Secondary Education (Modern Languages)

Please note that this course is not running in 2011/2.

Snapshot

Aims of the Programme

The programme (accredited by the GTC for Scotland) prepares graduates to teach modern languages in secondary schools.

Programme Content

In common with most Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes, a total of half of the duration, namely 18 weeks, is spent in school experience. Some of the time spent in school experience may be negotiated with the schools. Placements must be in at least two schools and there are three placement blocks in total.

The other notional 18 weeks are spent in a combination of in-university learning and online distance learning. The dates of the in-university blocks are fixed, for both one-year and two-year routes.

Methods of Assessment

School Experience placements are assessed on a shared basis by university tutors and staff in the partner schools. The first school experience is formatively assessed and will provide a base line from which the student can, with support, identify appropriate goals for the rest of the programme. The remaining school experience blocks are assessed summatively.

The learning in the initial modules is assessed by a written assignment, the final module is assessed by the submission of an Electronic Portfolio which addresses the Standard for Initial Teacher Education (SITE) and draws on all the learning in the programme.

Throughout the programme there will be an emphasis on purposeful reflection and peer evaluation using key points in SITE to inform development aims; the use of an Electronic Portfolio to evaluate attainment of these aims and to expand professional capability.

Entry Requirements

You must have an SCE higher grade pass in English or equivalent, and either:

• a degree from a higher education institution in the United Kingdom, or
• a degree of an equivalent standard from outside the United Kingdom.

The content of your degree must be relevant to the subject you want to teach. TSQC is the term given to the parts of your degree which are related to the subject as it is taught in Scottish secondary schools and which qualify you to enter a secondary teaching programme. As a general rule, a TSQC will represent approximately one third of the total study in one academic year (at least 80 undergraduate credit points of which 40 have to be at Level 8 or above) for the SCQF Framework for higher education.

For the first foreign language offered, you must:

• have a degree with at least 80 credit points in the language you want to teach, and
• have lived for six months in a country where the language is spoken before starting the programme, and
• prove to the University of Dundee that you are competent in speaking the relevant language.

Your academic study must include an element which will allow you to contribute to the wider aspects of programmes of study in schools, such as literature, cultural studies, area studies or languages in work. While living abroad you must have fully taken part in the language and culture of the relevant country. You must normally have lived in the relevant country in blocks of at least three months. Applicants who have spent one of their study years abroad will be considered as having met the residency requirement in the language in question.

If you wish to enrol for more than one language, you must:

• fully meet the requirements for your first foreign language (above), and
• have a degree with at least 80 credit points in the second language you want to teach, and
• have lived for at least three months in a country where the second language is spoken before starting the programme, and
.
• prove to the University of Dundee that you are competent in speaking the relevant language.

Overseas students should make contact with the Programme Administrator to discuss their Degree, English and Maths qualifications.

Students are required to have a satisfactory Disclosure check before commencing the programme. You will also need ready access to the internet to complete the programme.

Contact

Gillian French Programme Administrator School of Education, Social Work & Community Education University of Dundee Nethergate Dundee DD1 4HN Scotland Telephone: 01382 381458 (from the UK) Telephone: +44 1382 381458 (from outside the UK) Fax: 01382 381511 (from the UK) Fax: +44 1382 381511 (from outside the UK) Email: g.french@dundee.ac.uk