Training confident primary modern foreign language teachers in England: An investigation into preservice teachers’ perceptions of their subject knowledge

Published: 
Jan. 15, 2008

Source: Teaching and Teacher Education, Volume 24, Issue 1, January 2008, Pages 1-13

The National Languages Strategy, published in the UK in 2002 offers all primary school children an entitlement to learn a Modern Foreign Language (MFL) by 2010. The supply of adequately trained teachers is one of the key determinants of the success of this initiative.

This paper presents findings from a study involving 18 teacher education institutions offering a primary MFL specialism, focusing particularly on the preservice teachers’ confidence in their own subject knowledge. A compulsory component of the specialism is a month of practicum abroad and this article explores the potential benefits and difficulties associated with this experience, as reported by the preservice teachers through questionnaires and focus groups.

Updated: Feb. 10, 2008
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