Modern Foreign Languages (Secondary) PGCE (PROFGCE)
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Overview
This course prepares graduates to teach in secondary schools. As well as gaining a PGCE, students are assessed against the national standards in order to be recommended for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
The opportunity to undertake masters level study within the course facilitates progression to an MA Education award after completion of the PGCE.
'Dealing with other nationals through a translator or an interpreter is no substitute for direct discussion.' - Sir John Harvey Jones. Young people need to be prepared for a world where the ability to communicate with other nationalities in their language becomes essential. This course prepares participants to teach French, German or Spanish at all levels in secondary schools.
Course duration
Full-time: 1 year
UCAS code R9X1
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Course content
Course structure
The course comprises four strands: subject study/subject education, education studies, placements and professional development
The subject study/subject education strand builds upon existing subject expertise and provides students with the opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the specialist subject in the secondary school context, allowing them to formulate their own rationale for teaching. Students consider pedagogical issues within curriculum development, and the learning and teaching strategies pertinent to the specialist subject, regularly reflecting upon, analysing, recording and evaluating their own learning experience. Students have the opportunity to develop a creative and constructively critical approach towards innovation within their specialism, and the capacity to improve practice.
The Education Studies strand is common to all subject routes of the course and takes place both at the university and while on placement as a means of enabling students to develop practical competences supported by relevant, analytical skills.
Teaching under supervision, on placement, occupies approximately two-thirds of the course. The university works in partnership with schools and colleges to provide a high quality programme of support ensuring a sound relationship between theory and practice. There are two placements in two different schools/colleges with the opportunity to visit further schools/colleges as part of the 'Peer Observation' programme.
Professional Development is linked explicitly to all strands of the course and is designed to enable students to evaluate critically and reflect upon their learning in order to make improvements. Students are expected to gather and justify evidence of their achievements on a regular basis and, in the light of this, develop and implement improvement plans.
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Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements
individual offers may varyFor non-native speakers of English:
6.5 overall and 6 in writing.Other:
The Department for Education has introduced Professional Skills Tests in English and Maths for all applicants to teacher training (QTS) routes. These tests are compulsory, and it will not be possible to enter training without having successfully completed them. Candidates are able to book these tests in advance, and the Department for Education strongly advises you to take the tests soon after you have submitted an application.The University of Brighton recognises that these tests may present a real challenge to some candidates and we recommend that you prepare carefully before attempting them, as you are limited to only three attempts per test. We recommend that postgraduate applicants have passed the tests before they come to an interview as this will give you a clear advantage. However, if you have not yet passed the tests but have a clear strategy in place, we may well be prepared to consider your capacity to pass and potentially make you an offer of a place subject to their successful completion. When we make such an offer you will be given a clear deadline, usually within 2 months of your interview, so we advise that you plan ahead and book your tests well in advance so that you can organise your preparation.
Details about the tests, including how to register and prepare for the tests, can be found here: www.education.gov.uk/schools/careers/traininganddevelopment/professional
All applicants are required to attend an interview in person either at the Falmer campus or in one of our partner schools.
All offers of places are subject to a satisfactory health check and a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced disclosure check.
Degree and/or experience:
Degree or equivalent, directly relevant to subject specialism. GCSE English language and mathematics, minimum grade C or equivalent. In-house tests available for candidates without qualifications in mathematics and English. -
Location
Location
Falmer -
Career opportunities
Career prospects are excellent: most gain their first teaching posts in secondary schools as soon as they qualify.
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Fees and costs
The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.
The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.
To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.
Our website www.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.
Bursaries are available for eligible trainees on priority PGCE courses. Bursary amounts will vary depending on the subject route and your degree classification. Find out more about funding.
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Apply online
If you wish to apply for a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) please go to the GTTR website - http://www.gttr.ac.uk/
01273 643367
c.m.brown@brighton.ac.uk
How to apply for teacher training
Visit the school or college site