Course Objectives

Students will gain the skills, understanding and attitudes necessary for teaching English at the primary school level. They will develop the ability to convey engagement and enthusiasm for the subject, and will improve their own language skills. Students will learn to use English as a tool for learning, working and communicating, and plan lessons that will promote primary school pupils’ linguistic development and insight into the cultures of English-speaking countries. They will also learn how to foster self-confidence in the use of English under a variety of situations and circumstances. ICT will be used actively in the course, and students must possess good computer skills and be able to use them in their own teaching.

Course Description

The course is professionally oriented and will equip students with teaching competence at primary school level.

Professional and subject didactic knowledge

Language

Students will develop thorough language skills during the course, which will stimulate self-confidence and help them provide good role-models for their classes.

Upon completing the course, the students will:

• Be able to express themselves correctly and vary their written and spoken English in order to adapt the language to different situations and audiences.
• Possess a substantial vocabulary which includes words which are useful for daily interaction with children, including terms associated with school, home life, recreation and play.

Literature

The curriculum in the literature consists of a selection of texts from the English-speaking world.

After completing the course, students will:

• Be able to identify a wide range of English literature texts in various genres with particular emphasis on literature for children and young people.
• Know how different types of texts may be used in teaching English in primary schools to promote language learning and develop children’s joy in reading.
• Be able to prepare a variety of exercises and lessons based on texts in several genres.
• Be able to identify and analyse texts that can be used in teaching.
• Be aware of linguistic and analytical approaches to different types of texts.

Social studies

Students will learn about culture and society in various English-speaking countries, with an emphasis on Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is expected that students keep themselves informed and updated through the media.

After completing the course, students will:

• Be able to explain how English has evolved into a world language.
• Be able to speak and write about society, history and geography in English-speaking countries, with an emphasis on Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth.
• Understand and be able to teach pupils in primary school what the everyday life of children and adults is like in various English-speaking countries, with an emphasis on Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth.

Subject didactics and methodology

Didactic and methodological topics will be discussed separately, and as an integral part of language, literature and social studies topics.

After completing the course, students will:

• Be able to take responsibility for the teaching of English to beginners in primary school.
• Be able to independently plan, implement and reflect on teaching English, and in collaboration with others.
• Be able to assess and facilitate progress in the training of basic skills in English adapted to pupils in Years 1 to 7, and adapt teaching English to the individual pupil.
• Be familiar with the historical development of English as a school subject and its role in schools, and have thorough knowledge of the current curriculum in English with a special emphasis on primary-level education.
• Be able to use a wide repertoire of teaching and learning methods and learning resources and apply and use them in various learning contexts.
• Understand the relationship between goals, content, teaching and learning methods, assessment and the individual pupil’s abilities.

Learning Methods

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching is web-based and consists mainly of lectures and group work online in real time. It is expected that students acquire the necessary literature in time for the course and actively participate in the course.

Practical training

All students taking the study programme, General Teacher Education – Years 1-7, will complete a period of practical training; one of the portfolio assignments will be related to the practical training. Students who for various reasons do not participate in the practical training will write an assignment in subject didactics, which should be done in consultation with the teacher.

Compulsory work

The development of oral skills in English is very important, and students are therefore required to participate in at least 80% of the teaching sessions. Students who do not fulfill this requirement will in principle not be permitted to take the final oral examination.

All assignments must be submitted within certain deadlines unless otherwise agreed with the teacher in advance. If students need an extended deadline because of illness, they should, as a rule, submit a medical certificate.

Assessment Methods

Students will be assessed during the course of studies and receive individual feedback.

Course requirements

• Practical training assignment (or a subject didactics assignment if the student has not participated in the practical training). Assessment: Approved / not approved.
• Two written assignments, which will be assigned a single grade and which will count for 40% of the final grade. Grading scale: A-F.
• Oral examination, which counts for 60% of the final grade. Grading scale: A-F.
  

Final assessment
All compulsory assignments and tests must be completed and passed / approved before the student can receive final assessment for the course. The oral examination covers the curriculum in literature and social studies, but the student’s knowledge, language skills and ability to reflect on the subject and its didactic aspects will also be strongly emphasised. Submitted assignments may also be the subject of examination.

Each student will receive a single grade which will be entered on the diploma, assigned on a scale from A to F (where A is the highest and E the lowest passing grade). For further information please refer to the Telemark University College Examination Regulations.

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