Overview

The PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) offers a course in Spanish to graduates who are keen and eager both to bring to life within the 4 walls of the classroom the Spanish language and the cultures of the Spanish-speaking countries which they themselves love, and to nurture a life-long interest in language learning in their pupils. The course enables you to explore the challenges that face both teachers and learners of the Spanish language in Britain today, the strategies for language acquisition in all its practical skills and the need for cultural awareness within the European dimension.

The University-based term offers a solid grounding in the communicative approach to language teaching, which also puts emphasis on language as structure, as recommended in the National Curriculum. This part of the course includes interactive, practical workshops and seminars, peer teaching and assessment, subject-specific lectures, small group work and discussions. The school-based terms are spent in dynamic MFL departments of a wide choice of schools across the South West.

The 2010 Ofsted inspection acknowledged the quality of the training provision by experienced practitioners and has been impressed by the coherent link established between the professional studies element and the MFL module as well as the high quality support given to students.

Provision is made for students to develop competence in French or German as a second teaching MFL, and prospective trainees are required to have some grounding in one of these two languages prior to the start of the PGCE course. The use of Information and Communications Technology is developed to enhance the future teacher's own skills as well as to contribute to the preparation for effective MFL teaching in the 21st century.

Learning and assessment

By learning on campus for most of the first term you access the tools to rapidly build professional knowledge to underpin your work in school placements.

Our unique approach gives you opportunities to learn and become part of a community of trainees and teachers who are passionate about education, and will support you during your course and beyond. We carry out a detailed skills audit with every trainee so we understand your particular development needs and can personalise elements of training to strengthen the skills you need to excel as a teacher.

During placements Exeter trainees benefit from the focused support of two School-based Tutors: a Principle Tutor who works as an expert partner, and a Mentor who develops and challenges your thinking about teaching in ways that can be used to enhance performance.

You will be supported in developing the full range of teaching skills and effective reflection that you will need in your first teaching post as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT).

The PGCE is a Masters level programme and once you have achieved QTS, you can continue your studies during your first year of teaching and work towards achieving a Masters in Education.