Calling Secondary Teachers - can you help?

[cadbury]

My mum has just got a job teaching GCSE and A'level French. She doesn't have any teaching qualifications (independent college) and therefore no training or ideas where to find resources. Does anyone know of particularly good websites, books or places to find resources to support her teaching?

TIA

The national grid for learning would probably be a good place.

Um - if she has no qualifications why did they give her the job, cadbury?

You dont need a teaching qualification to teach in an independent place.

National Grid for Learning

Virtual Teachers Centre

Teacher net

Chalkface

Times Educational Supplement or TES

BBC Resources for teachers

There are lots of other resource sites for teachers online too, and there will definitely be some specialising in languages.

Really, herc?

Yep

That's a bit cavalier of them!

That's really helpful, thankyou.

She has just finished her degree and wanted to teach in some way. This will be very small groups so more like a tutoring scenario. She has a good idea what she is doing teaching wise, just doesn't have the PGCE. I think she will be fab.

I don't know of many independent schools who use unqualified teachers, but it was only recently that non-indeppendent college staff needed qualifications. It is still only a requirement in state colleges that tutors are working towards/willing to work towards a teaching qualificataion and a level 4 qualification in their chosen subject area.

They go more for a love of the subject Jan

I know of a very well known and prestigious boys school where lots of the teachers have no teaching qualifications.

Good luck to her Cadbury. If she is keen on teaching more in the future may be worth her looking into getting some form of teaching qualification and gaining her QTS. You can do these, including PGCE part time. It would give her more options later on.

I learnt far more on the job as it were than i ever did sitting in Uni.

hercules - now in a school situation that would be me off I'm afraid. I would think twice of sending my child to a school if many staff had no teaching qualifications.

Do agree with expereince being valuable though.

I'm sure she will be fab, cadbury - sorry, wasn't intending to cast aspersions on your mum! - I'm just astonished that they will take on somebody, however enthusiastic, with neither qualifications nor experience.

I hope she does enjoy it and that her students appreciate her

I agree Hulababy.

Thankyou

As long as most of your teachers are qualified and there is a strong and professional management structure in the school and adquate mentoring, they can absorb some unqualified teachers.

Much of what you learn in a PGCE is not essential for day 1 of teaching, and it can be either picked up, or studied, on the job. A lot of the time spent of classroom management and discipline is not quite as vital in an independent school, especially at KS4/5.

As important as the PGCE is and NQT Induction programme. It would be a good idea for an unqualified teacher to get time out for this inservice training.

I think your mum has done an amazing thing. Getting a language degree and going into teaching. Fantastic! They must have been really impressed with her to offer her the job.

I bet the kids will love her and she'll have lots of fun!

CILT have loads of resources for language teachers (known as MFL teachers in the trade!). I'll find a web link for you.

here

She will find it easiest if she has a text book to use as a solid base and then use extra materials as back-up.
The best text book will to a certain extent depend on which exam board she is teaching to.
GCSE - we do OCR and are just starting to use Metro 4 text book.
A level - we follow AQA syllabus and use Elan text book.
Both have teachers' books and tapes for listening exercises.
Even if the college provides text books, I always find it handy to use a variety - dip in and out.
Also, check out the "zut" website for good French resources.

Also, in terms of HOW to teach, your mum needs to always keep in mind the key question when planning - what does she want them to know and be able to do by the end of the lesson?
All activities should work towards that aim.
Consider that students will need to be introduced to the language / concept, have opportunities to practise and consolidate and SHOW what they know.
Plenary summarises the lesson.
Good lessons always start by connecting back to what has been learnt before.
IS that too much???!!!

That is fantastic advice. Thankyou

I had said something similar about clear aims and objectives and plenaries etc.