DCG Success Stories

Cert Ed student Chunyan Baker taught in her native China but needed additional qualifications before she could begin training to be a teacher in the UK.

She decided to apply for the two-year part-time level 5 course at Derby College after it was recommended to her by a friend who had completed it.

To get accepted for Cert Ed though, Chunyan first had to take GCSEs in maths and English as well as Functional English Level 2 at the Roundhouse.

Chunyan, who is now in her second year, said: “This is the first time I’ve been in higher education so for me writing research proposals and presentations is a new challenge.

“I’ve been well supported by all my tutors, Michael, Sally, Roberta, and Lynsey, in my tutorials. I’ve also had support sessions with HE study coaches on grammar, critical thinking skills and in other areas.

“The teachers are so dedicated and the support they give their students is brilliant .That’s also true of the learning resources network at Derby College, such as the library, computers and IT support.”

Before lockdown Chunyan taught Mandarin Chinese at several schools in and around Derby.

She added: “It’s a language that isn’t on the GCSE curriculum locally so I was doing it part-time at after school clubs paid for by the schools themselves or in some cases privately by parents.”

Chunyan hopes to resume teaching when the lockdown ends but hasn’t ruled out other possible future careers including reception work and office administration.

She’s found the computer skills course extremely useful in day-to-day life as well as when she’s teaching and is keen to progress to level 2 at the Roundhouse.