Lower Secondary School English Language Teacher Training

By studying for the follow-up master's degree, the graduate will acquire the necessary competencies that will enable him/her to think critically about the use of pedagogical and psychological knowledge in the practice of a primary or secondary school teacher. The graduate is fully qualified to exercise the teaching profession. He or she is prepared to base his or her professional conduct on well-structured knowledge and skills in his or her subject area (content knowledge). The effectiveness of his or her professional conduct is conditional on his or her subject-area didactic knowledge (pedagical content knowledge) and broader general pedagogical and psychological knowledge and skills (knowledge of the broader foundations of education and upbringing, knowledge of educational and upbringing practices, knowledge of the actors in education and upbringing, etc.).

“All the world's a classroom.”

The study develops analytical and comparative skills, which enable the student to understand diverse pedagogical realities and to use disciplinary, pedagogical and psychological knowledge and skills in their work to plan, implement and reflect on educational and training activities. Develops communicative skills relevant for communication and cooperation with pupils/clients, colleagues in the workplace, parents of pupils/clients and practitioners. An important benefit of the study is the development of self-reflective skills which provide scope for the development of attitudes towards oneself, the individuals being educated and the profession: perception of the responsibility of the teaching profession, acceptance of the moral obligations of the helping profession and its ethics.

The study emphasises the principle of interdisciplinarity (interconnection of some pedagogical and psychological subjects); the principle of succession and gradation of topics and subjects, from the more general to the more specific. The concept is further characterised by the interconnection of theory and practice. Reflected pedagogical practices are an important part of the concept. The principles of reflective practice and self-reflection apply to both practice and other experientially oriented subjects. An important means of developing students' professional competences and their reflection is the Framework of Professional Competences of Student Teachers, through which the requirements of practice and the level of their development are analysed with students. An important part of the concept is also the promotion of inclusion, which is seen as a cross-cutting theme (also supported by a separate subject).

The aim of this study programme, which it is possible to study as a single or double–subject programme, is to prepare lower-secondary school teachers of English in an inspiring, stimulating and creative environment.

The Master’s degree programme focuses primarily on the study of the didactics of the English language and on forming relationships between the particular linguistic, cultural, and literary disciplines and the didactics of English. An emphasis is put on the didactic implications of all the disciplines and the practical application of all the knowledge to teaching practice at lower secondary schools.

The programme is designed for graduates of the Bachelor’s degree programme Specialization in Pedagogy, Teacher Training in Foreign Languages - English Language, the Bachelor’s degree programme Philology, English Language and Literature at faculties of arts, or the Bachelor’s degree programme Specialization in Pedagogy, Lower Secondary School Teacher Training in English Language and Literature (double-subject study) at faculties of education and for graduates of similar study fields.

Practical training

The teaching practice is designed as a coherent and graduating system with an emphasis on the connection with theory and on reflection and self-reflection of the student in the role of teacher.

The aim of the teaching practice is to acquire the professional competences necessary in the daily work of a teacher, to become familiar with the roles that a teacher enters into in his/her work, to become aware of his/her own professional needs and to gradually take responsibility for planning, implementing and evaluating teaching. During the internship the student gets a realistic idea of what the daily work of a teacher entails.

The internship forms a coherent system of interrelated courses. In the follow-up Master's programmes these are the courses Teaching Practice 1 (1st semester), Teaching Practice 2 (2nd semester) Teaching Practice 3 (3rd semester). In total, these placements are 360 hours (two-subject study), which are followed by the course Seminar on Teaching Practice. Students take the Teaching Practice Seminar twice during their studies (in the first and second semesters). The aim of the course is to provide a space for students to share and reflect on their own teaching practice experiences and to help them deepen their reflective and self-reflective skills. The Quality Standard for Professional Competence is used in practice and in the teaching of the seminar as a basis for systematic professional development.

The system of practice is regularly evaluated, using both closed and open questions, by students and accompanying teachers. Reflective seminars are also evaluated.

Further information

http://katedry.ped.muni.cz/anglictina

The graduates of the Master's programme are equipped with the necessary competences that enable them to work as lower secondary English teachers or English teachers at language schools. They are also qualified for work in out-of-school institutions (e.g. free-time centres). They can also be employed in non-teaching positions requiring an excellent knowledge of English (e.g. in public administration).

No information available

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Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

After completion of the Master’s degree, it is possible to continue with further studies in a doctoral degree programme (after satisfying the admission requirements). At the Faculty of Education students can apply for admission to doctoral studies in Foreign Language Didactics.