PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) with Mandarin

The PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) offers a course in Mandarin to graduates who are keen and eager both to bring to life within the 4 walls of the classroom the Mandarin language and Chinese culture, which they themselves love, and to nurture a life-long interest in language learning in their pupils. The course enables you to explore the challenges that face both teachers and learners of the Mandarin language in Britain today, the strategies for language acquisition in all its practical skills and the need for cultural awareness within the global dimension.

The University-based term offers a solid grounding in the communicative approach to language teaching, which also puts emphasis on language as structure, as recommended in the National Curriculum. This part of the course is run almost entirely as interactive, practical workshops and seminars. The school-based terms are spent in dynamic MFL departments of a wide choice of schools across the South West.

The 2004 Ofsted inspection acknowledged the quality of the training provision by experienced practitioners and has been impressed by the coherent link established between the professional studies element and the MFL module as well as the high quality support given to students.

Provision is made for students to develop competence in French, German or Spanish as a second teaching MFL. The use of Information and Communications Technology is developed to enhance the future teacher's own skills as well as to contribute to the preparation for effective MFL teaching in the 21st century.

Duration

36 weeks. (One academic year)

Entry Requirements

Candidates will normally be expected to have a good degree in Mandarin. Other qualifications of degree level equivalence can be considered, e.g. Final Diploma of Institute of Linguists. Native speakers should hold a qualification to the equivalent to a UK degree, usually a minimum of 3 years of study at an institution of Higher Education. The qualifications can be in any subject, since they have, by definition, the necessary language skills. An OU degree or other degree qualification in a subject other than a foreign language may be acceptable if the applicant can show at interview that residence abroad or other relevant experience has developed appropriate competence in the Foreign Language. Some further enquiry may be necessary in such cases to ensure adequate written competence and cultural awareness. Mandarin speakers and Mandarin graduates will also need to have some competence in a European language, as there is normally insufficient timetable space on school-based work for an exclusively Mandarin programme.Please note that for 2010-2011 school placements may only be available for candidates with Mandarin and French combination.

Academic Staff

Ian Maun read Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge, has an M.Phil. from Exeter University and a Cert. Ed. from Birmingham. He taught in the state sector for twenty-four years in both comprehensive and grammar schools. His research interests include reading in L2, French grammar and stylistics and the use of ICT in education.

Victoria Allan is responsible for the teaching of Mandarin on the course.

What are the aims of this programme?

• To study the process of language learning in some depth and grasp the assumptions behind methods and materials so as to be able to use materials intelligently and select methods on a principled basis. 
• To acquire a progressively wider range of skills in planning, teaching and assessing Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 and beyond. 
• To link theory with practice by means of observation and teaching in schools. 
• To understand how foreign languages relate to the whole curriculum and to the personal development of pupils. 
• To become thoroughly acquainted with the current range of teaching materials and with the hardware used in active, communicative methods of language teaching. 
• To experience, as a pupil, the opening stages of learning a new language by active, oral methods. 
• To engage in practical work involving the preparation of taped, visual and ICT materials. 
• To evaluate one's own preparation and teaching and improve it by independent thinking. 
• To maintain and extend personal competence in languages taught. 
• To develop and extend personal competence in the use of Information Technology

Module Information

Current modules:

• Secondary Professional Studies (EES3000)
• Secondary School-Based Work (ESB3001)
• Secondary Mandarin (EMLM003)

Current Student Locations

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