What course!?

One thing that disturbs me in both FE and HE is, this terms student usually ends up as next terms tutor, with no clinical experience, it happened on my FE therapy course and it also happened at uni.

That's not possible, at least not at my local college. You have to have been working for several years in the business, plus have done a teaching course/degree.

So no, even the best students wont be teaching the next year. It was something I was interested to hear about.

I'm doing VTCT/NVQ level 3 beauty therapy massage (only massage course that was running at my college, I did apply for complementary but there were no other takers lol) and we do not do case studies.

But then we're doing a 2 year full time course in one year one night a week (4-9pm - half theory, half clients). We cover body massage (Swedish), IHM, electricals, pre blended aromatherapy and hot stones, as well as A&P.

We have several practical assessments, essential knowledge units for each subject, and two end tests/exams for each unit (one on the subject,one on related A&P).

You simply couldnt do it in 12 weeks, unless you were there full time every day and superhuman. It's tough enough doing it our way.

TBH I think you'll find, from my fairly limited experience of meeting one other massage therapist outside of college, that there are those who view college education as inferior. I went to collect some books being offered to me by a guy from Freecycle, only for him to ask why I didnt bring my coursework with me, and then go on to tell me my course wasn't advanced enough for him to justify giving me his books.

With attitudes like that, you wonder why we want to get into this industry!

@LisaLQ

TBH I read your reply and found it incredibly rude also,:eek:
so perhaps it's not that the OP is oversensitive, but that you are under...sensitive.

are we being a little oversensitive? 😉

She/he asked for advice. Not a grilling.

Drew asked for advice and I gave her advice...

...advice from my personal experience

its up to Drew to read thru all the posts and make a decision on which path to take...

Enjoy your course LisaLQ

Not oversensitive at all, but I do have a thing about people taking something completely out of context and making someone feel bad about themselves, and unwelcome.

The OP asked about whether or not she/he should go for a specific course, a simple "no - maybe you could try this instead" would have sufficed, without a vicious rant.

If that had have been aimed at me, the only path I'd have been taking would have been straight off the forum. Do the mods not step in at times like this?

Edited to add: I was not talking about you or your response, so not sure why you've responded as if I had. I was talking about the reply by Ectomorph.

Hi LisaLQ

you might like to use a quote box to direct your reply if you are replying
to someone specific...

I thought you were replying to me as previous posters were not happy with
my comments either!

TBW

I'm doing VTCT/NVQ level 3 beauty therapy massage (only massage course that was running at my college, I did apply for complementary but there were no other takers lol) and we do not do case studies.

Case studies are part of the nationally accepted standards in massage, see GCMT lead body website for core curricula, a minimum of 36 hours, however there is an unwritten agreement between major awarding organisations to move that as close to 80 as they can.

But then we're doing a 2 year full time course in one year one night a week (4-9pm - half theory, half clients). We cover body massage (Swedish), IHM, electricals, pre blended aromatherapy and hot stones, as well as A&P.

With respect from an assessor who works in both FE and Private sector;
a full time college course is equivalant to 760 hours, a 2 year full time course is equivalent to 1520 hours, you cannot possibly do this in 1 year with a total of 190 hours, so your information is incorrect. Then you list 5 modalities, averaging 39 hours per module. Major awarding bodies will not accept this qualification if it does not meet standards.

We have several practical assessments, essential knowledge units for each subject, and two end tests/exams for each unit (one on the subject,one on related A&P).

You simply couldnt do it in 12 weeks, unless you were there full time every day and superhuman. It's tough enough doing it our way.

12 weeks full time course would equate to 444 hours, this is 2.3 times the amount of study you mention above.

TBH I think you'll find, from my fairly limited experience of meeting one other massage therapist outside of college, that there are those who view college education as inferior. I went to collect some books being offered to me by a guy from Freecycle, only for him to ask why I didnt bring my coursework with me, and then go on to tell me my course wasn't advanced enough for him to justify giving me his books.

with respect your experience in this industry is more than farily limited, it is very limited

With attitudes like that, you wonder why we want to get into this industry!

These attitudes are the least of those you will face in the industry, especially when you start looking for work and you are found to be underprepared, but good luck anyway

These attitudes are the least of those you will face in the industry, especially when you start looking for work and you are found to be underprepared, but good luck anyway

BGFL

That's not possible, at least not at my local college. You have to have been working for several years in the business, plus have done a teaching course/degree.

So no, even the best students wont be teaching the next year. It was something I was interested to hear about.

With respect, it happens in 5 of the 6 local colleges that I work in, the common practice is for the exceptional students to progress onto teaching and then have a certain timescale in which to get a traching qualification, this is done along side teaching, as there is a requirement for teaching practice to be done as part of the teaching qual. Many courses are shelved from the prospectus not due to insufficient student numbers but because of tutor shortages.

PTLLS gives associate teacher status, and can be achieved in 6 weeks, CTLLS or DTLLS can then be started within 2 years if full time, or 3 years if part time.

sorry to be the bearer of bad news?:(

I thought you were replying to me as previous posters were not happy with
my comments either!

TBW

Don't even give it another seconds thought thebodyworker...lots of members on here live in a world full of rainbows and butterflies where everything is perfect and anyone with an opinion that is different to theirs is ridiculed or called rude. Just laugh, if anything! :wave:
God knows how people so delicate and oversensitive get on in the REAL world. :confused:

That's not possible, at least not at my local college. You have to have been working for several years in the business, plus have done a teaching course/degree.

So no, even the best students wont be teaching the next year. It was something I was interested to hear about.

It IS possible. It goes on all the time. :rolleyes:

These attitudes are the least of those you will face in the industry, especially when you start looking for work and you are found to be underprepared, but good luck anyway

With "all due respect", the VTCT are happy to endorse them, they are the only courses available in my area (without going private, which I didnt know about til this week, and certainly cannot afford!), and they do qualify me to work in a spa/salon. However, do not jump to conclusions, have I said at any point I believe myself to be ready with this course alone? The requirements for getting on this course were a year's previous study in the industry, the tutor that enrolled me didnt know I hadn't done it (mix up between tutors of the course that was cancelled and this one) but has ok-ed me to stay on in the class. Out of the two exams done so far, I got top marks in the A&P one, 92%. So while you may not think I'm learning anything, you're sadly mistaken.

However I fully intend to go on to do another level 3 course next year (even though it contains the same massage element, I can apply for "prior learning" so that I can cover the complementary therapies and advanced learning for complementary therapists). After that, I may even do foundation degree.

It's attitudes like this though that put people off posting for advice. The guy I went to see the other day thought he was being helpful, in fact he came across as a big headed pratt, I promptly tore up his card and resolved myself to find people more like those I'd expect to be in such a caring industry.

These kinds of posts saying our learning is worth nothing are not helpful in the least. If you think this - take it to the tutors, the colleges, and the private colleges - tell them that their ridiculous costs have stopped many very able people being able to take their love further.

This is the best I can do, if it's not good enough, I wont book you in lol.

It IS possible. It goes on all the time. :rolleyes:

I think you mean "some of the time". I've already proven it doesn't happen "all" of the time. :rolleyes: <- yes we can all do sarcastic smilies, A+ for effort though...

Hi LisaLQ

you might like to use a quote box to direct your reply if you are replying
to someone specific...

I thought you were replying to me as previous posters were not happy with
my comments either!

TBW

It was you who quoted an earlier post in the thread, not even related to the one you clicked to respond to...:p

Don't even give it another seconds thought thebodyworker...lots of members on here live in a world full of rainbows and butterflies where everything is perfect and anyone with an opinion that is different to theirs is ridiculed or called rude. Just laugh, if anything! :wave:
God knows how people so delicate and oversensitive get on in the REAL world. :confused:

So you think it's ok to "ridicule" people? :confused:

As for real world, believe me, if a man getting a hard on is the biggest problem you've faced in life, your "real world" is nothing like mine. Try raising 5 kids with a disability, then dragging your sore arse back into college to try and get some sort of career, only to have some pratt on the internet tell you you're worthless.

This is the best I can do, if it's not good enough, I wont book you in lol.

I'm sure Big Gaz will get over it. :dance:

So you think it's ok to "ridicule" people? :confused:

As for real world, believe me, if a man getting a hard on is the biggest problem you've faced in life, your "real world" is nothing like mine. Try raising 5 kids with a disability, then dragging your sore arse back into college to try and get some sort of career, only to have some pratt on the internet tell you you're worthless.

Which pratt on the internet called you worthless'?... I've read the whole thread and nobody has called you anything of the sort! :sleep:

Which pratt on the internet called you worthless'?... I've read the whole thread any nobody has called you anything of the sort! :sleep:

Not here to stroke your ego for you, so snooze away, and come back when you have something useful to add.

I'm sure Big Gaz will get over it. :dance:

Clearly all this superior training has really raised your intellect. Please, toddle on if you have nothing interesting or useful to say 😉

What an unpleasant thread !! 🙁

and considering I have had a slapped wrist in the past for far less provocation...:rolleyes:

Delete this post before returning to the massage forum.

See mods thread:

With my Moderator’s hat on

Following complaints as to thread content, unfortunately it has been necessary for the Moderating Team to step in and remove those parts which had caused offence and are off topic. You are all now firmly reminded of and asked to abide by the Healthypages forum guidelines, particularly the following:

Language:
Any foul or hostile language used will not be tolerated. This includes any derogatory statements and profanity. Direct or indirect personal attacks are strictly not permitted. Insults and negative attitudes are not allowed. Saying you don't agree and why, can be done in a good humoured and polite way without causing offence.

All members have the right to their own ideas, beliefs and faiths. Members have the right to express these with equal respect and consideration.

So please reply respectfully and keep your posts on topic. The moderators will in the case of any further disruptions take action to close accounts or put accounts on moderation.

With my Moderator’s hat on

Following complaints as to thread content, unfortunately it has been necessary for the Moderating Team to step in and remove those parts which had caused offence and are off topic. You are all now firmly reminded of and asked to abide by the Healthypages forum guidelines, particularly the following:

So please reply respectfully and keep your posts on topic. The moderators will in the case of any further disruptions take action to close accounts or put accounts on moderation.

I made valid points about, "last years students" being employed as tutors in Fe colleges, these were not off topic, they were in direct repsonse to a post which stated it did not happen.

WHY HAS THIS BEEN REMOVED, VALID POINT, AND GIVES INFORMATION ON THE STANDARD OF TEACHING IN SOME FE COLLEGES, 😡 IT STATED
HOW THE ABOVE SCENARIO ACTUALLY OCCURS AND ABOUT TIMESCALES FOR TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS IN FE:mad:

I trained for 3 years before becoming a masseuse...it makes me feel sick that people can qualify in just 12 days. Would you be happy to pay £40 for a full body massage only to find out that the therapist had qualified in just 12 days Drew?

Read the thread below. You need to enroll at a proper college. Why should people with a conscience (like myself and other therapists on here) spend literally years training, only for others to do weekend wonder courses and 12 day courses and think it's acceptable?! It's unethical, and unfair to paying clients who are putting their trust in you.

Oh yes, have the same feeling. But nowadays to become a masseur you needn’t spend years as we did.... and... now masseurs have quality respectively very low... and shame that that have even very low level of anatomy and understanding