[waves]

Hi.

My life is in stasis and has been for a long time. One might describe me as being in a socioeconomic coma.

I need a JOB. No. I need a REGULAR JOB. I MUST get one.

Oh sure, the economy is dead and rotting here, with unemployment at an alltime high and rising, but think I could find employment as an English language instructor. I say this because larger businesses are still afloat, English is the lingua franca in many business areas nowadays, and employers often send groups of people to learn English or improve it. Individuals also seek English instruction to increase their employability, etc.

=============================================

I am undecided whether to seek certification first, or just go for a job and do the cert later.

After my last experience with the student that drove me nuts, I am to say the least discouraged about taking a teaching position. There is also the fact that most schools require certification. However, most do not require mother tongue instructors; my being a native speaker should buy me some ground.

Still, I would prefer to get certified first, and not just for the marketability. I feel I could use formal language revision and I'd definitely benefit from teacher's training as I've had none. Finally, the certification itself is acquired by passing a standardized exam issued by the University of Cambridge. Getting that official, internationally recognized "pass" grade will affirm me.

A few months ago I was set on doing the course. I downloaded the application form, and filled out most of it. Then "stuff" happened. Last week I fished it out again. It is mostly done but for 2 essays, 350 words minimum each. Normally writing isn't a problem - as you all know from my lengthy posts. In this case however, I feel terrified. I panic about every twisted grammatical error imaginable and imaginary. I worry about accidentally mixing American and British forms, punctuation, EVERYTHING!!!!

The next condensed course starts June 17th. If I got the application in fast, I could possibly make it. The subsequent course is in September and would cause me to miss the fall hiring wave for teachers.

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Problem: I have had a *ton* of migraines these past 4-5 weeks, perhaps due to freaky weather changes. I am concerned that this frequency could persist. This month I had a bad one where 2 Zomigs failed and I needed tramadol. That attack ran 2 days - 2 bedridden days with my eyes covered and earplugs.
-----------------------------

This is where I start having doubts and wonder it might not be better to look for part-time teaching for now/September, even without certification. I could take a diluted course (held on Saturdays) later, while employed. I do worry about the migraines on the job, but if it were only some days a week and/or only a few hours, I might be able avoid absences for the most part. With most migraines I could work medicated for 3-4 hours.

The condensed course in June is 4 days a week, 8 hrs a day, 5 weeks. Mandatory attendance. I could not afford to fail it.

I don't know what to do.

I also keep thinking I need to get those essays done anyway, regardless what I choose to do first. The certification needs to happen at some point and it can't happen without a completed application. I feel ridiculous about not being able to write 2 stupid essays!

I really feel as though I am wading through mud. Thank you for reading. Thoughts welcome.

waves

[bizi]

just in case you were still on....I wanted you to know that I read what you wrote and will type more later.
love bizi

[waves]

Thanks Bizi.

That was very sweet of you. Nite nite.

love

waves

[bizi]

Dear Waves,
Thank you for sharing what you have been going thru.
I am so sorry about all of the migraines.
You do write so well, could you just write it up in a word document or some other format to compose your essay?
yOu could even post it here for feed back if you want.
I am sorry that you feel stuck....I hear your frustration. I wish I could help you with your decisions. I think finishing the application first makes sense.
I was going to private message you but that is down so
if you are up to chatting I am on for a while before we watch downton abbey. Private message me...I might be in another forum.
((((((HUGS))))))
bizi

[bizi]

jeff just called me for downton abbey, sorry we did not get to chat, another day.
love you
bizi

[Mari]

Hi, Waves,

I am trying to see what you are saying. Let's say you write those essays. For purposes of discussion, they are done and out of the decision process.
Then the decision is thus:

===================

Take the 4 days a week, 8 hours a day, 5 week class that starts in July. At the successful completion you will have certification that makes it easier to find good jobs and that will gain you some skills

OR

Start looking for part time teaching jobs now and be prepared to get the certification while teaching.

===================

-->> Do you think you can do the intense course? This seems to be the important question.
I am going to re-read and come back.
Mari

[Mari]

Hi, Waves,

Is there a third option---to take a less intense class?

Mari

[Mari]

It is mostly done but for 2 essays, 350 words minimum each. Normally writing isn't a problem - as you all know from my lengthy posts. In this case however, I feel terrified. I panic about every twisted grammatical error imaginable and imaginary. I worry about accidentally mixing American and British forms, punctuation, EVERYTHING!!!!

Waves,

You wrote 592 beautiful words in your post tonight.

When I notice that I am stuck, I write without reading what I am writing.
That way, I focus on getting it out and out the page (document). Proofreading is done after the writing.
I have seen suggestions like this:
-- type using a white font on a white document. -- or another similar visual trick that keeps the writer from looking at the text until the end.

Also this. http://mgunby.wikispaces.com/file/view/Freewriting.pdf

This guy suggests that we stay away from "compulsive, premature editing."

This might be a dumb question. Is there a chance that you are more fluid and more able to keep going when you are writing by hand? Some people write differently when they are using paper --- just asking.

Anyway, we are all on your side and want good things for you.

Mari

[waves]

Dear Mari

Originally Posted by Mari

Then the decision is thus:

===================

Take the 4 days a week, 8 hours a day, 5 week class that starts in July. At the successful completion you will have certification that makes it easier to find good jobs and that will gain you some skills

OR

Start looking for part time teaching jobs now and be prepared to get the certification while teaching.

===================

-->> Do you think you can do the intense course? This seems to be the important question.

Yes, you hit the nail on the head. As usual you have done an excellent job expressing my volumes of verbage in a few lines.

The answer is no, I am not sure I can do the course. If I were sure, I would only be fretting about getting the essays done.

If only it were in July. That would give me some time to know if this migraine frequency will subside. The course starts in 12 days. Between now and then, the essays, my submission, its positive evaluation, an interview with the school, and finally acceptance into the course would all need to happen. Even assuming that could all happen, I am in a typically hormonal migraine spell right now, so I have no way of knowing really by then, whether the migraine frequency is going to abate or not.

They do have a place on the form for declaring illnesses, disabilities and anything else that might be "relevant". There is a disclaimer there warning about possible course failure if one has absences relative to undeclared illnesses. This suggests to me that if you declare your illnesses and have related absences, the school will work with you. I wrote about the migraines but I was not considering this frequency when I wrote what I did. Thinking about it though, if I disclose to them my current migraine frequency, I think they might advise me to take the course later on.

If I represented the school, and someone like me applied and described my conditions, I would advise the person to wait until they felt better. What I would not know is that maybe that person had been doing so for years.

I am impatient. I am sick of being sick. It's always something. I missed the February, March, and May courses already. And that's just speaking for this year. I feel as though I at some point I am going to have to try and muddle through... depression, anxiety, and migraines notwithstanding.

sorry for Volume II here.

thanks for your patience reading, and thank you for distilling things so well.

waves

[waves]

Originally Posted by Mari

Hi, Waves,

Is there a third option---to take a less intense class?

Mari

The less intense class would be the one I called the "diluted" course - on Saturdays (8 hours) with 2-3 non-mandatory Fridays. It runs ~20 weeks. There is one of those starting in September, besides another condensed class.

There is nothing in between the two. I really wish they had a half-day version, but they don't and neither do the other 2 schools offering this certification.

waves