PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Language - German

Develop your teaching skills, and qualify as a secondary German teacher, with our PGCE Secondary Modern Foreign Language (German) course at the Institute of Education.

This University of Reading programme is underpinned by the research of tutors who teach on it, which has been recognised for its high quality and impact in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 (98% of Education research is rated of international standing, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions).

You will specialise in teaching German as your main language, but we strongly encourage all trainees to teach another language to at least beginner level.

How you’ll learn

This course will provide you with a theoretical framework for language teaching, closely integrated with practical advice on the preparation and delivery of effective and engaging language lessons.

You will be taught through a series of lectures, practical seminars and workshops, where interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge.

Throughout your course you will:

• participate in workshop-style sessions with your peers
• attend presentations by subject experts
• work on tasks in groups
• have individual tutorials
• visit schools or other education settings, as well as museums and other sites of interest
• write assignments on aspects of subject teaching and professional studies.

You’ll participate in activities designed to help you plan your teaching effectively and imaginatively. You will also discover how to evaluate your skills, particularly in terms of the quality of learning achieved by pupils.

QTS status

This Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Secondary Modern Foreign Language course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach the 11-18 age group in secondary schools in England and Wales.

Your learning environment

We offer a diverse community of academics with extensive practical experience in schools and an international reputation as experts in the teaching of modern foreign languages.

The work of our academics feeds into the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE), and underpins the internationally renowned Professional Development Consortium in MFL, whose principles form the basis of the course.

We also have strong links with the Association for Language Learning and collaborate with expert practitioners such as those at The Language Gym. Many of the books and articles used in the course have been written by tutors themselves.

Alongside University of Reading tutors, you will be taught and guided by a team of committed and experienced University-trained school mentors.

Your learning activities will help you develop a toolkit of knowledge and skills, ensuring you are well prepared to tackle challenges and opportunities throughout your training and your career.

Partnership with schools

This course is designed in collaboration with our strong schools partnership, ensuring that it meets both your needs as a learner and the needs of the children you teach.

At secondary level, we have relationships with around 90 schools in the local and surrounding area. It is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the reputation of our graduates, that most schools in Berkshire employ at least one graduate from the University of Reading.

Placements

Placements enable you to develop the skills and knowledge valued by employers. You'll build your confidence in the classroom and gain practical teaching experience.

Placements also provide you with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and build your professional network.

On your secondary PGCE course, you'll carry out school placements in contrasting educational contexts, ensuring you receive a broad range of experiences. Your placements will cover the full 11–18 age range, and you will visit at least one primary school as part of your studies.

In your school placement, you will:

• gain experience in the range of responsibilities of the classroom teacher
• observe other teachers
• plan the teaching of small groups and whole classes
• plan and teach elements of lessons and whole lessons
• reflect on and evaluate your teaching
• receive feedback on your teaching.

We offer a flexible and broad range of educational environments. You'll have the opportunity to gain experience in:

• special needs schools
• Pupil Referral Units
• independent schools
• museums
• charities.

Climate and sustainability education

At the University of Reading, we believe that climate and sustainability education is everyone's responsibility. You will be given access to training that enables you to incorporate climate education into your teaching, as part of our National Climate Education Action Plan.

You will learn about:

• what is happening to our climate, how to help children learn about climate and sustainability in an age-appropriate and accessible way, and how to develop your own positioning as a teacher
• climate justice, the impact of current and future changes to our environment and climate on ourselves and others, and the implications for teachers
• how to translate knowledge and theory into change and personal action through building climate and sustainability education into your planning, teaching and children's learning.

Visit our Partnering for the Planet site to find out more about the University of Reading’s world-leading work in climate science.

For more information, please visit the Institute of Education website.