Teaching Modern Foreign Languages
Postgraduate Certificate in Education Secondary Level (11-16 years with post-16 enhancement experience)
Organiser and Tutor: Lynne Kay
PGCE Course Overview
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), one-year, full-time, Secondary course prepares graduates to teach in secondary schools (age range: 11-16 years with post-16 enhancement experience). The course is assessed against 'M' Level criteria - leading to Qualified Teacher Status and 60 credits at Masters Level.
This is an interesting, often very demanding but tremendously rewarding age group to work with as pupils mature from early adolescence to adulthood. The course is designed to equip you to teach your main subject and to make an effective contribution to the work of schools beyond your subject.
The UEA partnership scheme has attracted national and international attention for its successful close inter-weaving of school and university-based work. It provides you with the opportunity to engage in the systematic study of theory and current good practice both in schools and in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at UEA. The PGCE course has received a series of excellent grades in OfSTED inspections.
The 36 week long course includes an extensive 24 weeks of placement in two of our partnership schools near, or within reasonable distance of, your home. This emphasis on practical teaching provides you with a broad range of teaching experience in different schools.
At university sessions you will discuss experiences with others on the course and learn more about the theory and practice of teaching. Expect to be involved in a range of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars and practical workshops.
Subject Specific Information - Modern Foreign Languages
The changing world of communications has brought different countries and cultures closer together. Opportunities to bring the outside world into the languages classroom is increasingly easier to achieve through the use of satellite television, video material, email and the internet. The PGCE course in Modern Foreign Languages at UEA is designed to reflect these changes. It aims to help trainee teachers develop the skills to make language learning an enjoyable experience for all language learners within the demands of the National Curriculum, GCSE and post-16 courses.
The PGCE course focuses on the nature of communication in the classroom. What is a truly communicative activity? How can we encourage pupils to initiate conversation? What is the role of writing in the language learning process? Other topics covered will include the use of the target language, differentiation, the teaching of grammar and ICT and language teaching. Language learning theories and examples of good practice informed by them are linked throughout the course. Research on wider educational issues such as motivation, gender and language take up and different teaching and learning styles will also be considered and are essential to an understanding of effective teaching in the language classroom.
Trainees on this course will have the opportunity to work in pairs and groups as well as individually on specific tasks. They will practise their first and second languages, for example, in group work where preparation for sixth form teaching will be conducted in the target language. There is also the possibility to use resources in the James Platt Learning Centre to further develop language skills according to individual needs. Tasks are set each week so that students can link their reflections on language teaching and learning at UEA with practice in the classroom. By the end of the course trainees will have built up a bank of language teaching resources and a glossary of key expressions to support their language teaching in the target language.
Student Endorsements
Two of our past students, Tanya Gwilliam and Kate Sutcliffe, share their experiences - why they decided to train to teach, what the course was like and what they're looking forward to achieve in the future.
Entry Requirements
Applicants to the course should hold a BA degree (or equivalent) in languages, languages and literature, or linguistics. In addition to high level language skills, applicants should have a good knowledge of the countries and cultures where the language(s) offered are spoken. The main languages currently required by schools are French, German and Spanish although proficiency in other languages (such as Italian and Russian) will be considered if these are offered as a second language and if we have schools in which school based placements can take place. Applicants offering two languages are preferred.
Native speakers with a non-language based BA but who have relevant teaching experience are encouraged to make enquiries regarding eligibility for entry to the course.
Subject Knowledge and Experience
The standard of applications to the course is very high and we therefore strongly recommend that applicants have some experience of working with youngsters, or of observing the teaching of modern languages in English secondary schools. Most schools will provide such opportunities for those considering applying for a PGCE. Many of our applicants come from abroad and also have prior experience of teaching and working with children.
We advise that all applicants reflect on their experience of working with children or of observing them in school as this forms a major focus of the interview. We also suggest that applicants familiarise themselves with some of the information on the Department for Education website related to the National Curriculum for Modern Foreign Languages and that they demonstrate some preparation for the interview through initial reading about language teaching. The National Centre for Languages (CiLT) website is a good starting point for this and also the Lingu@net (Virtual Language Centre) website.
Click on the link to access further information about how you can gain school observational experience.
Modern Foreign Language Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses
Trainees whose subject knowledge has gaps or needs to be updated may be eligible to attend a
Career Opportunities
Many of our trainees are appointed to teaching posts in Norfolk and Suffolk. Career opportunities within secondary teaching are now far wider and more diverse than ever before. Within a few years of beginning teaching many are able to gain promotion to leadership positions within their subject or for pastoral responsibilities. There may also be opportunities to become an Advanced Skills Teacher (AST), this allows effective classroom teachers to gain recognition for their excellence in the classroom without needing to move to more administrative positions. After experience of middle management successful teachers can progress to senior management as Senior Teacher, Deputy Head or Head.
Secondary Teaching Information Event
Our next Secondary Teaching Information Event will take place in October 2013.
In the meantime, if you have any queries, please do contact the UEA PGCE Admissions Team.
Application Procedure and Selection Process
All candidates starting the PGCE in 2013 are required to pass the professional skills tests before starting the course. More information can be found via the Teaching Agency website.
Candidates are required to apply via the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). This is the central "clearing house" which deals with all applications for PGCE courses across the country. Application forms for 2013 entry are available from October 2012.
Candidates are required to supply an academic referee as their first reference if they have completed their studies in the last 5 years.
Primary candidates are advised by the GTTR to make their application by 1st December 2012 - however please note that we will be accepting applications (through the GTTR) after this date if we have vacancies.
There is no specified deadline for Secondary candidates. However, all candidates are advised to apply as early as possible in the application cycle.
NB: You are advised to ensure that your principal referee is available to submit their reference immediately upon request (usually electronically via GTTR). Your chosen institution will not receive your application until the principal referee has submitted their reference. Please see the GTTR Referee Guidance for information on selection.
Candidates are encouraged to prepare thoroughly. Application forms should be able to demonstrate not only your depth of subject knowledge but also your enthusiasm and commitment to a career in teaching. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with our PGCE Teacher Training Prospectus and the information available from the Teaching Agency and related educational establishments. These sources will help you to gain knowledge of the current issues facing teaching, specifically in the subject area for which you are applying. During interview you will be expected to be able to answer questions about these issues, and what has prompted your desire to choose teaching as a career.
Candidates are normally chosen on the basis of their application form, references and an interview.
Training Incentives
TA Training Bursaries are available for the PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Languages course for entry in 2013.
Click on the link to access further information about Financial Information.
Further Enquiries
If you would like to discuss your application further please contact us by email: pgceinfo@uea.ac.uk, by telephone: +44 (0)1603 592855 or write to us:
PGCE Admissions
Room 0.20, School of Education and Lifelong Learning
Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
Online Prospectus
Our PGCE Teacher Training Prospectus for September 2013 entry is available to download in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.
Thank you for taking the time to view this website. We hope it has given you some idea of what we have to offer and that, if you are thinking of training to be a teacher, you will consider applying to us.
