The English Language Assistantship (ELA) is a structured work experience. It will enhance students’ future employability and also enable them to learn about the culture, the society and the education system of the foreign language country. It will offer them an ideal opportunity to improve their foreign language competency and increase their exposure to new opportunities of an international nature. While on placement, students will benefit from the supervision of the modern languages’ teachers. In this reciprocal arrangement, the students will bring to the foreign school their English language skills, their knowledge of teaching English as a foreign language so far, and their understanding of their own culture.
The teaching placement normally takes place over a full academic year. It is designed to facilitate those students who would like to gain experience in the field of teaching English as a foreign language.
The ELA placement is a period of work-based learning which is completed within a school environment, in which the student has opportunity to both observe classroom practice and demonstrate language teaching skills. Students will further deepen their understanding of teaching and of learning through close interaction with established teachers and gain valuable insights into teaching/learning environments in the foreign culture. First and second year modules and other preparation undertaken prior to the placement, such as Introduction to Linguistics and Introduction to Language Learning and Teaching TEFL will have allowed students to develop specific skills in the areas of the basic principles of language learning and teaching, an awareness of the main features of the English language system, an awareness of current debates in the EFL research community, and an awareness of the categories of linguistics and its main schools of thought. These skills will be further honed and enhanced through the teaching practice and teacher observation during the student’s placement. In conjunction with the Department of Education Guidelines for English Language Assistants, the successful student applicant will be required to work in all or some of the following fields:
- Assist the regular staff of the school
- Conduct conversation classes in the foreign language
- Supplement such classes by exercises in reading, dictation and oral composition
- Give pupils an insight into the way of life in his/her country.
This module aims to give students practical experience of English learning and teaching and of working in an educational environment in the country of their foreign language while enabling them to improve their foreign language skills. Students will moreover gain insight into another European education system and gain from working with experienced teaching staff. The student will benefit from imparting knowledge about his or her own culture and equally gain insight into the host country’s cultural aspects through the interaction with local students.
Issues in teaching and learning a language.
Students will benefit from the support of the host primary or secondary school whose teachers will assist and play a role in guiding and monitoring them during their teaching experience.
Students will also be encouraged to take responsibility for directing and reflecting on their own learning whilst learning "on-the-job" in an educational environment.
Key activities will include:
- Teaching experience
- Observation of classroom practice
- Student /pupil observation
Reflection on assistantship and self-evaluation.
Issues in teaching and learning a language
Students will benefit from the support of the host primary or secondary school whose teachers will assist and play a role in guiding and monitoring them during their teaching experience. Students will also be encouraged to take responsibility for directing and reflecting on their own learning whilst learning "on-the-job" in an educational environment.Key activities will include: • Teaching experience • Observation of classroom practice • Student /pupil observation • Reflection on assistantship and self-evaluation
A practical work placement in a primary, secondary or third level institution as part of a recognised English Language Assistantship Programme, with support from local teaching staff provided on the job and overall supervision by a member of TU Dublin academic staff responsible for ELA placements in the year and/or country in question.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |