PGCE ENGLISH at IOE 2012 start

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I hope you do really well. Based on my performance here's my advice: stay natural, when asked reason for application give simple, concise and honest answer; what pre-1914 poem? Give a classic answer e.g. Blake, Shelley, Wordsworth, detail about date of publication, then explain how to teach it e.g. how to begin I.e. introduction then main activity using a visual aid. The same process for which/how to teach a novel.
A problem that english language graduates have are their limitation in what they can say about which/how to teach poetry/novels because their specialism are the science and intricacies of talk/accent/dialect/Saussure not narrative this is overcome, though, by answering questions slickly and conveying that you enjoy reading stories as a main hobby.
Something which I didn't do but you could is mention why you want to teach young people? Theoretically we could teach english to infants or adults so input about why you want to teach young people would really put the course solidly at your feet. Your foot is in the door because your application passed initial assessment but now its about stepping in confidently.
Something that I noticed is if you look under pressure their face softens to convey informality but when you start to relax and perform well they apply pressure in someway to test how well you behave I.e. stay calm never get cocky or over-nervous. I also think prior to entering the interview room they have read your personal statement and have already decided on admission so the questions they ask and your answers assist in crystallizing or changing their decision. They have targets to admit a mixed selection of candidates from different ethnicities, to ensure inclusion, whom are all high achievers e.g. finished degree in expected timeframe/ good A levels but at the same time based on an article I read they are flexible.

It's nearly Monday 2nd...

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 21

Osman86

I hope the new year brings awesome news.

Reply 22

Shelly_x

Just reading through your thread as i want to apply for an English PGCE. Good luck guys :smile:

Thought I should let you know unis will be closed monday 2nd as its a bank holiday... to save you lot unnecessary worry :smile:

Reply 23

Osman86

Man, another day. :confused:

Hold on IoE was open, I called admissions today. It's bank holiday in Scotland, northern Ireland not England/wales.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 24

StarBabyCat

I have been following this thread with some interest; I'm not applying for English but history at the IoE. Osman, I would really like you to clarify your statement about ethnic minorities and targets- do you have a link?

Thanks!

Reply 25

Osman86

I am going to get the link, I just need to find the article about their commitment to admit equal numbers of different ethnicities. I read this somewhere. They are very determined to be inclusive hence about half the candidates on iinterview day were british Asian/British African or carribean and the other half were white british. Watch this space.

FOUND IT: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:f7tOo2eLJ9YJ:www.ioe.ac.uk/RespectingDifference.pdf+institute+of+education+recruitment+of+ethnic+minorities+to+pgce&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgSJcHvcTAaEGdVR4Bpe_EDe_sigHDzGUF5eIOqNN6mmk9MT6sn6TJFcpWU92FCfO1rHYOwT-UUZs9MQbkJEjk5FDF0d8FYkQsTFPFTitYmZ5U7jSkA2Knu310V6pYE4HQwV9p9&sig=AHIEtbTFkSo0qT5WzGusWdQbbviE_TWKkg

I hope no news is good news so to speak, hopefully if I was rejected I'd know by now. Surely... The lady on the phone did say if anyone was rejected for any PGCE they would know before Xmas.
The problem with the IoE is their heavy focus on theories which underpin practice, most schools dislike the IoE because the NQT year is heavily focussed on lesson planning informed by formative assessment and observation of classroom practice rather than theories and philosophies. However, I chose the IoE cuz I like theory and philosophy, I want this.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 26

StarBabyCat

Thanks for that. I was just a bit worried that I was at a disadvantage being boring old white British! Good luck for everyone waiting, my interview (for history) was on the 8th Dec so it feels like an eternity! It's my 3rd application cycle to the Institute.

Reply 27

StarBabyCat

Osman last year it took 15 days after my interview to get an unsuccessful. And we can't count the Xmas holidays. Don't believe what they say when you call Admissions- you can't trust their info.

Reply 28

Osman86

Did you get feedback? In 2008, I applied and it took bout two weeks to get the rejection, my feedback said I need to support students by using constructive feedback.

I doubt you've been rejected. It's been over 2 weeks since yur interview excluding Xmas holiday. I hope you get the offer.

Reply 29

StarBabyCat

Yeah I did get feedback- it said I should consider how to deal with disengaged students techniques etc. It'll be 15 days not counting the holidays tomorrow. And that was when I was rejected last time! So tomorrow I await the dreaded e-mail!

Hope you get an offer too Osman!

Reply 30

Osman86

Considering it took 15 days to be told this, you only narrowly missed out on an offer. I have read on TES forum about a candidate being rejected after just 2 days, so yes it is possible to be rejected but lightning won't strike twice as long as you have improved on your interview performance, so fingers crossed. :smile:

Reply 31

LAWE

Hello everyone!!

I went to my interview on the 16th December too and also got the email about hearing in early January. It is now early January and I cannot stop checking my email..have even started thinking that maybe the link between my email and the gttr is not working so I have to check that too!

Thought the interview was quite nice. I had Jill Anderson (?..I think that was her name!) and it seemed to go OK..she did ask me about pre 1914 poetry which phased me a bit, having not studied it since A Level (avoided it at Uni). I paused and did my best 'I am being thoughtful face when actually I am just thinking "Oh Dear God" and then said something about Wordsworth....

Anyway, fingers crossed everyone! I don't know if anyone in this thread was at my interview? I was in the morning session in Room 642? I think?

Good luck!!

Reply 32

LittleBittyPrettyOne

Feeling so nervous now, particularly because my e-mail account is down for 3 days due to "planned maintenance"! StarBabyCat, I think I've read your posts on the TES forum - hope 2012 is the year for you, sounds like you really deserve it.
Good luck everyone.

Reply 33

LittleBittyPrettyOne

Just checked my GTTR and I have a conditional offer (2:2 in my degree). Literally over the moon! Good luck everyone x

Me too! Good luck.

Original post by LittleBittyPrettyOne

Just checked my GTTR and I have a conditional offer (2:2 in my degree). Literally over the moon! Good luck everyone x

Aww well done :smile:

my interview's tomorrow, trying to prepare as much as i can :s-smilie:

Reply 36

lawson90

Unconditional offer wooooopppaaaa!!!!!!!!!

Reply 37

StarBabyCat

Well done everyone! I for one really want to know if Osman got an offer!

Reply 38

LittleBittyPrettyOne

Ah well done guys :smile:

! Yes, StarBabyCat I want to know too. Have you heard back? Fingers crossed for you x

Good luck gizemsammali! Just try and stay relaxed (or at least appear it!) and friendly. The only question I got asked that sort of threw me was "Are there any questions I should have asked you?" - I mentioned asking me about a particular experience I had in my personal statement that we hadn't talked about and elaborated further on it. The others were quite standard ones about my educational experiences at school and university, what I've enjoyed studying and what challenges teachers face in today's classroom. Best of luck!

Reply 39

JessSouths

Hi! I've new to TSR but I've just got an unconditional offer for English PGCE at IoE for this September as well! So exciting! I interviewed on the 19th Dec, was anyone else here there that day?

Also, that's so funny, I got asked 'Are there any questions I should have asked you?' and it threw me a bit too! haha

lots of luck to everyone still waiting to hear or waiting to go to interview, just relax you will be great! xxx

ps yes Osman has been so active on this thread I hope he has been successful!