Primary languages teacher training
If you are interested in teaching a foreign language at primary level, you could consider primary initial teacher training with an additional specialism in French, Spanish, German or Italian. These courses aim to equip trainee teachers with the skills and knowledge they need to teach a language within the primary curriculum.
These courses include four weeks of school-based training in the country of your chosen language specialism. The training covers teaching foreign languages and provides useful information on the education system in the placement country.
Foreign placement
All trainees from England will have already taken part in school-based training before their foreign placement, and will be able to teach across the curriculum in the host school in their mother tongue. They will also be able to teach some curriculum subjects in the foreign language.
During your placement you will work with the class teacher, teaching both in the host’s language and your own, using a variety of teaching styles including class and small group teaching.
Your teaching will be assessed, where appropriate to the particular country, and this will form part of your achievement of qualified teacher status.
Am I eligible?
You will usually be expected to have reached the equivalent of level B1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages but the training provider will assess your suitability for the programme.
Where available, your existing language skills can be supplemented by foreign language modules during your training.
Benefits
This training will:
- improve your job prospects: the National Languages Strategy will introduce an entitlement to language learning for every child in key stage 2 by 2010.
- improve your foreign language skills, especially if you already have a good foundation
- give you greater awareness of another country’s culture, enabling you to put the language into context and reflect this in your teaching
- provide you with a richer understanding of foreign schools and different teaching styles
- provide the host school with a unique opportunity to have a native speaker in their classroom for four weeks
How do I apply?
Contact one of the universities that offer this course directly.
For further information, e-mail governmentinitiativesteam@tda.gov.uk.
