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PGCE interview

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PGCE interview

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    Hi everyone,
    I applied on GTTR last week and my first choice is University of Sheffield for a French with German PGCE.

    In order to get ready for the interview, I have been reading the Education pages of the Guardian but apart from the debate on free schools, what are the current issues?
    What else did you do to get ready for the interview?
    Did you use any websites/resources to help you get ready?

    Also, is it true that some universities test you on numeracy (even for a PGCE in MFL)?

    I'm really scared
    Thank you for your help!

    AABG

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    This forum would appear an ideal place to start!
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    Current issues - possible that MFL to become compulsory again at GCSE (it isn't now) - your thoughts? Free schools - your thoughts? Use of TL in the classroom? Uptake of GCSE languages - not good at present, your thoughts? How to improve uptake? etc etc. CILT may have some good stuff. And read the threads on this forum. Yes, there will be a numeracy test during the course - you have to pass it before you leave, along with tests in English and ICT. This is a good thing - remember, a lot of your job is dealing with statistics, target setting, percentages and so on - you need to have a good grasp of number to be able to cope with this.
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    I'm currently on my PGCE year as an MFL teacher. Just to let you know that they are changing the rules for the skills tests and ICT will no longer be required. Also I think maybe for 2013 you have to pass the lests BEFORE you start the PGCE! To be honest it is a good idea to get them out of the way asap.

     I think it's a really good idea to have read a bit about target language use and to have formed your own opinion on it before the interview. There are no right/wrong answers as it is shades of grey in my view, but if you can get phrases like 'optimal use' of TL, that will probably go down well.

     Oftsed, as always, is big in the news, but you could talk about how that impacts teaching - as in the media surge around assessment and vigilence, and how that affects students/teachers and therefore teaching and learning - is it positive etc?

    Always good to have an extra string to your bow so if you have any other talents or interests to bring to your teaching that will set you apart from other MFL candidates.

    Hope this helps. Good Luck!

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    Hi everyone,

    Thank you so much for your answers!

    I don't really know about TL, I watched a video about 2 teachers saying they constantly use TL but I would need more viewpoints to actually know what I think about it...

    I would really appreciate if someone could tell me about the current and future changes to the NC in MFL. Thank you so much!!

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    Malaguena
    Current issues - possible that MFL to become compulsory again at GCSE (it isn't now) - your thoughts?
    I've been talking to a French teacher and she told me that because of the English bac, all KS4 pupils have to study at least one language. So is it compulsory or not at GCSE?
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    This link suggests it is compulsory:

    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents/schoolslearninganddevelopment/examstestsandthecurriculum/dg_10013877

    Please scroll down until you get to key stage 4 and you will see that students have to study a language.

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    Actually the link above lists MFL as an 'entitlement' subject, i.e. students must be offered the chance to take a language (or languages) at GCSE but are not required to choose to do so. Hope that helps
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    This link should help http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/qualifications/englishbac/a0075975/theenglishbaccalaureate From what I can make out the English Baccalaureate is not some kind of curriculum, it's a way of assessing school performance. So as well as percentage of A* to C grades, etc., league tables, Ofsted reports and the like will contain statistics based on how many pupils at schools achieve the 'English Baccalaureate' (i.e. GCSEs in English, Maths, Science, History OR Geography and a Language). There are no signs as yet that this will become a requirement, but given that schools are assessed based on this it seems likely that they may begin to encourage or oblige students to choose their GCSE options accordingly in the years to come to boost their own statistics.
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    You're right.  I'd misread it.
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