Modern Foreign Languages

Introduction

The course in Modern Foreign Languages introduces student teachers to the theory and practice of modern language teaching over the whole age range in secondary schools. All MFL trainees at Warwick specialise in at least one of French, German, Spanish or Chinese (Mandarin/Putonghua). Most of our trainees have another of these languages at a similar or lower level to their first foreign language. Whilst this is very advantageous for your course and your career, it is not essential.

mfl_1.jpg mfl_2.jpg  mfl_3.jpg mfl_5.jpg

MFL students at the PGCE MFL Exhibition - January 2009

The Course

The aims of the course are:

  • to help you become an efficient, effective, competent and professionally aware teacher of MFL;
  • to help you acquire practical classroom skills, using a range of media including ICT;
  • to help you understand pupils’ achievements and difficulties and to respond sympathetically to their individual needs;
  • to help you in the selection, production and use of a wide variety of language teaching materials;
  • to help you develop a successful teaching style capitalising on your own personal qualities and talents;
  • to maintain and extend your competence in the language(s) you teach.

To these ends you will be presented with and encouraged to adopt a range of strategies drawing upon current language teaching techniques, research, inspection findings and applications of new technology.

Throughout the course, theory and practice are closely inter-linked, and you are encouraged to develop such links through your own research, reading and practice.

We offer a highly collaborative, supportive ethos where ICT is used to enhance the programme and improve communication. Resources for teaching and learning are created and shared. We aim to 'practise what we preach' - trainees see the tutors teach a class in a local school at the start of the course. Documentation for the MFL course is practical, comprehensive and useful.

What is special about this course?

300609ciltawards-077.jpg 

European Award for Languages 2009

Marilyn Hunt, ex-MFL PGCE Co-ordinator, and Ana Neofitou, Curriculum Leader for Languages, Tile Hill Wood School and Language College, attended the Awards ceremony in Bristol in June 2009 to receive a European Award for Languages for their innovative project 'Developing Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): from good school practice to PGCE training to dissemination in schools'. More...

 

Please read a welcome message from Joanna Thomas, the MFL Course Co-ordinator. 

As well as the facilities available at Westwood, MFL trainees are able to use the University Language Centre, which has a vast range of ICT, text, video, cassette and other materials.

In addition you will take part in:

  • Independent language learning in the first term;
  • Language enhancement sessions in the second term to refresh and maintain subject knowledge with a pedagogical focus;
  • Special MFL teaching and learning events throughout the University-based programme, which provides a broader range of experience. These include amongst others: an afternoon teaching language in a primary school; preparing and delivering an A level languages conference; planning and delivering a drama afternoon for Key Stage 3 pupils; and preparing and delivering a languages event at a special needs school;
  • Shared electronic resources available to all MFL students, developed by current and former students throughout the course.

Entry Requirements

Requirements are as follows;

  • Normally, a 2.2 degree, or higher, with at least 50% of the degree content related to your main foreign language (one of French, German, Spanish or Mandarin) OR a native speaker of the language, with a degree, preferably in a language. Oral and written communication in your main foreign language will be assessed at interview.
  • A substantial period of time spent as a resident in a country where your main target language is spoken
  • A second foreign language (probably at a lower level): French, German or Spanish. This is not essential for those choosing French or Spanish.

This course will close when we have allocated all of our spaces. We recommend that you submit your application early.

Course co-ordinator: Joanna Thomas

Email: Joanna.Thomas@warwick.ac.uk

USEFUL WEBSITES

 Subject Knowledge Enhancement Courses

For information about extension courses (French or German) please visit the TDA website: http://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/subject-information-enhancement/age-groups/teaching-secondary/boost-subject-knowledge/ske-courses.aspx

Please also see information from Liverpool John Moores University:

http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/71153.htm (French SKE)

http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/101267.htm (Spanish SKE)

 

ALL: www.all-languages.org.uk; CILT: http://www.cilt.org.uk/; NACELL: http://www.nacell.org.uk/; LINGUANET: www.linguanet.org.uk/

Languages ICT

This website from CILT, the National Centre for Languages and the Association for Language Learning provides a gateway to information and guidance for teachers of languages on using ICT in the classroom:

www.languages-ict.org.uk

 

 

 

Return to top