Course Objectives

After completing Module 1 (15 ECTS credits), students will be able to:

• Explain the main theories of multilingualism, multi-language development and second language learning.
• Use different oral narrative techniques without using a written text.
• Explain how to stimulate children’s own narrative skills.
• Explain why oral storytelling can contribute to children’s emotional, cognitive and linguistic development.
• Discuss the concept of quality in relation to picture books.
• Discuss and reflect on the use of experimental picture books in pre-school.

After completing Module 2 (15 ECTS credits), the student will be able to:

• Assess language learning in pre-school.
• Consider various ways of documenting multilingual children’s language skills.
• Encourage and help children to create their own artistic expressions based on stories.
• Lead a literary discussion based on a picture book.
• Implement, communicate and evaluate his/her R & D work in the pre-school.

Course Description

Main theme 1: Multilingualism and second language learning

This main theme will focus on children’s multilingualism and second language learning. Special emphasis will be placed on how activities in pre-schools can be adapted for a multilingual group of children. Language development, language practice and training, and subject didactics will be emphasised, but other topics related to a multicultural society will also be highlighted.

• Multilingual practices and development
• Second language learning
• Dialogues
• Pre-school language learning
• Documentation of multilingual children’s language skills

Main Theme 2: Oral narratives

This main theme will focus on the pre-school teacher as a cultural mediator. The theme will also emphasise the interactive communication that occurs when using oral narratives. The focus will also be directed towards the importance the stories of a culture have for inner image creation and language, and emotional development.

• Culture’s narratives, belonging and interpretation of life
• Development of children’s written language skills through stories
• Development of the student’s narrative skills
• Image creation and play based on stories

Main Theme 3: The modern picture book

This main theme will discuss and reflect on the picture book in the context of literature and art theory. Literature in an aesthetic style or genre, selection criteria, the practical organisation of teaching using picture books and dialogues will be key elements, as well as the advantages of working based on a socio-cultural perspective.

• Literature and literary education
• The literary and philosophical dialogue
• The challenging picture book

Learning Methods

The academic year is organised into workshops on the Notodden campus: four 2-day workshops per semester.

Between sessions, students will work individually and in groups. Assignment questions will be handed out at the beginning of the semester.

The following course requirements must be fulfilled before the student will be permitted to take the examination:

• Attendance at mandatory workshops, in study groups and in discussions on Fronter
• Seminar presentations including a presentation of the project for the Bachelor’s thesis
• Submission of written proposal for the Bachelor’s thesis
• Supervision of Bachelor’s thesis
• Submissions
• Oral presentations

Assessment Methods

Final Assessment

Written examination (module 1)

After completing 15 ECTS credits of the studies, students will sit a 6-hour written examination.

Bachelor’s thesis (module 2)

Students will write a Bachelor’s thesis based on R & D work carried out in a kindergarten. The work should be linked to at least one of the course’s main themes. The thesis question must be approved by the teacher within an agreed time limit stated in the semester schedule. A work schedule providing detailed guidelines for the work on the Bachelor’s thesis will be handed out at the start of the semester. Students will receive thesis supervision by a subject teacher, which will concern the thesis question as well as general supervision. The thesis should be of 20-25 pages in length and comprises 10 ECTS credits; these will be allocated equally in relation to the specialisation subject and the pedagogical aspect. Different guidelines are applicable for external candidates; information concerning this will be given at the start of the semester.

Oral examination (module 2)
Each student will sit an oral examination. In order to take the oral examination, students must first have submitted their Bachelor’s thesis and received a passing mark. The student will discuss the thesis in the first part of the oral examination; in addition, questions will also focus on topics taken from the curriculum.

The written examination, Bachelor’s thesis and oral examination will be assessed with grades between A and F, where A is the highest and E the lowest passing grade. An overall grade will be given for module 2, where the grade for the oral examination counts 60%.

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