On location

Our house has been commandeered as a film set for my son's film project. We are being invaded by satanic mutant schoolgirls in tartan plus friends. We now have a tasteless moving waterfall picture on our walls (complete with audio bird and flowing water soundtrack. Our cats have gone into hiding. The screening - three episodes on Warwick TV - will be interesting to say the least and i'm hopeful it will hasten my ambition to be a trailer trash mother - ideally in somewhere sunny rather than a grey rainy day in Hackney.

However, my friend Penny, cast as a 'mum' who dies a horrible death (involving mushroom soup and Golden Syrup with red food colouring) joined a cast of seven. We provided chilli con carne and wine for the crew. Alan thinks he's a new career as on-set caterer.

Meanwhile, current possible grown-up pursuits include Binnie's Breakfasts, a Vietnamese sojourn and a Brittany irrigation project using our own water well supply. We'll see what happens. Meanwhile, Number one son is progressing through the interview process with Amazon, and speeding along his desire to saddle himself with a mortgage. In any event, it's a good excuse for a trip to Scotland in the not-too-distant future.

We are waiting for Eric's prognosis after his biopsy on Friday (ericavebury@blogspot.com) and hoping all will be well.

The Pleasure of Leisure

A free software disk arrived today, bundled with an upgrade. It's a promo called iWork. It isn't of interest to me as idon'twork, and neither do I intend to in the foreseeable future (except perhaps on a voluntary basis). Even if I wanted to work again, I couldn't accept a job that starts before 10 in the morning (I'm an evening person, NOT a morning one, as hubbie will vouch).

Having run my own businesses for over 25 years, the joy of being an enttrpreneur is surpassed by the joy of having unconditional free time! I wonder how I ever fitted in all the things I like doing (playing the piano, reading, sleeping, friends and the internet/emailing ... Most people rush around, bemoaning either the lack of time or how quickly/slowly time passes (depending on what you're doing). But it's not difficult to be busy and fulfilled without the 'status' of work or a job. Of course, that's easy to say if you have money behind you, but it isn't difficult to reduce the cost of living if you don't pursue expensive pursuits! Stuff the Prada handbags, the fancy haircuts and the swish restaurants. Girls, if you go for that you're losers!

The real world

One week later and still in recovery mode from the intensive CELTA course - but all's well having passed with a B grade. Off to a local college this afternoon to see about contributing to an 'active study club' for 16-19 year olds who may need homework help. Just hoping I won't be allocated any maths students or they'll be teaching me!!

Tomorrow, it's back to the college where I studied for this qualification to keep my hand in with some of the students. Am going to do a lesson on using a mobile and sending texts.

Oh so soon into the real world ...

TEFLBLOGSo, tomorrow is the last day of our course. Yippee! No more sleep deprivation, headaches and early starts. I had thought it should be a three-month course, but I really don't know if I could've kept up this level of commitment and social life on hold. As someone who has had the wonderful opportunity of simply pursuing hedonistic activities for the past 12 months, it;s been quite a shock to my system. Luckily, I have stamina as that's what's really needed (plus, of course, an open mind.) As I haven't formally studied for the past blah years, it's been thrillingly refreshing to learn in an adult environment - I never did like school!) Continuous assessment is definitely preferable to dreaded exams!

Today, the Cambridge assessor came - not to check up on us as trainee teachers, but to evaluate and monitor the quality of our training and the outcomes. I must say, although it was clearly stated that we trainees should not perceive this as any pressure on us (he sat in on our lesson), I did feel an obligation to perform to the very best of my ability as a tribute to the transformation I have undergone - due entirely to the talented trainers we have been so fortunate in having guide us throughout the last month.

So, to finish off with the TEFLBLOG, here's my top 5 tips for anyone thinking about doing this course:-

1. Clear the decks for the duration of the course. If you are to get your money's worth(and, indeed qualify), most waking (and some otherwise sleeping) hours will be consumed with the commitment demanded.
2. Make the most of any feedback - it's invaluable and entirely geared to helping you pass. Don't just acknowledge - change or modify your approach accordingly.
3. Get to know your students. It may seem obvious, but every one is a unique individual so you have an amazing opportunity to offer whatever skills and talents you have to a diverse population.
4. Be as co-operative as you possibly can with your fellow trainees. Co-operation is key - not only for moral support and motivation, but also on a highly-practical level. The more you give, the more you get!
5. Keep on top of the admin. The course is hugely paperwork intensive (from lesson planning to researching and preparing student handouts). The more you do a you go along (including filing and keeping copies of anything that eventually gets sent off to Cambridge for assessment and never comes back) the less you'll panic at moments throughout the course. If you can, keep copious notes so that if you or one of your fellow-trainees misses anything, it's easier to catch up.

Now I'd better find a job pronto to consolidate the learning of the last month. If you are considering a CELTA course - good luck and enjoy!!