Purposes and general description about the course

 The English language course for Escuelas Normales is designed to develop students’ ability to communicate effectively in English in contexts that will be important for them. As future teachers in a society where English is increasingly important for engaging successfully with professional and social activities, it is essential that all students develop a good level of proficiency in English. English is growing in importance for accessing information, making useful contacts, understanding other cultures and participating in cultural activities. As UNESCO has said: Linguistic competencies are fundamental for the empowerment of the individual in democratic and plural societies, as they condition school achievement, promote access to other cultures and encourage openness to cultural exchange (UNESCO 2007:13). English is particularly important for students because of its role in multinational communicative settings (Hyland 2011).

Competences of the graduation profile developed by the course

Generic competences

• Use critical and creative thought for solving problems and taking decisions.
• Learn in an autonomous way and demonstrate initiative for self-regulation and strengthen her/his personal development.
• Cooperate to bring about innovative projects having a social impact.
• Act with in an ethical way, by interiorizing social rules and principles needed for a better coexistence.
• Use information and communications technology, as well as other languages, for understanding, explaining and offering alternative solutions to the problems encountered.

 

 

      Professional competences

• Detect the learning processes of its students to favor their cognitive and socio- emotional development.
• Apply the plan and study programs to achieve educational purposes and contribute to the full development of the abilities of their students.
• Design plans applying their curricular, psychopedagogical, disciplinary, didactic and technological knowledge to foster inclusive learning environments that respond to the needs of all students within the framework of the plan and study programs.
• Use the evaluation to intervene in the different areas and moments of the educational task to improve the learning of their students.
• Integrates resources of educational research to enrich their professional practice, expressing their interest in knowledge, science and education improvement.
• Acts in an ethical manner before the diversity of situations that arise in professional practice.
• Collaborate with the school community, parents, authorities and teachers, in decision making and in the development of alternative solutions to socio- educational problems.

 

 

Subject-specific competences developed by the course:

 

• Describe ways of living from different cultures to appreciate their diversity.
• Use language to establish harmonious and responsible relationships when exercising citizenship.
• Reflect on one’s own learning process to act consciously in communicative exchanges.
• Understand and produce texts to participate in a variety of everyday and concrete situations.Exchange basic information about personal and professional experiences.
• Recognize cultural differences when participating in brief and common exchanges.

 

 

 

 

Learning Unit 1: Introductions, transport and homes (Level AI.1/Personal)

Learning Unit Objective 2. Follow basic directions for transport

(AI.1.2)

 

Content

• Share information about transportation
• Give directions to use transportation 
• Exchange directions to use transportation

 

 

 Learning Unit 2 :Countries,cultural activities and the environment

content

• Share basic data about different countries
• Exchange general information and cultural features of other countries
• Talk about cultural identity and characteristics of specific countries

 

Learning Unit Objective 3: Describe different environments (A1.1.6)

 

Content

• Listen to basic information about environments
• Exchange information about environments
• Describe different environments

Learning Unit 3: Schedules, experiences and accomplishments, and teacher qualities 

 

Learning Unit Objective: Talk about learning activities, times and calendars (A1.1.7)

 

Development of the Learning Unit

 

Contents

• Share basic information about time and subjects
• Exchange information about learning activities
• Talk about learning activities

 

 

 

Learning Unit Objective 3: Talk about what makes a good teacher (A2.1.9)

Development of the Learning Unit

Contents

• Share information about teachers’ qualities
• Exchange information about teachers’ qualities
• Talk about what makes a good teacher