University of Birmingham PGCE / PCDipEd 2013-2014

Hi, I got a conditional offer to do Secondary English =D. Just trying to decide whether its worth moving to Edgbaston for just the one year, what do people think? I live about a 30 min drive away so it may be just as easy for me to stay at home. Jen x

Reply 25

He Jennie910,
I'm Secondary English as well :smile:

It's a tough one as it would save you money. What's your home life like? Would that get in the way or would it help? I don't think 30 mins is too bad as you would only need to trabel that on university days. You might end up being closer to placement where you are now?

Reply 26

jmgasparin

Original post by Mtm2k6

Hey,

I'm Matt and I've just got onto the PGDipEd course for Spanish with French! Anyone else doing languages or going on a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course for French?

Hi Matt! I have my Interview the 30th of April for the same course! How was the interview for you? Could you give me some advice?

So, you've got a conditional offer? Is your French pretty bad like mine? In case I was accepted I would have to go on a SKE in French too. Which university have you chosen?

Thanks!

Reply 27

FrauSteppenwolf

Original post by Mtm2k6

Hey,

I'm Matt and I've just got onto the PGDipEd course for Spanish with French! Anyone else doing languages or going on a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course for French?

Hi Matt (& jmgas)! I was also given a conditional offer for German with Spanish and will be doing a French SKE course in Liverpool this summer (including the "compulsary" trip to France- such a hassle! :wink:

). Are you guys looking for flatmates? I know two French girls interested in a house share- Ideally I was looking at sharing with other PGDipE students (if in MFL even better!). If you are interested in join our house hunt email me: [Removed - please use PMs or post here]

Reply 28

FrauSteppenwolf

Original post by jmgasparin

Hi Matt! I have my Interview the 30th of April for the same course! How was the interview for you? Could you give me some advice?

So, you've got a conditional offer? Is your French pretty bad like mine? In case I was accepted I would have to go on a SKE in French too. Which university have you chosen?

Thanks!

Hey there! The interview at Birmingham is quite rigorous but both tutors are incredibly nice (especially if you come well-prepared). After a quick introduction to the course, there is a group discussion where you discuss your chosen article and that of the other applicants. Make sure you have read widely and engage in a discussion that involves everyone, not just yourself. You are then sent off to do the written examination, one A4 in Spanish and one in English. My topics were a) Given that English is a lingua franca, why should MfLs form an integral part of the curriculum. b) Should we teach grammar. My dissertation was actually related to both topics (I study linguistics) so there was plenty to say but what they are really looking for is:
a) clarity of expression, well reflected and coherent arguments, spelling and punctuation, and in the case of Spanish: a wide range of lexical and grammatical structures, few anglicisims. For some reason they let me to it in German even though I'm a native speaker! So if your first language is actually Spanish: good news!
There is also a tiny translation which involves the usual A-Level grammar (subjunctivo, indefinido, imperfecto, conditionals...)

The individual interview probes into the usual questions: Why do you want to be a teacher, why MFLs?, How would you ensure equality in the classroom, how would you motivate unmotivated students, Why would you make a good teacher, Would you be able to cope with stress etc. Randomly, they also asked me if I would say I was crazy (not sure what impression I gave?). I said yes, I'm bonkers- but in a good way! I did get an offer btw :smile:

).
Be positive, friendly, enthusiastic and well-informed. Don't be nervous, there's no need to, they are incredibly nice there! Make them laugh- that's always a bonus! They will also show you a series of pictures and ask you to invent a story in your specialist language and in the past tense (only 2min- don't worry, just wing it!).

I also brought in an English diary on a school exchange in Year 7 to demonstrate that I have always been passionate for languages. It really made their day, so if you have anything in that vein, take it and show it to them!

Hope that helped, good luck!

Reply 29

Original post by Emmabob

He Jennie910,
I'm Secondary English as well :smile:

It's a tough one as it would save you money. What's your home life like? Would that get in the way or would it help? I don't think 30 mins is too bad as you would only need to trabel that on university days. You might end up being closer to placement where you are now?

Hi Emma

Nice to speak to someone doing the same course! My home life is good and you are probably right about the placement issue, the fact that I am considering moving up to Bham is more for the experience than anything else. I think it may be more sensible for me to stay at home but I wouldn't mind living nearer to the big city for a few months. I think its something I'm going to have to look into more. Have you sent all your forms off? I've just got my numeracy skills test to get out of the way :frown:

x

Reply 30

It is definitely worth moving up just for the experience. If you haven't lived away from home yet either then it's a must :smile:

I think it will be nice to be near to other PGCE students for support as well. For example, I'm going to be living with other PGCE students so it will be nice to be living with people that are going to understand what you are going through. More freedom by living away from hoke is always a bonus too!!

I haven't sent all my forms off yet :s-smilie:

I'm waiting until I've organised my primary observation which is taking ages to organize!! I might have to send them off regardless. I have just got back my enhanced disclosure which I have to send off and I've passed my skills tests. It's just this flipping primary observation!! Good Luck for your numeracy! Is it soon? Have you sent off your forms?

p.s. I've just seen my previous post and my spelling is atrocious!! It's a good job I've done my spelling for my literacy already!

Reply 31

Original post by Emmabob

It is definitely worth moving up just for the experience. If you haven't lived away from home yet either then it's a must :smile:

I think it will be nice to be near to other PGCE students for support as well. For example, I'm going to be living with other PGCE students so it will be nice to be living with people that are going to understand what you are going through. More freedom by living away from hoke is always a bonus too!!

I haven't sent all my forms off yet :s-smilie:

I'm waiting until I've organised my primary observation which is taking ages to organize!! I might have to send them off regardless. I have just got back my enhanced disclosure which I have to send off and I've passed my skills tests. It's just this flipping primary observation!! Good Luck for your numeracy! Is it soon? Have you sent off your forms?

p.s. I've just seen my previous post and my spelling is atrocious!! It's a good job I've done my spelling for my literacy already!

Hi Emma, sorry for such a late reply things have been so hectic lately as I'm sure you are aware, being in the same situation. I passed my numeracy skills test yesterday, second time round to my shame! (I'm very bad at maths) I have my enhanced disclosure now too so I'm going to send that with my certificates Monday, I'm hoping I haven't forgotten anything! My boyfriend and I are looking into moving to Bham for the year now which I'm really excited about, I did live away for my first year of under-grad in Manchester but it didn't really work out and I transferred back home for my final 2 years. I would love to try it again though as like you say I think it is a great experience. Hope everything is going well for you and I can finally say I look forward to meeting you now I have passed my skills tests haha. :smile:

Reply 32

Hey Jenni, I know exactly what you mean!. Congratulations on your skills tests, bet it feels like a weight off your mind now? I've just sent off my enhanced disclosure and all my health forms with the primary observation forms. I'm the same, I'm hoping I haven't forgotten anything and that all the forms go through ok. Just my student finance to do now!
Ooo, good news about the accomodation. Hope everything goes ok, I think it will be a good experience (like I said earlier) and will mean you're more central to support from the university and fellow pgcer's because we're all going to need it at some point, even if it's just reassurance.
Everything is good with me, so glad to have those forms finally sent off! Hope it turns to unconditional now. I look forward to meeting you too! I am so excited! How's everything with you? Have you found a house for september or just started looking?

Reply 33

Hi Emma, Thank You, it is such a relief! I'm sending my enhanced disclosure off today, do you know if we have to send them our skills tests certificates or will they just check we have them when we start in September? I'm looking forward to it saying unconditional too. I'm fine thanks just working on my final assignment for Uni, can't wait to have it out of the way. We have started looking at places but it is all a bit new at the minute so we're just trying to figure out where and what is going to be best for us. Have you found somewhere?

Reply 34

Hey,
You don't have to send them anything about the skills tests. I emailed and asked and apparently they look it up against our names? Our results go online so I think thats how they check them. I think anyways!
I'm glad I haven't got uni to go through while trying to sort out all the bits we need! Hope your assignment goes well. Does that mean you finish quite soon then?
Yeah, I've found a place in Harborne which isn't the typical student area I don't think, however it's not that far from the university. About 20 minutes I think. We found it through rightmove students, have you had a look on there?

Reply 35