Semester 2

Unit(s) of Assessment	Weighting Towards Module Mark( %)
Teacher-mentor’s report	20
On-line discussion board	20
Special project materials portfolio	20
Project presentation	40

Qualifying Condition(s)
A weighted aggregate of 40% is required to pass the module
Acceptance on Undergraduate Ambassador Scheme (via interview, with UniS’ ELC)

Each student will work with two classes for half a day every week for a period of about 10 weeks. The classes will vary from Key Stage 3 to Sixth Form. Places will be limited in number, and students will be selected for their commitment and suitability for working in schools. Students will be given a range of responsibilities from classroom assistance to self-oriented special projects. The Module has the backing of the “Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme” (www.uas.ac.uk).

There are no pre-requisites, but the number of places available is limited. Students will be selected by an interview process that will take place in week 1 of the Autumn Semester (together with Educational Liaison Centre). This Module is not available to those who have completed a PGCE course.

This Module provides an opportunity for level 2 students to gain first hand experience of teaching languages through a mentoring scheme with language teachers in local schools. It is designed to help second year students gain confidence in communicating their subject and develop strong organisational and interpersonal skills that will be of benefit to them in employment and life. It will enable students to understand how to address the needs of individuals and devise and develop language teaching materials appropriate to engage the relevant age group they are working with. This Module aims to allow the student to act as an enthusiastic role model for pupils interested in foreign languages and to offer the student a positive experience of working with pupils and teachers.

It is expected that by the end of the Module students will have gained substantial experience of working in the challenging and unpredictable environment of a school. Furthermore, they will have gained a basic knowledge of many of the key aspects of teaching languages in schools. They will be able to:

• Show an understanding of teaching methods, classroom
• management and lesson preparation
• Demonstrate awareness of the different needs of individuals in a learning situation
• Demonstrate an ability to communicate about their subject
• Develop and present language learning material for a specific context
• Write reflectively about their classroom experiences

Students will have gained experience of answering questions about their subject and will be able to assess and devise appropriate ways to communicate difficult language structures or concepts, or to teach a particular topic.

Students will have access to an online discussion board, where they are required to keep a weekly log of their work in the school and reflect on and discuss the experiences gained in the classroom.

There are no formal lectures associated with this course. However, students will have 20 contact hours (e.g comprising 6 hours for the initial training, 2 face-to-face tutorials, weekly online discussions and discussions with the school teacher) and 80 non-contact hours. The school teacher will act as a mentor and assessor to the student during the course and will offer guidance to the student during their weekly interaction. The teacher and Department tutor will liaise to determine the level of responsibility of the student and the expectations. Students will be asked to attend an initial day of training, which will provide them with an introduction to working with children and the level of language teaching they will be participating in. Teaching is by discussion, directed reading and interaction between the student and teacher. Learning takes place through the preparation of appropriate teaching materials, the practice of teaching along with discussion, background reading, online discussion with peers and the reflective end-of-unit presentation and portfolio.

28.10.09