Career..

[08weixiang12]

can any1 giv mi some advice?erm..coz moe sent mi a letter asking mi to go to the teacher seminar talk..shuld i go or not?i nt sure whether i wanna b a teacher or not...coz nt all my frens got it..

[Lisa M]

Hi

I used to be a teacher so I think I am quite well-informed to give you some good advice. It all depends on how ambitious you are. Do you want to earn a lot or are you happy with a stable and reasonably well-paid job? Teaching is stable and the pay is not bad, seriously.

Don't listen to those teachers who complain of their schools working them to death. It all depends on how on-task and efficient you are. I was so used to so many teachers wasting their time in the morning gossiping and simply not doing anything and later spent the rest of the day after school to do their work.

For me, I could be home at about 2pm or spend the day going for manicure, massages, shopping or high-tea. And still taught well and was able to finish work assigned to me.

Of course, there are periods like exam time when you have to work almost the whole day grading scripts (sometimes to 4am) but they do not stretch more than two weeks at one time.

Now that I am not teaching anymore, I miss the holidays which add up to about 3 months in a year.

A few days ago, they just increased the pay for teachers and I heard from my ex colleagues that they received about 5 months bonus this year, as it also includes performance bonus. I heard they also have about 400-700 to spend on electronic stuff. On top of that, you receive payouts every 4th,7th year, up to your 30th year. And the payouts increase; like $8000 for the 4th year, $13,000 for your 7th year or something like that.

To be honest, you don't get paid millions but enough. If you are academically strong, you can expect much more. You will be surprised by the number of people with Masters and even Phds in the teaching force. However, if you have only a basic degree, my advice is that you will be better off in the private sector.

I left because I feel I cannot connect with the students and I will be better off working elsewhere.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Additionally, you need to be able to write like Lisa M and not like a retarded 8 year old so I think I would forget it if I were you.

[08weixiang12]

wow...thanks for ur reply..the pay was indeed ALOT..but i'm afraid that i can't cope with students..cause i was also quite a 'bad' kid in school...maybe i should study other subjects ba...

[08weixiang12]

Hi

I used to be a teacher so I think I am quite well-informed to give you some good advice. It all depends on how ambitious you are. Do you want to earn a lot or are you happy with a stable and reasonably well-paid job? Teaching is stable and the pay is not bad, seriously.

Don't listen to those teachers who complain of their schools working them to death. It all depends on how on-task and efficient you are. I was so used to so many teachers wasting their time in the morning gossiping and simply not doing anything and later spent the rest of the day after school to do their work.

For me, I could be home at about 2pm or spend the day going for manicure, massages, shopping or high-tea. And still taught well and was able to finish work assigned to me.

Of course, there are periods like exam time when you have to work almost the whole day grading scripts (sometimes to 4am) but they do not stretch more than two weeks at one time.

Now that I am not teaching anymore, I miss the holidays which add up to about 3 months in a year.

A few days ago, they just increased the pay for teachers and I heard from my ex colleagues that they received about 5 months bonus this year, as it also includes performance bonus. I heard they also have about 400-700 to spend on electronic stuff. On top of that, you receive payouts every 4th,7th year, up to your 30th year. And the payouts increase; like $8000 for the 4th year, $13,000 for your 7th year or something like that.

To be honest, you don't get paid millions but enough. If you are academically strong, you can expect much more. You will be surprised by the number of people with Masters and even Phds in the teaching force. However, if you have only a basic degree, my advice is that you will be better off in the private sector.

I left because I feel I cannot connect with the students and I will be better off working elsewhere.

erm..what do you mean by a basic degree?cause MOE wrote in the letter that we can graduate in the NIE wit a diploma with what we are strong with..and btw what do you mean by 'in the private sector'?

[munbeans]

Lisa M, good luck with connecting with 08weixiang12. Actually I would be worried if 08weixiang12 were to teach my kids.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Lisa M, good luck with connecting with 08weixiang12. Actually I would be worried if 08weixiang12 were to teach my kids.

I would be worried if 08weixiang12 were to teach ANY kids.
This one has absolutely zero command of anything even closely resembling the English language. It's worse than all of them in the PS & airline forums put together, which I didn't think was possible.

Guess it's like Bill Cosby said on one of his albums years ago. "Never challenge 'Worse'! Never say "things cannot get worse!" because worse will jump right up in your face every time."

We challenged worse and look what we got - 08weixiang12!

[drusilla]

i wonder if he talks and writes like that all the time, how did MOE even wanna send him a letter to attend seminar talk??

no wonder the standards of the local schools are going down....

and besides the grasp (or lack of) of the language, it seems there's no decision making skills nor direction in life either... read last sentence "not all my frens got it"...

i remember one post he made that says all his friends type like that and they could understand wut he said??

where's your mind, little weixiang??

you also promised to change the way you type... but we don't see it yet...

[Lisa M]

NIE (National Institute of Education) offers:

(i) a four-year teaching degree ( you can apply for this using your O or A Level results)

(ii) a one-year teaching diploma (you need to be at least holding a basic degree in order to qualify for this)

When I mentioned "a basic degree", I am referring to a BA/ BSc etc. Your starting salary as a teacher depends on the degree you hold. If you have honours together with your basic degree, you will get a better starting pay.

"Private sector" refers to private companies, which is different from the "public sector" ie civil service like Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence and what have you.

As teaching is considered as "public sector", promotion usually depends on your qualifications and not so much on your capability. (in my opinion) So if you are a capable person with only a basic degree, I feel that you will achieve more if you work in the private sector.

Weixiang, I think it takes a little bit of effort on your part to write in proper sentences, instead of using sms language. I am sure you are able to write well but you are too lazy to do so.

Anyway, if you have other questions, feel free to ask. I will be most glad to answer them.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If we continue to respond to this childish scrawling he will never change. Why would he need to.......

[munbeans]

I must applaud Lisa M's patience and her understanding, I certainly wouldn't have responded with as much grace as she had. I have much to learn.

[simplegal84]

What are prospects does one has after leaving MOE? in the private sector, no one seems to recognise years of experience gain as a teacher?
During holiday, teachers are expected to go for training and meeting etc.

by the age of 30, can a teacher earn 5k a mth, say for example an hons grad.

[sharinabynes]

i have to agree with munbeans. that was ridiculous.

and i salute Lisa.

xxx.