Primary PGCSE- French specialism?

Hi guys. I'm currently studying BA Italian at UCL. I graduate in 2013 and am considering a PGCE afterwards. I'm torn between a regular PGCE and a French specialism. Is the French specialism less competitive?

For the French specialism, the universities I'm looking at would accept people with an A-level rather than a degree. However, IoE in particular say they expect people to be 'fluent' in French, which seems odd to me. My French is definitely good enough to teach primary school level, but most PGCE interviews have a language test component which I'm not sure I would seem 'fluent' in.

I haven't spoken French since 2008 (when I lived in France, so I have a good accent), so it's kind of buried itself in my brain. I'm sure I could dig it out again, but I'm scared of risking my progress in Italian for my final year of uni.

So I guess my question is- how do they define 'fluent' for the purposes of a French specialism? I have an A grade at A-level, 4 months in France, a good accent- but I'm not what would objectively be considered fluent.

Anyone who does a French specialism- how good is your French? Do you know anyone who isn't 'fluent' but got onto the course?

EDIT: Apologies for the typo in the title. I obviously meant PGCE, I think my hands are too used to typing GCSE :lol:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 1

modgepodge

14

Oxford Brookes do a language pathway option....my friend got offered a place and she doesn't speak any language (except English) above GCSE! Not quite sure how that worked. She turned it down though and just did the normal course.

I think you'll be ok. You're only teaching primary, after all.

Reply 2

modgepodge

14

Just put this in perspective - I'm a supply teacher, and I have an A* in GCSE German. My French however, is limited to 6 months at uni learning the basics on an IWLP (?) course. That was in 2006, and I never got the hang of it. I remember very little.

On Tuesday I taught a 40 minute French lesson to a class of Year 5s with little issue. Just learnt the words I needed the night before and wrote out the pronunciation phonetically. Not ideal, but I coped.

Reply 3

Lizia

OP

2

Thanks guys. This is reassuring. I'm confident I could teach primary French, I'm just concerned about getting on the course in the first place! I've emailed the unis to ask for clarification, since IoE say they expect teachers to be fluent in the language, but also that their minimum requirement is only a C at A-level. Which, even if the C is a bare minimum, is a big qualification range!

Reply 4

twisty08

I was accepted to an MFL course with just an A-level from 5 years ago. At the interview I was asked to describe the room in French. I was told that I would have to improve, but that there was a sufficient base. The placement abroad was tricky at first as I felt a bit out of my depth - but my French came on leaps and bounds. My only gripe is that the placement abroad does deprive you of experience in the English system. I know a lot of people who did it felt a bit behind when they came back. However, it will make you more employable in the long run.

Reply 5

misslawrence

Original post by Lizia

Hi guys. I'm currently studying BA Italian at UCL. I graduate in 2013 and am considering a PGCE afterwards. I'm torn between a regular PGCE and a French specialism. Is the French specialism less competitive?

For the French specialism, the universities I'm looking at would accept people with an A-level rather than a degree. However, IoE in particular say they expect people to be 'fluent' in French, which seems odd to me. My French is definitely good enough to teach primary school level, but most PGCE interviews have a language test component which I'm not sure I would seem 'fluent' in.

I haven't spoken French since 2008 (when I lived in France, so I have a good accent), so it's kind of buried itself in my brain. I'm sure I could dig it out again, but I'm scared of risking my progress in Italian for my final year of uni.

So I guess my question is- how do they define 'fluent' for the purposes of a French specialism? I have an A grade at A-level, 4 months in France, a good accent- but I'm not what would objectively be considered fluent.

Anyone who does a French specialism- how good is your French? Do you know anyone who isn't 'fluent' but got onto the course?

EDIT: Apologies for the typo in the title. I obviously meant PGCE, I think my hands are too used to typing GCSE :lol:

Hello

I'm in the same predicament as you except that I'm French and thus am fluent in French and I have a question: do the universities you found were okay with only having A levels to do your PGCE in French? I don't have a degree and wonder if I can still apply for a PGCE.

Thanks for your help

:smile:

Reply 6

*Darcie*

2

Original post by misslawrence

Hello

I'm in the same predicament as you except that I'm French and thus am fluent in French and I have a question: do the universities you found were okay with only having A levels to do your PGCE in French? I don't have a degree and wonder if I can still apply for a PGCE.

Thanks for your help

:smile:

PGCEs are only open to those with a degree.