PGCE Modern Languages
Course Co-ordinator: Dr Mark Payne
Tutors: Keith Faulkner and Terry Lamb
Introduction
Languages teachers need to be resourceful, innovative and imaginative in order to create an exciting environment for language learning. They need to respond to a wide range of needs and motivations, building learners´ confidence and enabling them to enjoy the experience of learning about other cultures.
The PGCE Languages course is designed to enable its student teachers to respond to this challenge. It also takes account of the local and national policy contexts, encouraging an awareness of the many opportunities which exist to support language teaching and learning.
*New Bursaries*
In 2011 the Government consulted on a new ITT strategy, which proposed a new system of financial incentives for trainees with good degrees in shortage subjects.
Bursaries are available for trainees on eligible postgraduate courses in England who are not employed as a teacher. Bursary amounts will vary depending on teaching subject and degree class.
Teaching is a prime career choice for high-quality graduates. To encourage the best people to enter the profession, from 2012/13 trainees will need at least a 2:2 to be eligible for a training bursary.
The 2012/13 bursary scheme recognises exceptional achievement outside of degree results and allows flexibility in some cases. In exceptional circumstances trainees may receive a higher bursary than their degree class would otherwise allow. This allows the scheme to take account of, for example, trainees with a 2:2 and a PhD or proven exceptional subject knowledge gained from another career.
The table below summarises the standard training bursaries available in 2012/13:
Modern Languages |
||
Training bursary 2012/13 |
Trainee with first |
£20,000 |
| 2:1 | £15,000 | |
| 2:2 | £12,000 | |
Course Information
Applicants will ideally specialise in two languages from French, German and Spanish, but candidates offering French, German or Spanish as single languages will also be considered. To reflect the fact that Sheffield is a multilingual city and to respond to the National Languages Strategy which welcomes linguistic diversity, we also include opportunities to teach a range of other languages (Russian, Japanese, Mandarin and Urdu), though in these cases it is necessary also to be able to teach French, German or Spanish at least to Key Stage 3. Please note that students offering Russian, Mandarin or Japanese are more than likely to be placed in a school at some distance from Sheffield for at least one school experience. A pre-PGCE intensive language training experience may be available, please contact Dr Mark Payne for further details. In addition, we try to build on expertise in other languages; in particular we welcome those with knowledge of one or more community languages.
The Languages element of the PGCE is designed to give student teachers the confidence and skills they will need as beginning teachers in secondary schools. The course brings together theory, practice and research, to explore methods and strategies appropriate to the range of teaching situations likely to be met in an all-ability school in the context of the National Curriculum and other national strategies. The importance of using the language for genuine communication is underlined, and we believe that language learning should be stimulating and relevant.
All student teachers attend generic sessions on language teaching methodology, with opportunities in small groups and in school to work with individual languages. ICT continues to play an increasing role in the professional lives of all teachers. Student teachers learn how to apply their knowledge to materials preparation and administration as well as to exploit the opportunities offered by ICT to enhance their pupils´ language learning experience. They will also be expected to use ICT to develop their own language skills autonomously.
University tutors work closely with Partnership schools to ensure that student teachers can observe experienced teachers, develop their own teaching styles and arrive at a greater understanding of how children learn languages. In addition to periods of block School Experience, other school visits are organised and student teachers can also take part in the activities of ALL (The Association for Language Learning - http://www.all-languages.org.uk). Such opportunities contribute to the central message of the course, which is that student teachers must take responsibility for their own professional development including the continuing enhancement of their own linguistic capability.
Most applicants will have studied one or both languages as a major part of their degree and we expect a total of at least three months´ residence in an appropriate country (or an equivalent oral competence). Native speakers may have a degree in another subject. They will, however, need to demonstrate an adequate level of spoken and written English. Applicants will also need relevant experience of at least 5 days in a British comprehensive school.
"My PGCE at Sheffield has stood me in fantastic stead for my first job. The level of tutoring and help you get is very high and you learn a huge amount about the classroom and education in general. Placements are hard work but well worth it as they prepare for the reality of a tough but hugely rewarding career. The work you do in language sessions gives you some great ideas and really helps you understand the thinking behind teaching. Tutors and students are really friendly and everyone helps each other out."
Simon Richter, Modern Languages student teacher
Valuing Diversity
The School of Education values diversity and promotes the development of a diverse teaching workforce. We are happy to make any appropriate and reasonable adjustments to enable students with a disability to gain Qualified Teacher Status. In order for this to be possible, we invite anyone with a disability to contact the School´s Disabilities Officer (Dr Anita Franklin) by telephone 0114 2228169 or e-mail. Any information can be disclosed in confidence and will be used in order to consider appropriate adjustments to our provision, including the interview process.
PGCE Enquiries:
T: 0114 2228080, 0114 2228081
E: ite@sheffield.ac.uk