Well, almost, that is. I am still waiting for the official certificate to arrive from Cambridge but I already know I have passed my CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults) Teacher Training Course and am quite happy with the result. I have finished the course itself and passed all of its components and have even been given a preliminary grade: a Pass B. Pass B is the second-to-best grade one can get after a Pass A, which only 2% of all participants ever get. I really wanted to get a Pass A and did my best, but for some very obvious and clear reasons I did not get it and agree I did not deserve to either.

The course itself was intense as well as intensive. It actually was a 4-week intensive course and was everything it promised to be. They had told me beforehand I would not have time for my private life but would be working 12 to 14 hours a day including weekends and they were right. I had initially thought I would be able to do it in less time because of my work experience but - even though I did not spend as much time on many things as others did - it was still heavier than expected. Which is obviously one of the reasons I have been relatively incommunicado for the last couple of weeks and I apologise to anyone I may have a) forgotten, b)harmed,
c) neglected or d) all of the above during this time, most of all Olaf of course.

A good indication of how intense it was is illustrated by the fact that I tended to wake up several times a night believing I was in a classroom without students, unable to find my elaborate lesson plan or simply unable to answer a question one of the students asked me. I am usually quite a sound sleeper and never wake up during the night, nor do I usually remember my dreams.

Intense though it may have been, I am very glad I decided to take this course. Though I did start off feeling much more comfortable in front of a class, with an excellent knowledge of grammar and some quite clear ideas about effective ways of managing a classroom, I found out I still had a lot to learn. It was very interesting to study some teaching methods I had not studied before and very useful to work on my classroom management skills. The course did not include a final examination but we were continually observed during the four weeks the course lasted. The regular feedback we received on the classes we taught, the observations we did and our participation in class were all particularly useful and I have the greatest of respect for the four teacher trainers that guided us through this process. Though most of it was not exactly difficult but did take a lot of effort, I have most definitely learnt a lot and am much more aware of the areas I still need to work on and how to avoid a number of 'traps' or difficult situations I used to walk right into and did not know how to prevent or avoid.

It is strange how being thrown together can also create bonds between people who did not know each other beforehand in a very short time. There were 15 of us trainee teachers and we were divided into 3 subgroups of 5 people we shared the groups we taught with. I really liked the other 4 people in my group and there was a very positive, supporting, constructively critical atmosphere all over. Most of the participants went their separate ways after the course, either back to their country of origin or on to greener pastures to try and find jobs as English teachers, but I was fortunate enough to meet some people who were actually staying in Berlin. My social life is Berlin is not that extensive yet and I welcome these new additions wholeheartedly. Bring on the good times!!

The first week after I finished my CELTA I got to do a lot of holiday substitutions, as well as to start up my own courses again, which meant I did not really get the time to relax and get up to speed again. I really enjoyed Lisa's visit last weekend, but that also meant important things such as updating this blog had to wait for just a little bit longer. This week is somewhat better though and I finally feel like I can breathe again - although I do fear a virus that has been lingering in my body has decided to take advantage of this situation to finally make me suffer a little bit. Oh well, I am just glad it did not do so any earlier.

We're going to Bavaria next week to tour the region for a couple of days and end up for a taste of the famous Oktoberfest with Jen, Massimo, Kate, Flora, Shruti, Gianni, Jules and some more Milan/Sardegna friends. I can't wait!!!