Uk Pgce - Mandarin

[cliveloughlin]

Hi guys

I am a full-time (British) student of Chinese language and literature at Beijing Normal University and would like to find out about PGCE courses which solely focus on Mandarin in the UK (I have GCSE French [A*] but wouldn't feel very confident about teaching it). Is there such a course, if so would you be so kind as to pass on some details? I would be prepared to go back to study French is this is a satisfactory option.

I already hold a BSc in Management from the UK and would be prepared to undertake a PGCE which can include Business Studies as a minor component (with Mandarin Chinese as the main component).

My goal is to get QTS for teaching in the UK but I would like to continue living in China (Beijing), perhaps working at an international school.

Does anyone have any experience of this? There must be some "foreign" (non-native) Chinese (British/Irish nationals) teachers out there!

Many thanks

Clive

[fanglu]

I would like to continue living in China (Beijing), perhaps working at an international school.

...

There must be some "foreign" (non-native) Chinese (British/Irish nationals) teachers out there!

There are lots. Probably not so many in China though.

[xianhua]

There definitely is (or was) such a course in the UK as I looked at the details a while back. I can only suggest Google searches to find it.

As a side issue, teaching Mandarin in schools here has become quite a trend, often used by headteachers to promote their school as progressive and modern. In reality, it takes more than two years (GCSE) just studying a few hours a week, to achieve a decent level, and when headteachers start to realise this, and their all-important results are affected, they will be rushing to replace Mandarin with other 'easier' subjects (or they'll only allow native speakers to enter for exams). If the government is serious about teaching Mandarin, then they need to be starting off students at a much younger age than 14/15.

[yonglin]

I suggest you search GTTR thoroughly, if you have not already done so.

[elliott50]

You might also find www.thechinesestaffroom.com a helpful website.

There are a number of PGCE courses out there, for example at Goldsmiths in London, and SOAS in london are also just launching a course in teaching chinese to speakers of other languages that can lead to a certificate, diploma or MA.

Best of Luck!