What Makes This Course So Special?
Committed teachers of ESOL, adult literacy or adult numeracy can really make a difference to learners’ lives and the communities they live in. Developing skills and confidence in spoken and written English and/or Numeracy can open doors to further learning, better employment prospects and greater life choices in general. If this is something you’d like to do, come and learn with us, and become a qualified teacher of ESOL, adult literacy or adult numeracy.
Course Intro
This course is for you if you are looking to gain a nationally recognised qualification to teach either English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), adult literacy/communication or adult numeracy/maths in further, adult or community education or other post-compulsory settings.
On the course you will gain the skills, knowledge and understanding required for teaching students over the age of 16 (and over 14 if they are in college). For a substantial part of the course you will study in a specialist group. At other times you will study in a larger group, alongside those planning to teach other subjects at post-16 (from leisure and tourism to music technology and beyond). You will develop your understanding of your chosen specialism including knowledge of key questions, theories and concepts as well as the development of your own personal skills.
In addition, these courses all meet Lifelong Learning UK National Standards and subject specifications.
What you study
The course content will provide a basis for you to achieve the full professional status of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills [QTLS] after the required period of professional formation working in the sector.
You will deepen your understanding of English language, literacy/communication or numeracy/maths (as appropriate) as a subject area. You will develop a range of learning and teaching methods and an understanding of the diverse needs of learners. You will consider how the theories of learning and assessment can be applied to the teaching of your subject and will be encouraged to analyse and critique policies and practices relating to the teaching of your subject, and to develop your own considered approach to teaching language, literacy or numeracy.
You are encouraged to take responsibility for planning and managing your professional experiences and progress, with the guidance of your personal tutor and workplace mentor. The placement in one of our partner colleges in South Wales or in a community education or similar setting is a central feature of the course, where you can develop professionally as an ESOL, Literacy or Numeracy teacher with the support of an experienced subject specialist.
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
The qualification is recognised nationally as the requirement for teachers entering the post-compulsory sector, a very wide field that includes further education, adult and community education, work-based learning, the work of many voluntary and community development organisations.
The School of Education’s large MA programme offers a variety of routes for further, advanced study including the MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and the MA in Post-compulsory Education and Training.
Interview Required
Yes. There is a subject-specific (ie. numeracy skills or language/literacy skills) assessment at interview, which must be completed satisfactorily.
Assessment
Assessment tasks include learner case studies, group tasks, posters, small scale research projects and practical teaching observation. There are no formal written exams. Professional practice will be assessed by a series of observations and assessments of your teaching.
Student Soundbite
“I had done a little English teaching in Pakistan, but the course gave me many new insights. The tutors were friendly, reassuring and always willing to offer support.”