Nice people thread part 8 - worth the wait

PasturesNew

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Lots of Polish cities have two numbering systems, so a house has 2 numbers. One is by age - so the oldest houses are 1,2,3 and the newer ones 43, or whatever.

The second system is the more sensible one, like ours.

If you don't know which number system the one you've been given is, that's rather irritating. And if you know it's the "by age" one, that doesn't help much either!

There was some programme on the telly a few years back, where one of the pieces covered was one street where the numbering was bizarre and they explained it all. I can't remember where it was, nor the story in enough detail to even start trying to explain it though.

The numbers were all over the place and several numbers were repeated. It involved, in part, a short terrace that had originally been built by some bloke, then adopted into the street.

PasturesNew

Itismehonest wrote: »

Wasn't it red shoes?

No, definitely a hat.

CKhalvashi

Generali wrote: »

I'm in the UK for the end of June/start of July.

Happy to meet any Nice People that're around London/SE. I'll be in the SW for a few days too and in Northern France for 2 days

Well, you know where to find me and/or OH, and you're welcome to join us for a few drinks :beer:

LydiaJ

Nikkster wrote: »

How different we were... in Sept 2004 I was looking for temp work as I had no idea what to do with myself. I had just got a 2:2 (see previous post, should have worked harder), but had already committed myself to living with a friend for the year whilst she started a PhD. I was looking for temp work (anything), and ended up doing admin in a social services office attached to a hospital. I left after 3 months to work as a lab tech in another hospital when I decided I was going to apply for the MSc in Tox (and I missed science). And as I'm a May 1982 baby I was an academic year ahead of you (although I did do a 4 yr undergrad). I took my time becoming a grown up!

In Sept 2004 I was going back to work just 3 monrings a week after a four year gap to have my kids.

CKhalvashi wrote: »

I also went to uni a year 'early'.

The AS exams in the UK, at that point, were considered university qualification under the Russian system (and in fact, I was a year older than most I went to uni with)

This was why, earlier on, I made a big point about being one of the last 'old' system students. It was shorter classes than now, a bit like the same style that Buckingham teach, so you're doing the 2 degrees in just under 3.5 years, instead of the 5 or 6 under the new system. (which for a 1st June enrollment, as it was then, would happily see you just on the PGCE course for October)

I had to be grown up, unfortunately, as I had 2 young children to pay for. It wasn't amazing timing, but I do love them to bits

CK

Well, whatever system you did it under, I still think that to get a degree, a masters, a PGCE and 2 years of teaching experience by the age of 23 is a monumental achievement. :T

zagubov wrote: »

I went to uni at 17- the standard age in Scotland. You could stay for an extra year now buit it was more unusual then. I was on an ordinary three-year general degree so could have left at 20. Stayed on to take an honours degree instead.

Back then teachers had to be graduates to register with the General Teaching Council, and had done a year's teacher training. The unis weren't allowed to offer PGCEs, there were Colleges of Education which handled all that.

I never did teacher training; went to a fascinating place in London that specialised in lecturer training instead. It was a great place and I reckon it was one of the best-kept secrets in the education system.;)

I didn't want to go to university at 17. I wanted to be a legal adult when I went. That's why I had a gap year - not that it was called that in those days. I did my PGCE distance learning, because I was already working part time in an independent school while finishing off my PhD.

zagubov

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Ah, that was, "all fur coat and no knickers..."

That's what weegies say about Edinburgers!

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd become a teacher - except the route from here to there is so long it'd be just about retirement time. So, add on the issues over if there are actually any teaching jobs - and where they are in the country - plus, who'd employ somebody old in their first job ..... it's not even worth thinking about it.

It's easier to become a college lecturer or work in TEFL. College Lecturers need relevant quals and not necessarily a degree so if you've any IT experience you can find out more. As for TEFL, I've got mates who make a decent living teaching tourists how to speak English (or working abroad e.g China, teaching locals how to speak English). Not sure what quals you need to get on a course for a TEFL qual. You don't need to speak their lingo by the way.

Lots more TEFL courses on the south coast than there are colleges IIRC.

LydiaJ

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd become a teacher - except the route from here to there is so long it'd be just about retirement time. So, add on the issues over if there are actually any teaching jobs - and where they are in the country - plus, who'd employ somebody old in their first job ..... it's not even worth thinking about it.

Teaching is a very popular choice for a second career. Loads of people start out in teaching when they're no longer young. You'd be in good company if you did it.

zagubov wrote: »

It's easier to become a college lecturer or work in TEFL. College Lecturers need relevant quals and not necessarily a degree so if you've any IT experience you can find out more. As for TEFL, I've got mates who make a decent living teaching tourists how to speak English (or working abroad e.g China, teaching locals how to speak English). Not sure what quals you need to get on a course for a TEFL qual. You don't need to speak their lingo by the way.

Lots more TEFL courses on the south coast than there are colleges IIRC.

What a great suggestion, zag. TEFL could be a good way to go, PN. You don't need a degree, and you can train in a few weeks, and the fees are only a few hundred quid (or maybe a few thousand if you want more than a basic certificate). All you need is to be over 18 and speak fluent English. See this webpage, for example. I'm sure there's something similar in your area. Seriously, PN, you should look into it if you enjoyed your previous experience of teaching typing.

zagubov

LydiaJ wrote: »

In Sept 2004 I was going back to work just 3 monrings a week after a four year gap to have my kids.



Well, whatever system you did it under, I still think that to get a degree, a masters, a PGCE and 2 years of teaching experience by the age of 23 is a monumental achievement. :T



I didn't want to go to university at 17. I wanted to be a legal adult when I went. That's why I had a gap year - not that it was called that in those days. I did my PGCE distance learning, because I was already working part time in an independent school while finishing off my PhD.

You're regarded as adult in Scotland at 16 hence the Gretna Green marriage stories. Practically everybody else I knew was 17 when they went to uni. If you waited till you were 18 people assumed you'd messed up your highers first time round.:eek:

The commonest degrees up there took four years as to reach honours level. The ordinary degrees got you onto primary school training courses but you'd need an honours and often a higher degree for secondary school teaching.

If you went to uni in Glasgow the student ID cards gave away your age so you couldn't drink in the student bars or unions. My uni didn't so I could get into any student union bar.

I very much enjoyed studying for a Masters when I was a mature student.

I try to push as many students as I can into going to uni now as it's becoming almost a norm rather than the exceptional thing it was back in my day.

I'm the opposite of CK. I spent 9 years in full-time education plus now I think of it, 3 years part-time. Although I worked for a year in a hospital after my first degree, I didn't have another permanent fulltime post until I was 29.

I really really enjoyed my 20s especially from about 25 onwards. No mortgage or responsibilities, part-time work, part-time study, exploring London, spending my hols travelling around Europe and the US.:D

vivatifosi

TEFL is a great idea. Being a relatively literate lot, a few of my library colleagues do/have done this. It's a handy additional income stream. A couple of them have used it to have fun living abroad for a couple of years too. In fact, quite a few library people also tutor/teach various things. There's a fair deal of synergy between the two job types.

LydiaJ

PasturesNew wrote: »

I had a quick Google for jobs - and, even though you need nothing to get onto a course, job adverts are asking for a degree + being able to demonstrate a background in teaching + being able to demonstrate a commitment to working with young learners ..... and rafts of other targets I wouldn't hit. So, I could take the courses, but just end up as another sad sap that thought taking a course would lead to employment ... and there are lots of courses that happens on.

Bottom line is: the world and his dog put "degree" in their job adverts .... and, while you can apply without, you're at the back of the queue.

Well, that depends on whether you want a proper job or a few casual hours to supplement your income from your internet empire.

PasturesNew

LydiaJ wrote: »

Well, that depends on whether you want a proper job or a few casual hours to supplement your income from your internet empire.

Dunno.

I'd like something that's not 40 hours/week, grindingly long hours with the bare minimum of time off that's difficult to book ..... that pays peanuts.



3 days/week that pays £15k would be good.