Though still limited, there are opportunities to
develop professional skills in teaching a language in primary
schools to community language profile learners, or in teaching a
language other than French, German or Spanish.
If you are a primary classroom teacher with
knowledge of another language, try exploring and adapting the
guidance offered by the Training Zone;
transcripts with English translation are available for each video
clip. These resources are also useful if you are a secondary
trained language teacher, or an experienced supplementary school
teacher, and wish to familiarise yourself with the Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages.
See the Classroom
practice section for further resources for professional
development.
Initial teacher training modules
A new set of training resources is
currently being developed for teaching community languages in
primary schools. The resources comprise three modules written by
CILT, the National Centre for Languages and Goldsmiths, University
of London.
These modules are aimed primarily
at tutors involved in initial teacher training. However, they could
also be used for self-study by trainees, and by trainers providing
in-service training.
The practitioner worksheets developed as part of these modules
are available to download from this page. These worksheets are
intended to be used either by trainees for self-study, or to
support the activities completed in a session mediated by a
trainer.
Training zone pathways
Colleagues teaching a community language to primary-age learners
may wish to try one of the following pathways through Training zone
and KS2 Framework resources, to support them in reflection on
current and future practice. Designed for use either by an
individual, or in pairs or groups of teachers, each pathway focuses
on a video resource taken from the Training zone. In line with the
theme of the video clip, a professional development activity of
questions, tasks and supporting reading material from the KS2
Framework for languages is suggested. Click on a theme below to
access the pathway resource.
Professional development
courses
As well as the Training
Zone resources highlighted above and available to all,
some face-to-face training opportunities in community language
teaching and learning may be available in your area.
Visit the events calendar on
the Our Languages website or contact your
Local Support Group,
Local Authority or Links into languages
centre. Local provision tends to vary significantly, from area to
area and from year to year.
Examples of the type of course in existence
are given in the Career
development section of the Our Languages
website.
Qualifications for Teaching
Assistants
Local training provision for Teaching
Assistants (TA) and Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA) in
language teaching and learning also varies significantly.
To explore accredited qualifications, visit
the Career
development section of the Our Languages website and try
contacting your
Local Authority.
The TDA’s Career development
framework and the National
Database of Accredited Qualifications also offer guidance and
information.
DCSF and TDA have developed
TA and HLTA training materials on language teaching at primary
developed for use by training providers, which could be adapted for
use with colleagues working with community language profile
learners.
Routes to Qualified Teacher Status
(QTS)
There are still very limited, if any,
opportunities to enter
Initial Teacher Training and gain QTS at primary with a
specific focus on a language other than French, German or Spanish.
The World Languages strategy from the TDA, announced in January 2009 and
currently under development, is likely to change this landscape
dramatically over the next few years. Its impact should be felt
across the children’s workforce, including both HLTA qualifications
and CPD opportunities.