[wanttoteachkc]

Hi,

Is anyone starting their primary PGCE at Bangor in 2012?

Just wondering what everyone is doing about accommodation?

I am considering travelling from home near Ruthin..... is anyone else travelling in from here and would like to share lifts?

Also, I am considering renting somewhere in Bangor for the second term between January and April but am not sure about this.... Is anyone else thinking about doing this?

Can't wait to start!

[danielleg90]

Hey! Just got my letter today for an unconditional offer at Bangor for a primary PGCE :-D
I'm not completely sure what I'm doing about accommodation yet, as I'm from Manchester, so can't really commute!
I'm going to try to not worry too much about housing until the new year, because tests generally when land lords in Bangor start putting out adverts. I think I may see if I can find housing in either Bangor or menai bridge for Sept- Oct by which time I'll now where my placements are... hopefully ill be able to stay in Bangor though and just commute.... excited, but very nervous... can't wait!

[danielleg90]

*that's

[buffyfan]

Hey I'm starting lower primary in Bangor! Not sure about living arrangements yet tho as I don't speak welsh so am unlikely to be in a school that near Bangor itself...

[Jadey91]

Hey I'm starting in Bangor doing lower primary. I'm so excited to start the course There doesn't seem to be many people going to Bangor from the forums I've seen. If anyone travelling from the holyhead area that wants to share lifts? x

[nadine_harrison]

Hi,

Just applied for the PGCE. I know the daedline has been for applications but I have been in contact with the Uni and they have told me to still apply. Any tips for the interview if I am successful? I get soo nervous during interviews! Well done to everyone getting on the course

[wanttoteachkc]

Congrats to everyone for getting a place too Yeah its difficult to know what to do but I suppose we have aaages to decide really!! I wonder what month they will let us know where our first placement is.... cause that would be helpful to know where to live etc....

Danielle where abouts are you from in Manchester? Im from there originally but will probs be living with bf in wales next year...

Can't wait to hear more about the course and stuff!! haha Im not sure if everyone has been interviewed and stuff yet so more people will probably be finding out if they've got in soon

[wanttoteachkc]

and Nadine, I would just say make sure you remember the things you put on your application and that you have answers to all the basic qs like why you want to teach etc. I'd say enthusiasm for it seemed more important to them than knowing everything!

[kirky84]

Hi,
Just found out this morning that I got on the upper primary course, only had my interview on friday so reckon they can't have filled up the course yet. Im also from Manchester but planning on staying with bf on Anglesey though the guy was saying theres only 3 schools on Anglesey that will take English speakers so I'm expecting a long commute to somewhere past Colwyn bay or having to stay with friends in Wrexham. Feeling very excited now!

[kirky84]

Oh and Jadey91, I will probably be somewhere near Holyhead so if you still want to share lifts nearer the time that would be great and cheaper in petrol

[Thor Molecules]

Hi I have an interview in Bangor on Friday. I'm just wondering what kind of questions are asked? I'm from Ireland so my knowledge of the Welsh system is basic enough. I have a very good grasp of the Irish one and I can see some similarities so hopefully I'll be alright.

What are the written tests before like? One of my friends went to an interview in London and she said that the tests were 40 minutes each. I don't think they are that length in Bangor are they?

Also how long generally do the interviews take? Is it a case of in and out in an hour or so, or is it a half day job?

Sorry for all the questions but I am a bit lost with the whole process.

[kirky84]

Mine took about 2 and a bit hours but thats just because you're waiting for each person to have there 1 to 1 interview. Its nothing like what I've read for other interviews, don't panic and just have a good think about why you want to teach before hand and be prepared to answer questions on that. Have a quick read up on the internet on the Welsh curriculum so you have a bit of an idea of how its different. Its really not that bad or too stressful once youre there. good luck

[DeirdreF]

Hey everybody, well done to anybody who has got a place so far and best of luck to anyone who has an interview coming up. I got a place after an interview in early December and sent all the information requested back before the new year. I haven't had my certificates returned or heard anything since. So I'm just wondering if this is the normal length of waiting time or should I give them a call? Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[danielleg90]

Hi wanttoteachkc (sorry, I don't know your real name!),
I'm from Stockport, so, just on the Manchester, Cheshire border... Where abouts did you live in Manchester? Things would be a lot easier if I knew someone who was going to still be living in Wales next year!
I know its so long off yet, but I hate being left in limbo with this while accommodation thing! Obviously its going to work itself out, we're all more or less in the same boat at the mo
Deirdre, I would try giving the uni a call if you're worried about your documents. I didn't send mine until just after the Christmas holidays and got them back within the week.
This will seem like a daft question, because I know we were told at the interview but it's completely escaped my mind... does anyone know the course length in weeks, as well as how the course is divided in weeks; uni, placement, uni, placement? (for upper primary.)
Congratulations to all how have got on their course so far and good luck to all with interviews still to come!

[kirky84]

Hi danielleg90, I think they said school placements were 9 weeks each, October - December then April - June. Not sure what the exact length of the course was, start in September and finish end of june with Christmas and Easter hols. I'm not far from stockport when Im at home seems like they'll be a few of us on the course
Is anyone else worrying about having to learn Welsh?

[bangorstudent2009]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help me...I've got an interview with Bangor University for a PGCE primary education - it involved a reading and writing test. Does anyone know what this will involve? What would I have to research?

I want to make sure i get this right! Thanks for your help

[wanttoteachkc]

Oh wow really!? I'm from Stockport too! Hazel Grove if you know where abouts that is? Hahaa this is just wierd?! lol.
Yeahh i am a bit worried about this accommodation thing but i suppose everyone does it every year and they all seem to sort themselves out so im sure we all will! haha.
Yeah i think it was like 6 weeks in uni then 9 week placement til christmas. Then uni for Jan to March, another 9 week placement April to June and then only a couple of weeks back to uni to just finish up
Are any of youuu in Bangor atm doing degrees or anything? I have just started a basic beginners course in welsh whilst here for the last term, but apparently you only need to know the basics for in the schools, like days of the week etc and apparently a lot of schools prefer to teach the welsh themselves rather than people on placement doing it..... so i've heard anyway!
Kelly

[kirky84]

Hi Kelly,
Im from Saddleworth, and was working in Cheadle hulme, small world. Im not at uni, graduated years ago, but I am living near bangor at the mo and have also just started a beginners welsh course but the bangor one was full so Im doing the course up in Trearddur bay. Thats reassuring that we won't have to know much more than the basics

[wanttoteachkc]

Reading and writing test is simple, just have to write why you want to be a teacher and then read some objectives of a school and discuss them in your personal interview. Just make sure you revise a little about whatever they have specified on their letter to you eg developments in welsh education system etc...

[danielleg90]

Well it is a very small world! Haha, I live in Offerton, so right next to Hazel Grove... I even work in the grove!
I'm sure we'll all be fine in the long run with sorting accommodation etc. It's just a bit daunting!
With the Welsh language side of things, I've bought an audio learning guide for parents... its for English speaking parents whos children go to Welsh speaking schools. So hopefully, I'll be able to pick up some basics from that... but it is good to know that its not going to be too heavy going on the Welsh speaking side of things