COURSE CURRICULUM

The PGCE Secondary Modern Languages program at UEA offers a comprehensive training experience for aspiring language teachers. Over the course of one year, students spend a minimum of 120 days on school placements and 60 study days at the university. The program begins with hands-on workshops, seminars, and lectures, designed to equip students with essential teaching skills. In the initial stages, trainees focus on developing their subject-specific knowledge and pedagogy in Modern Languages, engaging with topics such as second language acquisition, grammar, phonics, and intercultural competence. The program emphasizes the use of digital technologies to enhance teaching and learning, ensuring that students can effectively engage pupils in language acquisition. Throughout the course, students are introduced to a range of pedagogical approaches and strategies, enabling them to develop their own teaching style that reflects their personality and meets the diverse needs of pupils. Placements take place in two different schools, providing valuable experience in contrasting school environments, which helps trainees understand various educational contexts. Students receive subject-specific mentorship and support, with weekly targets to guide their development and ensure they meet the Teachers' Standards. In addition to classroom experience, students are encouraged to reflect on their practice, discussing their experiences with fellow trainees and learning more about the theory and practice of teaching. The program includes several compulsory modules, including one focused on school experience and the Teachers' Standards, a curriculum assignment that encourages reflection on teaching practices, and a reflective project that explores wider aspects of teaching and learning. By the end of the program, students will have gained the skills and knowledge to teach modern languages effectively in secondary schools, with the potential for post-16 teaching as well.