Communicating and Teaching Languages for Undergraduate Ambassadors

Code

CLAS3001

School

Modern Languages and Cultures

Level

3

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

In this module students learn to devise and develop projects and teaching methods appropriate to engage the age and ability group they are working with. The module enables students to gain confidence in communicating their subject, develop strong organisational and interpersonal skills, and to understand how to address the needs of individuals.

Target Students

Available for final year students in the Department of Languages and Cultures. There are a limited number of places per language on this module. Experience as a language assistant during your year abroad is required, however we will consider other appropriate language teaching experience or experience of working with young people. You will also be required to provide information for a background check with the Disclosure and Barring Service in accordance with legislation on working with young people. Students are reminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the offering school in advance may be cancelled without notice.

Classes

• One 2-hour seminar each week for 23 weeks
• One 2-hour practicum each week for 7 weeks

The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks. Students will also spend 7 half-days in school placements. Practical - 6-7 weeks, 1 per week 1-2 hours

Assessment

• 25% Coursework 1: Up to 1,000 word lesson plan in preparation for the first teaching session
• 75% Coursework 2: A 3,000-word essay which will give a critically reflective account of the planning and delivery of the teaching project in light of education literature and learning theories. Plus Project Log (compulsory, but ungraded; if not submitted module cannot be passed).

Assessed in both autumn & spring semest

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Based on the QAA benchmark statement for Languages and Related Subjects; QAA benchmark statement for Education Studies; (NB: letters and numbers in brackets below refer to the curriculum map for German which is taken as an example, but the learning outcomes apply to all languages offered).The mixture of learning outcomes will vary with the requirements of the particular placement, but outcomes will normally include the following:

A Knowledge and understanding

•  Through their preparation and work with teachers and school pupils students will consolidate their knowledge and effective understanding of language, including its registers and linguistic structures (A1), of modern history and society (A2), of modern literature and culture (A3). 

• Students will have to reflect on and explain the differences and similarities between the language(s) offered and the English language (A4) and the differences and similarities between the societies and cultures of the countries where the language(s) offered are spoken and his/her own (A5). 

• Students will also gain a broad understanding of key aspects of teaching in schools, including an awareness of the diversity of learners, of the role of teacher-learner interaction in the classroom and in task design and of the need to select and critique materials according to their motivation and challenge.

B Intellectual skills 

• Through their class preparation and assessments students will practise gathering, processing and evaluating information from a variety of paper, audio-visual and electronic sources in English and foreign languages (B1)

• Applying techniques and concepts appropriate for the analysis of cultural materials (B5), and political and historical materials (B6)

• They will develop their powers of evaluation of practice (as opposed to information) and will also develop an ability to accommodate to new principles and understanding as a result of such experiential learning.

C Language skills

• Students will develop their ability to communicate effectively in the language(s) offered orally for a variety of purposes (C1)

D Transferable Skills 

• Students will develop their ability to communicate information, ideas and arguments in English in writing (D1)

• Communicate information, ideas and arguments effectively by oral presentation in English (D2)

• Work productively as part of a team (D3)

• Work productively independently (D4)

• Assess their own progress, strengths and weaknesses (D6) 

• Organise and manage working time, schedule tasks and meet deadlines (D7)

• Use IT effectively both as a means of communication and as an aid to learning (D8)

Conveners

• Dr Tara Webster-Deakin