Course Overview

The PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) course at BGU is for people wishing to train as secondary teachers of Modern Foreign Languages, 11-16, with post-16 enhancement. Whether MFL teaching is your first new career choice, you want to return to teaching after a career break, or you are looking for a career change by using your languages in different and more rewarding ways, your application will be considered seriously. The course aims to create a dynamic and diverse mix of trainees from different ages, backgrounds, and cultures locally, nationally, and internationally. We, therefore, expect a typical MFL cohort to include a good mix of native speakers. Trainees following this course are encouraged to explore a wide range of creative approaches to planning, teaching, and evaluating MFL lessons, covering communicative language teaching, developing classroom language, the four language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing), as well as focusing on learner strategies and learner autonomy, the role of grammar, cultural awareness and new technologies in language teaching. The course is built upon principles of inclusion and diversity in teaching and learning for all pupils, whatever their potential and achievements. Throughout the course, trainees study different assessment methods and how they support classroom learning and teaching, particularly the role of formative evaluation in developing metacognitive skills and language learning strategies.

You will consider the broader aspects of teaching, contexts for learning, the latest government initiatives, and contemporary issues in teaching, learning, and assessment. You will also work alongside trainee teachers of other subjects to consider cross-curricular aspects of education. These topics will introduce you to your career in the teaching profession.

Throughout your year of study, you will explore all aspects of your subject. This includes those areas that are your strengths and areas you may need to improve upon. You will study how pupils learn in your subject area, how you need to assess them, and how to keep abreast of new developments within your subject. You will learn how to plan and deliver topics that meaningfully include all types of learners.

You will spend two-thirds of the year in partner schools and other educational settings, gaining rich and varied experiences designed to support meeting the minimum requirements for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Working with peers, tutors, and school-based colleagues, you will develop your abilities to promote effective learning among 11-16-year-olds. You will also have opportunities to gain experience in the critical stages before and after which you qualify.

This course is demanding and stimulating. We aim for you to be prepared to take responsibility for your learning, be open to creative and innovative ideas, and be competent, reflective practitioners in your training year and beyond. Success on the course means you will have completed a postgraduate (with 60 credits at Master's level) or professional graduate qualification, have met the minimum requirements to be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status, and will be fully prepared to start the next year as an Early Career Teacher.

This Secondary PGCE course is available through both Core and School Direct routes.

General Eligibility

For all PGCE Secondary specialisms, you will generally need:

• GCSEs at grade 4 (previously C) or above (or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics. Please see our list of accepted equivalents.

• A relevant honors degree at a 2:2 classification or above; please see below for the degree subject requirements for individual specialisms. (Where the degree result is to be awarded in the year of application, we will require a predicted degree classification as part of an academic reference provided on the application.

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• N/a