FAQ

not that Frequently Asked Questions

► Are the questions on the guide the same than the exam questions?
The questions on the guides are based on old exams, they are not meant to be the same, but to be similar. If they happen to be the same it is due to a coincidence.
► What kind of teaching certificate do you have?
I'm cerified by the Cambridge University ESOL, they have a Teaching Knowledge Test, where they have 4 certificates marked 1-4, with 4 being the higher. I'm on level 3, not bad for a "beginner", huh.
► Teacher, why don't we make videos at class?
If you are my student and we haven't done any kind of cool activities it's due to the rhythm we have to follow. The students I had in that course on 2006 were way too advanced, and I had the chance to present the class in a faster pace. But if we have the time to do that, we will make not only videos, but record audios, like the commercials I'll post soon.
► Why do you call yourself The Best of The Newbies?
Simply because I am. I started teaching last year, on September, so I'm on my first year as a teacher, and that makes me a Newbie. Other teachers entered to the Language Center at the same time, so they are my point of comparison. Now, some of them aren't certified so they can't say that they are better than me; and from the ones who are certified, they have the same level than me or a lower one. If they are on the same TKT level than I am, that doesn't make them as good as I am, because they don't have the same knowledge about English I have, because my TOEFL (english proficiency test) level is way higher than theirs, mine is 617 while theirs is way under 600. So that makes me the Best of the Newbies. Even though that's enough to declare myself the best of the Newbies, my bosses are making it clearer by giving me more responsabilites, for example, I was part of the group in charge of the design and construction of the CIITD's lab interface (along with the Lab's Chiefs, Luis and Alba). Also, I'm the only newbie teaching on a high profile modality, the Distance Learning of the ITD. Now, being a teacher is more than present a class, it involves the whole learning process, to follow your students throughout their path. I'm one of the few English Teacher's in Durango with a Web Site, and I bet I have the most complete site because it includes exercises, forums, and feedback from students. So if you are a Newbie and you want to get my throne, work hard, give your students more ways to practice, think outside the classroom, plan a lot, and someday you'll be where I am, and I bet that by that time I'll be on a higher spot.
► If you are The Best of The Newbies, who is the Best of the Old Teachers?
I couldn't define who is the best of the experienced teachers, but I do know something that you can take as my opinion. Good teachers are those who leave a good impression on their students, those who make their students know that they are good for something and inspire them to be better. When I was studying English I just had two teachers, one for 7th level and other for 8th (now you know those levels as 8th and 9th).My teacher for 7th level made me realize that I was a good English speaker, and she inspired me to continue studying the language (I didn't want to study at first, but my mom sent me to the CIITD anyway). My 8th level teacher saw something in me, he told me that I could become an English teacher, and helped me to get on my way to become The Best of The Newbies. My teachers' names are Lucy Flores (7th) and Fernando Barron (8th), they did a great job with me, they created a monster, they made The Best of The Newbies, and The Best has to come from The Best. I'd call Fernando Barron The Best of the Young Experienced Teachers, because he is even better than many experienced teachers. And I'd call Lucy Flores The Best of The Experienced Teachers, I know that would grant me some problems with my colleagues, but being a good teacher involves being a good person and Lucy is one of the best persons I know at the CIITD and she's a great teacher. The thing about CIITD is that we have so many good teachers that it becomes a problem when you try to choose the best of the best.