either have to walk, park-and-ride, take a bus,
or park your car god knows where and walk.

Lovely! Actually kind of ripping at the whole layout of the timetable with UCC. Like god knows where one will get a placement -could be like 78km away and then have to try get to college and try park somewhere. I'm already having heart palpitations. .

vermafogli

Hi fellow board members,

I was wondering if anyone could offer me any useful info. I have been extremely grateful and lucky to have been offered UL and NUIG for Business, however for financial reason I will have to commute to whichever I chose. Has anyone any advice on these courses, whomever has done these before as I really don't know which college to pick. Stressing me out big time now, would be so thankful for any advice that anyone might be so kind to offer

boomtown123

vermafogli wrote: »

Hi fellow board members,

I was wondering if anyone could offer me any useful info. I have been extremely grateful and lucky to have been offered UL and NUIG for Business, however for financial reason I will have to commute to whichever I chose. Has anyone any advice on these courses, whomever has done these before as I really don't know which college to pick. Stressing me out big time now, would be so thankful for any advice that anyone might be so kind to offer

Hey, Congrats on the two offers. Which is closest to you? Have you looked at the timetables for both. As far as I know Galway is done in blocks so I think this would be handier and I don't think you need to get a school in Galway which would be a plus. Not really sure about Limerick.

I would look at the timetables if your going to commuting and see which one would suit you best.

vermafogli

boomtown123 wrote: »

Hey, Congrats on the two offers. Which is closest to you? Have you looked at the timetables for both. As far as I know Galway is done in blocks so I think this would be handier and I don't think you need to get a school in Galway which would be a plus. Not really sure about Limerick.

I would look at the timetables if your going to commuting and see which one would suit you best.

Thank-you, that's the thing, UL organise teaching practice and class size is about 30 to 50 people, teaching is on Mondays til Christmas and theres block teaching after Christmas and I cant get my hands on a time table for UL and i would have to drive an hour and a half each way every day, fees are 5,100 but NUIG is closer and would be much more convenient for me but fees are 6,300, and will have to organise teaching practice too so not sure what to do So many pros and cons for both

boomtown123

Hmm I don't know. God yeah loads of pros and cons on either side. Would you not be spending a good bit on travel to UL? Commuting can be draining cost wise and mind wise. I know it prob wouldn't be anything to weigh up the differences in the fees.

Maybe you could check out more about ULs timetable and talk to some family and friends about it.

Irishcailin89

Hi I just noticed that some if ye are sending out emails? Just wondering do the schools reply to most emails and let you know anyways . I wouldn't mind sending emails only I'd be afraid they wouldn't see them!
Thanks

Irishcailin89

JFitzgerald wrote: »

I emailed in my cv and cover letter because i'm abroad and outside the EU at the moment. i don't trust the post here. they rang me 2 hours later. just as well i had switched on my irish phone. the principal told me about the school and then asked me if i had any questions. that was it. job done. i'm glad i don't have to cut short my stay and rush back to ireland for an interview.

Hi just wondering when you were applying to the schools by email did you mention you are abroad ! I'm meant to be going abroad and was wondering should I be upfront with the schools to kind of rush an answer . I really want to have it sorted before i leave Ireland .

Thanks in advance

vermafogli

boomtown123 wrote: »

Hmm I don't know. God yeah loads of pros and cons on either side. Would you not be spending a good bit on travel to UL? Commuting can be draining cost wise and mind wise. I know it prob wouldn't be anything to weigh up the differences in the fees.

Maybe you could check out more about ULs timetable and talk to some family and friends about it.

That's true prob best to go with NUIG at least then I can hop on a train, with UL def have to drive and that would def be very expensive in the long run and exhausting!

Thanks, you've been very helpful:) may get my CV dusted off so and start sending them out!

Anyone doing business in NUIG know what their second methodology is yet?

compgeek

Hi Vermafogli,




I'm glad you managed to make a decision between UL and NUIG.


I also have a place got in NUIG and my primary degree entitles me to teach Business & Accounting (according to the teaching council) so I know Business will be my main methodology, like you.


But does any of our fellow boardies out-there know how we go about our second methodology? Do we choose it ourselves?

Do we have to take specialist methodologies too or are they just to cover students with only 1 subject?

Sorry for all the questions, but like you, I'd like the answer to these questions.


Thanks, Compgeek.

Caiseoipe19

compgeek wrote: »

Hi Vermafogli,




I'm glad you managed to make a decision between UL and NUIG.


I also have a place got in NUIG and my primary degree entitles me to teach Business & Accounting (according to the teaching council) so I know Business will be my main methodology, like you.


But does any of our fellow boardies out-there know how we go about our second methodology? Do we choose it ourselves?

Do we have to take specialist methodologies too or are they just to cover students with only 1 subject?

Sorry for all the questions, but like you, I'd like the answer to these questions.


Thanks, Compgeek.

If you are going to be qualified to teach 2 subjects then those are the two methodologies you take. Not much point learning how to teach subjects if you're (most likely) not going to be teaching them.
You can take additional classes in some specialist methodologies and I think you can get a cert stating that you've done them. These are usually in the likes of LCVP, CSPE, Transition Year etc. If you have one subject, you pick one of the specialist methodologies to make up the 5 ECTS. That's the story in NUIG this year anyways as far as I know.

compgeek

Hi Cygnus,


Thank you for your prompt reply. I would appreciate if you could tell me about the day-day of the course?


I know they are loads of assignments from friends doing it this year but what are the hours like (I know, it's dependent on your methodologies) but outside of these classes, how many "lecturing" hours might you have?


Thanks, Compgeek.

bakergirl91

Cygnus wrote: »

If you are going to be qualified to teach 2 subjects then those are the two methodologies you take. Not much point learning how to teach subjects if you're (most likely) not going to be teaching them.
You can take additional classes in some specialist methodologies and I think you can get a cert stating that you've done them. These are usually in the likes of LCVP, CSPE, Transition Year etc. If you have one subject, you pick one of the specialist methodologies to make up the 5 ECTS. That's the story in NUIG this year anyways as far as I know.

Thats what i gathered from the handbook as well ! I only have one subject (History), and i think we can take 2 specialist subjects even. however it changes from year to year what they are offering !

compgeek

Hi Vermafogli,



What's your primary degree? is it from UL?


I know in terms of the PGDE, if you only have 1 teaching subject, you can take 2 specialist methodologies, e.g LCVP or Transition Year.

However, you raise a very good question in regard to how your teaching practice would work.

Maybe someone who is doing the PDGE this year would be able to shed some light on your query?


Compgeek.

vermafogli

compgeek wrote: »

Hi Vermafogli,



What's your primary degree? is it from UL?


I know in terms of the PGDE, if you only have 1 teaching subject, you can take 2 specialist methodologies, e.g LCVP or Transition Year.

However, you raise a very good question in regard to how your teaching practice would work.

Maybe someone who is doing the PDGE this year would be able to shed some light on your query?


Compgeek.

Thanks for that Compgeek, my primary degree is a bachelor of business from W.I.T. I had specialised in economics and had hoped that I could be qualified by the teaching council to teach economics as well as business but this is not the case.


Hopefully someone has more info on T.P.

Thank-you!

JFitzgerald

boomtown123 wrote: »

Lovely! Actually kind of ripping at the whole layout of the timetable with UCC. Like god knows where one will get a placement -could be like 78km away and then have to try get to college and try park somewhere. I'm already having heart palpitations. .

i agree. it would be better if we had uni for 3 whole days and then teaching in a school for 2 whole days instead of having to do school and uni each day.

i didn't email any schools that were more than 60kms away. i didn't think it would be possible to get to uni in time for afternoon lectures. it would be too stressful for me. traffic around cork can be chronic at lunchtime.

JFitzgerald

Irishcailin89 wrote: »

Hi just wondering when you were applying to the schools by email did you mention you are abroad ! I'm meant to be going abroad and was wondering should I be upfront with the schools to kind of rush an answer . I really want to have it sorted before i leave Ireland .

Thanks in advance

yes, i told them i was abroad and that i can't trust the post here.
i actually think its better to email in your cv and cover letter, rather than posting. much faster. i don't think the schools care either way.

i would tell the schools i'm going abroad if i were you.

JFitzgerald

Irishcailin89 wrote: »

Hi I just noticed that some if ye are sending out emails? Just wondering do the schools reply to most emails and let you know anyways . I wouldn't mind sending emails only I'd be afraid they wouldn't see them!
Thanks

Not that many schools have replied to my emails yet. only 4. i sent 22 emails. But i don't think it was because i emailed, i think it's just because they haven't come back to me yet. i got my placement yesterday through emailing though, so it worked for me.

Caiseoipe19

bakergirl91 wrote: »

Thats what i gathered from the handbook as well ! I only have one subject (History), and i think we can take 2 specialist subjects even. however it changes from year to year what they are offering !

I think most people only take one specialist methodology but if they can accommodate allowing extra students into some classes they will. To be honest it's no big deal which one you take and nothing you really have to worry about at this stage. You get told about all that sort of stuff in the first week

compgeek wrote: »

Hi Vermafogli,



What's your primary degree? is it from UL?


I know in terms of the PGDE, if you only have 1 teaching subject, you can take 2 specialist methodologies, e.g LCVP or Transition Year.

Yes, I see that each are only worth 2.5 ECTS so you have to take two of them if you only have one subject

However, you raise a very good question in regard to how your teaching practice would work.

What exactly is the problem with how TP would work?

Maybe someone who is doing the PDGE this year would be able to shed some light on your query?


Compgeek.

Timetable hours change from week to week. Usually have no classes on Fridays. One or two groups had class on one or two Saturdays but that wasn't a regular occurance.

Irishcailin89

JFitzgerald wrote: »

Not that many schools have replied to my emails yet. only 4. i sent 22 emails. But i don't think it was because i emailed, i think it's just because they haven't come back to me yet. i got my placement yesterday through emailing though, so it worked for me.

Thanks for your help , I'll get on to emailing some schools ASAP and see how u get on

Elpurple

ana.hol wrote: »

Hi Keith, I just got offered Maynooth too, congrats. Have you heard any tips about getting teaching placement? I don't know whether to go in person or what to put in cover letter etc!

Hey you two, I got Maynooth too congrats! Dont act know anyone else doing it up there and from a quick glance at the comments doesnt seem to be many on here either! Iv just send a load of emails out prob wont hear back from many (not expecting to) so might then start ringing next week/visiting schools! Have ye heard anything back yet or contacted anywhere?

gavo32

I haven't finished my CV yet. I hope to hand them around on Monday and Tuesday. Would ye recommend that I write each school an email stating my interest & notifying them I will be coming to personally hand in my CV.