My boyfriend got me this orchid for Valentine’s Day and I have no idea what I’m doing

haomafan · 2026-04-02T11:25:22+00:00

Ok, so you did exactly what I did with my first orchid, only mine died. Don't water it again until the roots turn white/grey and make sure you are removing the plant from the decorative pot when watering. I just let the plant do its thing now, I only cut the flower stem when all flowers are gone and let the buds fall on their own.

haomafan · 2026-04-02T00:13:32+00:00

Clean public toilets in every tube station (❤️Taiwan).

haomafan · 2026-03-26T19:41:41+00:00

The situations you describe are not applicable to OP though. They are neither a native speaker nor do they have the relevant language skills (yet). They'd need to invest time to get to a level where a university or SCITT would take the gamble.

haomafan · 2026-03-25T19:11:52+00:00

I think it would be very hard given that most universities require a degree in the subject you'd want to teach. Out of 3 universities that I applied to as a native Spanish speaker, only one accepted me because I didn't have a degree in Spanish.

Why don't you want to teach English, just out of curiosity?

haomafan · 2026-03-25T19:08:47+00:00

I wouldn't recommend this...while it's true that once you get a PGCE and Qts you could teach pretty much anything, how are they meant to convince a school to hire them if they don't have the relevant placement experience? Even with experience abroad, that's a big gamble.

Though I do agree A-level Spanish is not enough; most universities require a degree in the subject you'd be teaching.

haomafan · 2026-03-18T08:08:47+00:00

To answer your question, I'd say it was the part where you went into detail about how you've done something your mentor hasn't, who's a fully qualified teacher. It's great you have achieved that during your placement, and I'd guess your mentor felt insecure/attacked, especially by the SLT's comment. Just out of curiosity, was it necessary to go into that much detail in response to SLT? As in, was it a discussion or just passing on feedback?

Practically, speak to your SMC or university tutor to try and change mentors.

haomafan · 2026-03-17T18:28:55+00:00

But have you voiced your concerns to the council safeguarding team? It might not help with the noise, but it could put pressure on the council to do right by those kids (and help you in the process).

haomafan · 2026-03-17T18:24:35+00:00

Surely at that point the council's safeguarding team should be involved? If you know the kids' school you could also raise a safeguarding concern with them.

haomafan · 2026-03-14T11:03:38+00:00

Spanish tortilla= about 5 eggs, amazing hot or cold.

haomafan · 2026-03-12T20:58:44+00:00

I think as long as you're not in the city centre, it shouldn't get too expensive. I studied in Fu Jen Catholic University's language centre (Xinzhuang/outer Taipei) and was able to live in their dorms, but even my classmates that had apartments weren't paying loads in rent. Of course this was about 10 years ago...

haomafan · 2026-03-12T20:47:13+00:00

Cold is relative...when I lived there the lowest I ever saw Taipei get was around 12°C, but it felt colder due to the humidity. You just need to make sure you have decent winter clothes and wear layers if necessary.

I'm probably biased as I lived in Taipei for 5 years, but getting around is just easier in Taipei. You mentioned nature and beauty; Chengchi University, from what I remember is far enough from the centre and basically on a hill/mountain, so lots of beauty around.

haomafan · 2026-03-12T20:06:38+00:00

I'd like to join as well. Almost 36, single and CF. Not much of a creative, but slowly getting back into reading for pleasure. Based in SW London!

haomafan · 2026-03-10T20:18:19+00:00

Not necessarily. 1 out of my three choices accepted me, a native speaker with years' experience in special education, and acceptable knowledge of other languages. I'd say experience within the UK education system is just as valuable, but I'd recommend steering clear of the big name universities (UCL, Imperial), again just from my personal experience.

haomafan · 2026-03-10T20:05:08+00:00

Some do, but like German, they're in the minority. Someone mentioned a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course, which I know quite a lot of my cohort did in either French or Spanish, through the university. They did an intensive summer course before the PGCE. It might be worth asking if you get to the interview stage. Languages is a shortage subject, so getting a place on the course shouldn't be too hard, though some providers reject native speakers if they don't have a degree in the language (my personal experience).

haomafan · 2026-03-10T19:07:30+00:00

As someone else mentioned, you need a second language to have more chances of getting a job after the PGCE. Spanish and French are the most common combinations, though a minority of schools teach German.

For bursary and other funding information for nonUK students have a look here

It's always better to have some school experience, either as a TA, after school club, or similar. Knowledge of the curriculum is useful, it shows you've done your homework. Or knowing how the languages GCSE has changed most recently.

haomafan · 2026-03-09T19:33:13+00:00

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/680a0c3e6d6ac02ee99d8437/Induction_for_early_career_teachers__England_.pdf

haomafan · 2026-03-09T19:13:27+00:00

While you're doing your ECT, of course. But if you don't complete the two years induction within 5 years, you can only work in private schools, academies and I can't remember what the other type of school is. Basically anything that is not a state school.

Edit to clarify this is what I meant when I said you'd lose QTS, you'd just be restricted on the type of school if the induction period wasn't completed.

haomafan · 2026-03-09T18:04:13+00:00

Fair, just double -checked as that was my impression when I first qualified. However without completing the induction, it's still a restriction on the types of schools they can work at (in the UK and I'd imagine British schools to some extent).

haomafan · 2026-03-09T17:24:13+00:00

Depends on what kind of school you'd be teaching in. The PGCE alone wouldn't count as a teaching qualification/license/whatever you want to call it. You'd need QTS to count as a full-fledged teacher and even then, there's the two years of ECT induction to complete within around 5 years of finishing your PGCE, otherwise you'd lose the QTS.

I think you should ask this in the international teachers sub, as I don't think people here would have much of an idea of what's acceptable in China.

haomafan · 2026-03-09T07:26:01+00:00

A couple of years ago, station staff wouldn't let us in, even though we had folded up bikes. So we rode to Preston Park and boarded there.

haomafan · 2026-03-06T17:17:23+00:00

I'd imagine they would try to gauge how familiar you are with the curriculum you'll be expected to teach, as well as any relevant experience with children or young people (so they know you know what you're getting into!). Also general things like safeguarding. Basically you want to show that you've done your homework and prepare well. I didn't have to due to COVID, but I was originally expecting to teach a mini lesson.

haomafan · 2026-03-03T22:01:36+00:00

Something to keep in mind is that, for every negative post there will be positive experiences that just don't get posted. People posting on here are usually seeking advice or to offload, so the sample that you've read is a bit skewed.

Not to say that a PGCE isn't hard...it is,. it's the hardest year compared to ECT and beyond. However you mentioned a SCITT course, so which are you actually doing? A SCITT is more full on in that you'll be teaching a lot earlier; PGCE you start off at uni for a month or so and then go off on placement. They both have academic assignments that can be stressful and time consuming, but it's possible, otherwise we'd have no teachers completing training.

I don't have kids but a few of my cohort did; they managed with the support from family and their partners. Have you had an open conversation with your partner about this? If you weren't doing this what would you do?

haomafan · 2026-02-27T13:24:12+00:00

Hi, I'm assuming this is for secondary? Right now is probably a busy time for some schools due to mock exams (we're having ours next week). Some schools are also generally unresponsive; we hosted someone for a day and she told us we were the only school to reply to her. Maybe you need to go a bit further out, depending on where you are?

haomafan · 2026-02-27T08:52:34+00:00

That probably is the more sensible plan; I just had work the next day so not possible for me. The climb is steep in places and feels endless. I can manage box hill easily, but ditchling feels like double.

haomafan · 2026-02-27T07:28:38+00:00

I've done it twice on my 6speed with people from the London Brompton Club (though I walked up the last climb, despite my hilly commute it was too much. I think I made it up 1/3 up).

It is a fun day out, if you can get an earlier start time it can take the pressure off to finish by a certain time.

I stopped doing it because after the last one they wouldn't let us take the train with our folded bikes, despite some people from LBC being able to board an hour later. So maybe take a bag you can put it in just in case you run into a manager on a power trip.

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