FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

www.canteach.net FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Why work with CANTEACH? CANTEACH was specifically created to take care of Canadians regarding their teacher certification. EVERY CANTEACH student who has applied through CANTEACH has been accepted to at least one, usually both, university choices they applied to. In some cases, students only need to apply to one university as designated spots are available for CANTEACH students. Mike Johnson ensures you get accepted. Placements are allocated at each university for CANTEACH applicants because CANTEACH streamlines the teacher certification process. You will be taken care of from your initial inquiry through to the Certification workshop you receive where you are studying abroad. Instructions and advice are provided by CANTEACH for each step of the entire process. Is this certification valid in ON/Canada? Yes (qualified). Completing the program allows you to obtain the teaching certification in the jurisdiction you are trained (Australia, New Zealand, England or Wales). That certification allows you to apply for certification in Ontario, via the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), or other governing Board in Canada. Mike Johnson has taken all CANTEACH students through this certification process. All CANTEACH students have been eligible to apply for certification in Canada and have been certified in Canada. How do I apply for my Teaching Certificate? CANTEACH offers a Certification Workshop, given by Mike Johnson, at the University you are attending abroad before your program completion. This certification and the procedure to apply back in Canada are covered in this workshop. All CANTEACH applications to Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) have been successful to date. CANTEACH and the universities represented by CANTEACH have an excellent working relationship with the OCT and their governing boards. How do I start to consider my options? You can consult the CANTEACH Teachable Table to research your options and programs that you will be able to attend. A typical decision may include: Your teaching interest: Primary or Secondary Teachables: if you want to teach Secondary (High School) Geography: location of the university and surrounding area University facilities and activities available Tuition cost, cost of living, accommodation options Your impression of the university and interactions with Staff Call 1-866-488-6700 to discuss your options with Mike Johnson after reviewing the brochure, website and teachable table. ENGLAND certification and registration in Ontario. All CANTEACH universities have been visited by Mike Johnson. All CANTEACH universities with Teacher Training programs submit all the appropriate documentation and materials to the OCT and attend annual liaison meetings each Fall. What degree am I getting? You will receive a Graduate Diploma in Teaching in Australia and New Zealand, a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) in England and Wales. This degree allows you to apply for your Teaching Certificate in the jurisdiction or country in which you are trained. The Teaching Certificate you obtain abroad allows you to apply back in Ontario for certification. How much does tuition cost? Australian programs range from $13,000-$16,750 AUD. New Zealand programs range from $16,100-$22,300 NZD. England and Wales’ programs range £6,500-£8,800 GBP. Most CANTEACH universities’ tuitions are approximately $12,000$14,000 CDN. Check out the Tuition Table on the insert of this booklet for university fee comparisons. Around how much does it cost all together? Return Flight: $2,000 CDN (AUS/NZD) Tuition: $12,000-$14,000 CDN Living Expenses: $1,200 CDN per month includes rent, utilities, food and travel. This is a realistic budget for a students as most tend to be traveling around. It is recommended that you budget for additional travel as you make your way back to Canada so you can take advantage of the opportunity to do so. WALES 24 Is the University I want to attend/apply to reputable? All CANTEACH represented universities are regulated by strict governing guidelines to maintain university qualifications in each particular country. These universities work closely with the OCT, and other governing Boards across Canada, to assist students in their certification back to Ontario/Canada. Mike Johnson and CANTEACH represented universities meet with the OCT each year to review current regulations and issues within the Teacher Education profession, specifically relating to mike@canteach.net www.canteach.net Do I pay any other fees? Student visas, applications for certification, etc. all have fees associated with them. They are paid directly to the governing organization. Are there additional courses I have to complete when I come back? No, not in Ontario. You only need to apply for your certification with OCT. This is covered by the on-site Certification Workshop by Mike Johnson at the university you are studying at abroad. How do I get a Student VISA? CANTEACH and the university you will attend abroad will provide instructions on how to obtain a Student VISA. Each application and country also has a set of instructions that comes with the student visa application forms. You also work directly with the CANTEACH universities on this. Typically, half of the tuition amount needs to be paid in order to apply for your Student VISA in Australia. The full tuition amount needs to be paid in order to apply for your Student VISA in New Zealand, England and Wales. Can I work? YES. 20 hours a week. What do CANTEACH services cost? One time $50.00 application fee. What is this for? This is a gate-keeping fee to make sure CANTEACH applicants are serious. The fee includes application advisement, teachable selection to appropriate universities, costs advisement, student VISA advisement and assistance, tuition payment advisement, travel advisement and student loan advisement. I need CANTEACH students to be serious about their applications to Teachers College. CANTEACH Universities want qualified and serious applicants to apply. Each university puts a lot into the process of acceptance to attend their Institution. What is CANTEACH’s primary goal for me? CANTEACH’s objective is to see you accepted to one, or both, of the two universities you select to attend. All CANTEACH applicants have been accepted to one, or both, of their two chosen universities applied to. What key items are taken care of in ON with CANTEACH? CANTEACH guarantees to see you certified after you have successfully completed your program. A FREE Certification Workshop is provided at the university you attend abroad. AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND This workshop guides you through the certification process back to Canada. CANTEACH helps you with your application, acceptance, payment of your tuition, Student VISA application, student loan and travel. Why do I need CANTEACH? Can I do this on my own? You would be going through this the first time. The first time through anything can be tedious and hard work. CANTEACH has the experience in taken care of hundreds of applicants. This process is relied on my CANTEACH Universities to take care of Canadian students. CANTEACH guarantees that this process will be made easy for you. As a liason, CANTEACH has contacts at all governing boards to help solve problems that may occur including registration, VISA application, acceptance and travel. How do I start the application process? Call Mike Johnson to discuss and confirm your options on 1866-488-6700 any time. All CANTEACH applicants receive the application forms and instructions for completing the application process for their university choices. Interview tips in New Zealand, England and Wales are offered to ensure successful entry. Does CANTEACH do any presentations? Yes. Mike Johnson does presentations in Canada in March and September and October. Video copies of the presentation are sometimes available at your University Career Services offices. Can I make an appointment to meet? Yes. Typically, a telephone meeting takes place. Mike Johnson, university representatives and former students will meet with you at the university you are attending in Canada to go over your options and questions. Often, these meetings are arranged in conjunction with CANTEACH presentations, university fairs and pre-departure meetings. ENGLAND WALES 25 mike@canteach.net www.canteach.net AFTER YOUR ACCEPTANCE What about accommodation? Your accommodation is organized after you are accepted as an international student. There are 3 accommodation options: 1. On-campus, self-catered, 4-6 bedroom unit with shared kitchen (grad residence) 2. On-campus, catered (cafeteria, undergrad residence) 3. Off campus, rental accommodation a. Find your own apartment b. Find your own house c. Go into an established rental situation, room with others already living d. Home stay, stay with a family in their house Who organizes the accommodation? Students are responsible for the arrangement of accommodation. Typically, students need to inform the university of their preference and fill out an application for university-assisted accommodation. These forms must be filled out regardless of you staying on-campus or not. The universities have accommodation offices with lists of available off-campus rentals. All universities have residence options. What happens immediately after I arrive? Most universities arrange for (and some pay for) you to be picked up at the airport via airport shuttle. Students must provide the university/shuttle service their flight details, and in some cases, fill out an arrival form. This form ensures pick up at the airport. Students communicate directly with the university/shuttle service before your arrival. Are scholarships available? University of Exeter offers student $1000 CDN upon arrival to England to start their studies and assist with expenses. Limited scholarships are available and in most cases have already been figured into the tuition amount quoted for CANTEACH students. Many students also arrange a student line of credit and personal savings to assist in the financing of attending Teachers College. The option to work 20 hours a week can also help offset costs. Can I get a student loan? Yes. You can obtain student loans via Canada Student Loans or OSAP. You can also apply for IEFC or obtain a student line of credit through a Canadian bank. What is the program like? Programs vary significantly but can be divided up into these basic components: 1. Education courses 2. Professional Studies courses 3. Subject/Curriculum Specialization courses 4. Teaching Practice What is studying abroad like? It is awesome! CANTEACH students love it with some never wanting to leave. Many students want to stay and seek employment. It is a great personal and professional growth experience while living in Australia, New Zealand, England or Wales for a year to obtain your teaching certificate. CANTEACH students are very busy traveling, touring and socializing during weekends and breaks. It is an experience of a lifetime. Have you heard of the certificate programs in Buffalo? How do the costs compare? Tuition in the US can be equal to, or more than, the cost of an entire year in Australia, New Zealand, England or Wales. You need to compare actual costs. Can we meet after I am accepted? Most students are accepted well in advance of the start date. A pre-departure meeting is offered 3-4 months before attending Australia and New Zealand schools. The meeting takes place in Canada at your university, a university close to you, or a major hotel in Toronto. March pre-departure meetings are for students attending Australia and New Zealand for July start, and Wales and England for September start. What happens at the pre-departure meeting? A pre-departure meeting is provided 3-4 months prior to your attendance. You will meet with university representatives and other successful applicants you will be going with, to discuss your acceptance and the upcoming university experience. How do I book my travel plans? Assistance is available for you, your family and friends to Australia and New Zealand with Downunder Travel. Contact Paula Czarnik, Travel Specialist at: paula@downunder-travel.com Toll Free: 1-888-642-1630 Phone: 416-642-1630 www.downunder-travel.com Can I defer my acceptance? Yes. CANTEACH and universities recognize circumstances that affect your ability to make your designated start date. Some programs at your chosen university may also be full for the term and a guaranteed spot will be available for the next start date (ie. 6 months or a year later). A brief overview of the CANTEACH Application Process is provided on page 3 of this booklet and is also available in the electronic information package. For more comprehensive information, check out Apply Now at www.canteach.net. Choice of university website links are also provided for your best and most suitable option. I look forward to hearing from you and talking with you soon. Thanks, Mike WALES 26 ENGLAND NEW ZEALAND AUSTRALIA mike@canteach.net www.canteach.net CANTEACH TESTIMONIALS “My story is a bit different to most as I happened to apply to teachers college in New Zealand with an ulterior motive; I had a kiwi boyfriend who I wanted to join in NZ. A great way to get my teacher training and live in NZ was to apply for school here. This turned out to be the best decision of my life. Before my boyfriend (now fiancé) even left Canada to return to NZ you were there helping in any way you could, trying to extend his visa so he didn’t have to leave. I had not even been accepted to teachers college in NZ and you were already going above and beyond. I then decided I wanted to go to NZ early, half a year before teachers college was to start, and you were there make sure I was set with a working visa. I have now been living in New Zealand for over a year and a half, and have loved my time here so far. Dunedin is the craziest student town I have ever come across in my travels; it is such a fantastic culture. When I talk to friends at home in teachers college I realize how lucky I am to have done my training here. It is a challenging year, but there is a great deal of support and effort put in by staff that makes it a great experience. I cannot thank you enough for being someone I can depend on, I always knew I had someone on my side when I had yet another question to ask!” ~ Kyla Fallis University of Otago, 2006 University of Guelph, 2005 “My time studying here at Southern Cross University, Tweed Gold Coast Campus, has been a trip of a lifetime! I couldn’t have made a better choice! There is so much to do and see, from hiking through the World Heritage Rainforests 30 minutes away, or the endless beaches a quick walk from our flat. Even the culture is fantastic. The start of the school year signals the start of the pro surf tour with the Quiksilver Pro Surf Competition held right here! As well, the Gold Coast campus is small and very intimate adding to the overall experience! This is a school where your teachers and advisors really take care of you and get to know you. I can’t recommend choosing Southern Cross, Tweed Gold Coast Campus enough!!!!!!!” ~ Eric Chanyi Southern Cross University, 2006 Wilfred Laurier University, 2005 “This has been a real journey. From first year to now, it seems like we have been talking for ages (four and some odd years now). You have been the best person to rely on for this whole experience, always answering all my little questions and in quick response time too! I never doubted that going to school in Dunedin would be a fabulous experience and you were a large part of making it a smooth transition from graduating University to arriving in Dunedin. Thank you for that. Your workshop made the whole process of applying for registration here in Canada easy. Thanks again for the best year of my life and helping make it happen. You are the best!” ~ Kirby Schell University of Otago, 2006 Wilfred Laurier University, 2005 “Mike, thank you so much for the amazing year. Brian was the best tutor I could have ever hoped for and then some. I am so glad we met up to be able to come to New Zealand. Thanks for taking such great care of all us Canadians. Our trip to the West Coast was unforgettable. Greg and I had a great time traveling in Australia for 3 months before coming back home.” ~ Mary Boughner (Newcombe) University of Canterbury, 2002 University of Western Ontario, 2001 “I have gained some fantastic experiences by travelling through Europe. There were some incredible sights I have seen this year. Flights are cheap and the culture is rich. Trinity is a really nice campus and a completely refreshing change from my previous institution of study. It was a bit difficult at first being so social but the friendliness grows on you. The town is small and really beautiful. I have come to enjoy the slow paced atmosphere that Carmarthen offers. The people are fantastic. I could never have imagined the kind of support, kindness and overall genuine interest that the residents of the college and the schools that I taught in provided. Socializing proved to be a new experience everytime as you can make new friends here to last a lifetime.” ~ Neil Kearns Trinity College, Wales, Sept 2006 McMaster University, 2006 “Thank you so much for your help and support. If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely go back to New Zealand both for the quality of the education I received and for the most amazing traveling imaginable!” ~ Heidi Witteman University of Canterbury, 2002 Queen’s University, 2001 AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND ENGLAND “Hi Mike! I just wanted to say thanks so much for everything! 2005 was the most amazing year of my life and to top it off, I’m officially a certified teacher both in New South Wales and back here in Ontario now! Southern Cross was such a beautiful campus! The teachers were awesome and the advisors bent over backwards to make sure us Canadians were happy and taken care of! I made some amazing friendships from all over the world! None of that could have been possible if it hadn’t been for all the hard work you did ahead of time in the short period you had to get me to Australia in the first place! Thanks so much for everything! ~ Kristen Goddard Southern Cross University, 2005 Wilfred Laurier University, 2004 WALES 27 mike@canteach.net