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but i had to do mine in communication and application of number
I'm getting increasingly worried about how basic this diploma is. I'm definitely going to talk to someone about the Key Skills and ICT issue. I'm generally appalled at how incapable this college seem to be. Who in their right mind would group 16 year olds and 20 something year olds together to study communication? At 16, you can't communicate. At 20, you can.
It's ludicrous.
she has already said that there was nothing stating that she would have to get her hair done OR do key skills, those things, if expected of her should be in the course handbook/guide
There are some questions you just never know to ask when applying for a course you've never been on, and in a subject you've never studied.
All I can say is that I was totally misinformed about the content of this bloody course!! Feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall here.:no:
You think people who put them together have time to think about EVERYTHING before printing it?
the course hand book should detail EVERYTHING a course entails and EVERYTHING that is expected of the pupils
its not like they missed summat trivial out like having to bring a pencil to lesson, they have obviously left out 2 VERY important things
As far as I know, if you got no GCSE in an equilavent subject, or under an E grade, you study Level 1.
Between E - C, or if you've done Key Skills Level 1, you do level 2. Once you've completed level 2 you're done.
That's just an educated guess from what my college tell me though (and they're just as scatterbrained)
Depends what grade you have in what subject I am afraid.
I have two A grade ICT GCSE's, yet they still tried to get me to take Level 1 ICT Key skills last year (E - C Grade). They can be a bit slow on the uptake.
That sounds as patronising as hell, Ilora. I remember having good debates in history lessons in year 12, having to give presentations etc. We were all certainly able to hold our own in arguments and deliver half-way decent presentations.
Those people on your course who did not do great at English GCSE may have a few more problems than you, but that's nothing to do with their age. You're 20 now, you've got good GCSEs and have done A-levels so have gained greater communication skills, but that wouldn't necessarily have been the case if after leaving school at 16 you'd gone straight into a factory job or whatever.
Some 16 year olds are good at commication, some aren't, many more factors are involved than simply age.
/random tangent
Although I do think your college should do a better job at tailoring the skills to their students' individual needs. Have you had a word with them about it yet?
I've really underestimated how difficult it would be to study alongside people 4 years younger. I really didn't think it'd be this hard. :no:
Welcome to life. Some of the people in my office are 6 years younger than me. some are 25 years older. I communicate with them all.
Being able to form diverse relationships with all kinds and ages of people is an life skill and a job skill, so if you feel you can't, maybe you need these lessons more than you think.
:thumb:
4 years is nothing Ilora - my sister is 4 years my junior and we communicate fine.
Stop thinking you're a mature student as well, you're no more special than any of the others on your course. Just try to get on with them and you'll find it much better than if you don't speak to any of them because you think that they can't communicate well.
Also about your hair: Speak to your course tutor about it (like you are already trying to do), because I think it is a bit off that they didn't tell you this beforehand. However, don't go saying "I'm a mature student I shouldn't have to do that" because that's a shitty attitude to take.
It will all become clearer once you've done the course. Thing is, you might find yourself taking orders from someone four years your junior, or even 20years your elder. I'm sure you'd hate them to treat you like you couldn't comunicate becasue you were only 20 wouldn't you?
Your college won't force you to do it, but how do you think the other students will treat you when they find out that you're far too precious to let them near your hair? And that you're far too precious to have to lower yourself to key skills or ICT training?
That's life, getting things you don't need when you do things you do need. The first training session I got in my job was learning how to use Outlook, ffs, when I've been working in an office for years. That's life, and if you can't deal with it then you're in the wrong place.
The college won't force you to do anything, how can they, but you will be sent to Coventry for being to precious to involve yourself in the team. Your call flower.
Also, I love the girls on my course, not all of them obviously but I've made loads of friends and they're as mad as myself. It's the teaching I have a problem with.
We have 'sets' in school for things like Maths and English, so you're not teaching people at different levels - they've failed to use that method at my college which is a complete nightmare for me.
If it was the case that the mature students with the relevant qualifications aren't required to take key skills, to me, it would make so much more sense.
As it says in the handbook 'all 16-19 year olds' - well they need to be more specific for the older students.
Everyone has to do things they don't want to do to get on in life. It's just one of those things. I'll bet you most of those girls will get on with it when the time comes - and you'll be left standing moaning on your own.
Tough shit. If you don't like the teaching, either shut up and put up, or leave. It's as easy as that.
You're not at school anymore. It might be a good thing for you to work with younger people. As kaffrin said, when you start work you have to work with people of all ages and abilities - even if you don't agree with it or think it's right, you have to get on with it.
Well you don't have to get in with it, if you don't want - you can leave. But then you're making a fool of yourself.
I can't comment on your college, but I know there are hardly any people older than 19 who still go to college - most are at university or have a job. But seriously, just enquire about the Key Skills - if you have to do it, get your head down and do it. At least it'll be easy for you and you won't have to work at it too much - saving your effort for what you do want to do.
Alternatively, if your communication lessons are going to teach you to discuss nicely, to tolerate others, to listen to them and be open to considering their opinions then maybe you ought to get your arse into those lessons and pay close attention.
Another point to consider is that if almost everyone else is going to finish your course with key skill qualifications you may want them too, because that is going to show you have defineable skills that a future employer with recognise. One of my jobs looks for GCSEs and A levels, the other in is the leisure industry and I had to explain that I had standards well above those shown by key skills, but key skills certificates would have showed I had the level they wanted. Why not play ball, show you didn't just do make up at college an get some extra qualifications?
But now you are at college. You are being told what you need to learn and left to find it all out for yourself. You won't be spoonfed at college like you were at school. You need to take responsibility for your own learning, which is why there is no setting. Also, setting is a good thing when there are probably 3 times as many people in the class than the number you have in yours.
I'd just get on with it, accept you have to do key skills and roll with the punches. And I'd stop playing the 'mature student' card as if you do the same in college as you do here, you will have no friends. People will get fed up of it. You are only 20. There isn't a big age difference between you and the rest of your group. If you were 35 then you would have a valid argument. But you aren't.
Harsh. I think Ilora is looking for constructive feedback, rather than getting flamed for her perception of college. Why should she shut up? It's only by getting the view out there that people can challenge it and advise her on how she could see things differently.
This seems to perfectly sum up the difference between school and college.
To conclude; I shall express my concerns to my course tutor next time we have one 2 one tutorial. Until then I shall sit back roll with the punches...
Tbh, if you really like the course (like the final outcome and are making friends and stuff) then I think this is the only thing you can do. Just keep your eyes on the end goal and bite your tongue when things piss you off.
This is how I got my u/g degree
When is your next one to one? If it's not soon you'll probably need to be the 'mature' one and ask for a meeting sooner, if you want to be seen as oh so much more like a grown up you need to be proactive.
Most employers don't "stream" their training either, so you'll just have to get used to it.
It is a requirement, so you do it. There's not much else to it, really. I've been given all sorts of patronising training courses in my various jobs (have to say that a 3-hour course on answering the telephone was a personal favourite), but that's the way it is.