Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge:

The candidate has knowledge of:

- The sound system of English vocabulary and the language’s grammatical structure as well as insight into the cultural conventions of language use

- English as a world language and the evolution of its role as a lingua franca for people from different countries and cultures and its impact on internationalization in education and employment

- Society, history and culture of English-speaking countries

- Genres and their key characteristics; norms of academic writing, and how to cite sources correctly and privacy rights

- How to develop basic skills and facilitate progress in the transition between primary and lower secondary school

- Children’s and adolescents’ language learning in a second language perspective; language learning theories, strategies and methods; and assessment tools and assessment that promotes language development

- The English curriculum in schools and the relation to the European framework for languages

- School textbooks and other learning resources that can be used in instruction

- How to adapt language instruction to the individual student

- Different learning contexts, such as the use of digital media in the instruction of children and adolescents

Skills

The candidate can:

- Use English confidently; adapt oral and written language to different audiences in different situations; and be a good language model for pupils

- Facilitate pupils’ work with English-language texts and exploration of life and culture in a number of English-speaking countries in relation to their own culture, with an emphasis on written, oral and multimodal texts for children

- Analyze, select and facilitate work with English-language texts for children and adolescents, as well as use precise and adapted concepts in working with texts

- Guide pupils in their language development through making them aware of how language is organized so that they can make use of the differences and similarities between their native language and English

- Actively make use of pupils’ experiences with English

- Facilitate a safe learning environment with diverse, differentiated and meaningful learning activities that promote the development of listening, writing, reading and speaking and a progressively larger vocabulary for all pupils

- Plan, direct and evaluate pupils’ learning in a way that takes into account the diversity of the pupil group

- Exercise holistic and learning-oriented assessment practices

- Apply knowledge of the subject didactically and reflectively in relation to the current curriculum for primary and lower secondary school, and critically assess his/her own teaching

- Critically evaluate school textbooks and other learning materials used in instruction

- Use digital learning sources and tools in a critical way in his/her own knowledge development and pedagogical work with pupils

General competence

The candidate can:

- Communicate relevant subject matter and communicate in English in a way that is adapted to the target group

- Reflect on his/her own learning and practice in relation to ethical values ​​and the school’s responsibility for children and young people's personal growth

- Work independently and with others to solve identified problems related to pupils’ learning and development in English

Course Description

The curriculum for English is based on national guidelines for primary and lower secondary school teacher education (2010), Years 5-10. It is professionally oriented and provides students with teaching skills in the lower secondary school; it comprises part of the Bachelor’s degree (General Teacher Education, Years 5-10); it may also be included in a future five-year teacher education study programme at Master’s level that will be taught at Telemark University College.

English 1 (Years 5-10) provides an introduction to language teaching and subject didactics, and uses a rich and varied range of texts both for the student’s personal and professional growth and for use in teaching in the lower secondary school.

The study programme includes knowledge of the English language’s grammatical and phonological structure and focuses on the development of the student’s language proficiency, textual skills and vocabulary. The language’s cultural foundation is also emphasised. Emphasis is also given to what characterises pupils in this age group (Years 5-10) and their language development. Various teaching and learning methods will also be central.

English 1 is taught over two semesters with examinations given at the end of the first and second semesters. English 1 (30 ECTS) consists of two courses: ENG 501 (15 ECTS) and ENG 502 (15 ECTS). The two semesters have equal workloads.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The teaching and learning methods include: joint lectures, seminars, group work, presentations and independent study. Students should prepare in advance the topics that are to be covered so they will be able to participate in discussions. It is expected that students prepare the necessary syllabus literature in advance and participate actively in class. Part of the syllabus will be self-chosen, and students must therefore expect a certain amount of independent study.

The same applies to students who follow an online teaching programme. Lectures, seminars, etc. will here be implemented in real-time on-line. Discussion groups will be established and joint documents will be published online together with subject material.

In the subject English the development of oral skills is essential. Parts of the course will therefore be obligatory; these are set out in detail in the semester plan.

Assessment Methods

The semester plan will specify the two course requirements. Students must achieve passing grades in these in order to be awarded a passing grade in the course.

Final assessment:

A written examination (phonetics), which counts for 40% of the final grade; grades will be awarded on a scale from A to F.

An individual oral examination (Text and Culture) which counts for 60% of the final grade. The examination is based on the course curriculum; the student’s language skills, academic and didactic knowledge will be emphasized. Submitted work may also constitute part of the examination. The examination will be assessed on a scale from A to F.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean