A Career Change Help

Im 25 years old, i finished leaving cert in 1999 and did a diploma in office & business technology. However, this left me working lonely in an office for 5 years. I took a year out and went travelling. Feb of last year i did a 6 week course in Travel & Tourism on the pretence that i would enjoy it and would do the full time course. However i enjoyed the course, but did not think that a career in this area would be satisfying to me. I started working for a mobile phone company and i love working around people. I'm currently at my job 8months.

I was looking into the idea of Primary School Teaching. The Mary I college in Limerick is where i would be hoping to study, however, I will be returning as a mature student, and I also need to be fluent in irish, I havent done Irish since secondary school were i got an Ordinary Level C. The interview at Mary I may be conducted in irish. In order to successfully pass the interview I would be willing to study Irish before applying. Primary School would only teach the basic Irish, would that be right? Is there any help or tips that would put me in the right direction. Also after completing the BE'D Degree course for 4 years, how easy is it to get an actual position as a primary school teacher.

Many thanks
Melissa

Maybe you sould consult a career guidance counsellor to find out what you'd really like to do and have an aptitude for. I don't mean to dismiss you, but you come across a little confused.
As for the Irish, there are Gaeltacht courses for adults - try Gael Linn or the other Irish language organisations. There's an Irish bookshop (imaginatively called Siopa Leabhair) on Harcourt St in Dublin which may have information - they also have an Irish speaking club there (Club an Conradh) which might halp your fluency.
Can't answer your question about the jobs market for Primary Teachers.

I am open to correction but in order to train as a primary school teacher you must have at least a grade C in honours Irish.

try the fas www.careerdirections.ie website, it might give you other suggestions. It seems to be quite good, I did it for a luagh and it suggested the job I'm in now as being best for me, and also another few suggestions that I mightn't have thought of but that I could imagine would suit me.

My friend teaches kids art part time as part of a youth group. She had no experience teaching before but loves it. Could you do something like that to test out if it suits you before plunging in full time?

You need 3 honours in higher level subjects to get into St.Pats teaching college, Drumcondra. One of which needs to be Irish.
You also need to pass two interviews, one in english, the other As Gaeilge.
www.ioe.ie run a course on wednesdays for mature students who need the C3 in the Irish.
Gael Linn on Dame St run Irish courses, as do Conradh na Gaeilge on Harcourt St and Gaelchultur in Temple Bar.

Would i be right in suspecting you fancy the hours more than the job its self? My reasoning you have not even checked the basic requirement that culls many wannabe primary teachers- its the honour in Irish! reading what you wrote as for your past career in an office why are you not interested in Accountancy at night perhaps which, if pursued and set up on your own you would end up with more money and same flexible hours as a primary teacher? I don't want to dismiss you but there are huge numbers of people who went back to get the honour only to fail the interview etc. Sure it is a secure job but are you sure its for you - have you any experience teaching anyone? running a kids club abroad maybe?
As for getting the job - you won't just walk into a job but it is easier to get a primary than a secondary job. Remember you need the degree and then to do a year in school first before being 100% qualified as far as i know.

I am an ex primary school teacher who took early retirement at 49 . You do need Grade C in Honours Irish as an entry requirement.There are post graduate entry routes as well.1.5 year course after completing degree.You still need the Grade C in Honours Irish for this course.Have you checked the Hibernia on line course,not sure of the entry requirements.
Some people do primary teaching in a college in the U.K.,come back and do an Irish exam to be recognised to teach in Ireland.
While the job seems attractive,short hours ,long holidays.It is a demanding job,mentally and physically.It is getting more demanding as time goes on. Remember your job will involve not only teaching but being a social worker,psychologist, PR consultant and many more roles .I spent 27 years on the job,20 years as a teaching principal.I am physically very fit ,can still run marathons in 2 hours 50 mins,I am now on a career change moving into the area of exercise and fitness.
Have you considered applying for the position of classroom assistant [Special Needs Assistant] .You would need to do a child care course for this position.By being in a classroom situation you would quickly get a good idea of the daily demands on a teacher.It would help you make up your mind about teaching.

Until you try something you will never know whether you like it.
So therefore see if you can some work experience in a teaching area or teaching related area to see if it really appeals to you.
The real question here is ... what are you naturally drifting towards in your own spare time?

You can still do a lot of this work before you go down this road of getting a teaching related job ... ask yourself what do you really like doing, what are you are interests?

If you have never done teaching before, what is it that appeals to you about it? People in general make the mistake of picking their job based upon money or benefits or flexibility and not on what they want to do in their lives ... and then wonder why they are bored silly and why their lives are not rewarding ...


If you have spent 4/5 years lonely in an office ... then you have spent enough time doing work that you really dont want to do ... maybe its time you decide what YOU want to do whatever that is ... and that is only something you can decide for yourself. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself what do you really want to do ... and then do it.

perhaps it is listed elsewhere, but is the honours Irish required for secondary teaching?

What are the requirements?

no you do not need honours but you need a degree and a good one at that! check out the appropriate courses on the PAC.IE website. the points for business are higher but you can do a degree in an IT taking you 1/2 years (assuming your dip was an IT one) and then apply for the postgrad in trinity/ NUI's etc. try get maths as your subject as there is a suggestion that there are loads of business and not enough science teachers out there.

Hi Mingle,
You really need to see an occupational psychologist, this is some one who does more than give you career guidance but you pay to do a psycho metric test, and based on the results they will guide you tworads a caareer path.
I did one 10 years ago - I rang TCD and asked if I could speak to one of their career guidence, that is how I went from Nursing to programming!

TBH, the reality is you have done one course and you are not really that happy in the job, this time you really need to get it right. You need to be sure that teaching is right for you....