BED INTERNATIONAL

BEd International Programme for students of French

If you are interested in pursuing the International programme with French as part of your BEd, you will spend the academic year between Second Year and Third Year, in France where you will take two literature modules in French at University, attend Education/Pedagogy lectures and seminars at an IUFM (College of Education) and teach English for about ten to twelve hours per week in one or a number of French primary schools. During the international year, assessment and evaluation are carried out in the host institution; other assignments are submitted to SPD soon after your return, e.g. teaching practice folder.

The BEd International is a four-year honours degree-level programme. It consists of the normal three-year BA programme, with an additional year’s study in a partner institution abroad. This additional year will be the Third Year of the four-year international programme.

The BEd International degree gives students the opportunity to enrich their University education by pursuing study of their degree subjects at partner colleges abroad. For those taking French, these partners are the following: Université de Bourgogne à Dijon, Université de Nancy 2, Université de Limoges and IUFM du Limousin, (Limoges). 

Students who have participated in this programme have found it educationally, culturally and socially rich and fulfilling. Read some of their comments here.

It is envisaged that the BEd International graduates will have enhanced job opportunities in Ireland and in Europe, and will make a significant and distinctive contribution in schools. The additional professional and academic experience gained abroad helps students acquire extra skills and expertise, including the confidence and maturity that come from having lived and worked in another European country. BEd International graduates will be particularly welcome in schools involved in European and other international projects, and specifically in those participating in the Modern Languages Primary School Initiative (MLPSI), where modern languages form part of the study programme for pupils. With their experience of another education system, at primary and University levels, BEd International graduates will also be very good prospects for continuing on to postgraduate programmes and research.

Rules

1. In common with other BEd students taking French, applicants for the BEd International will have taken Education, French and one other academic subject in First Year, Education and French in Second Year. On their return from France, students will continue with Education and French in their final year of study.

2. The Third Year of the BEd International programme for students of French will have three components:

• the English-Language teaching assistantship which allows students spend 10-12 hours per week teaching in primary schools in France;
• one French Literature module per semester at the partner University;
• Education and Pedagogy classes/lectures at the partner IUFM (Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres ≈ College of Education)

The proposed programme of study for the year abroad must be approved by the Head of French and the Head of Education. The resulting Learning Agreement will be signed by both Heads and the College Coordinator of International Affairs. It is expected that students will spend similar proportions of their time abroad on Education and the academic subject as applies in the second and third years of the normal BEd programme.

3. At the end of the international year, BEd International students will return to College for the Fourth Year of the programme, joining in the Third Year of the normal BEd programme.

4. Application for the BEd International programme will be made during Second Year (by December) to the Head of French and the Head of Education. Successful candidates will receive, from each Head, written permission to follow the approved course of study and work described above in 2. The Assistantship application will be monitored by the Head of French.

5. The granting of this permission will be conditional upon applicants having:

• performed in a satisfactory manner during Second Year;
• passed all required examinations at the end of Second Year;
• acquired an appropriate level of oral and written competency in French.

6. There is no provision for the deferral of the international year.

7. Students will be assigned to a departmental tutor in Education and in French who will oversee progress through contact with colleagues in the host institution. Students will be responsible for maintaining contact with their tutors and for providing course and other information on request.

8. Assessment will have the following components:

• Teaching inspections carried out on site in France by a member of the Académie pedagogy team. Students must forward inspection reports to the Administrator for International Affairs;
• Detailed Teaching Practice Folder submitted to SPD tutor;
• Written end-of-year Reports made by class teachers / principals of the French primary schools where the student has worked. These Reports will be included in the student’s Teaching Practice Folder;
• Education/Pedagogy Essay (4500 - 5000 words) on a topic set by the Head of Education. The Essay will be submitted to the Education Department;
• Formal Written and/or Oral Examination and Essays as per the assessment requirements of the University courses followed. Students must submit copies of their corrected Essays to the Head of French.

An official transcript of records will be sent to the College at the end of the international year. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that results are communicated to the relevant department in SPD.

9. If a student fails to gain the required credits during the year abroad and/or fails to respect the rules and regulations attached to the programme and described in this document, he/she will not be eligible for the award of BEd International degree at the end of Fourth Year. He/She may continue to work in Fourth Year for the normal BEd degree. In this case, any Erasmus financial support received from the HEA must be repaid. In addition, such students will be required to pay repeat tuition fees for the final year of the BEd programme. There may be implications also for the payment of the higher-education grant to those who had been in receipt of it previously.

10. Student must complete ALL aspects of their work abroad, including teaching, lectures and examinations before returning home and must ensure adherence at all times to their teaching and study timetables. If necessary, provision will be made for re-sit or repeat examinations.

11. Admission to the programme will be limited in accordance with numbers of approved places available at partner institutions, as set out in the relevant bilateral agreements.

 

Finance Information

• Students are registered students of St Patrick’s College while abroad. Students must register with the College, and fees (including registration and tuition fees) are payable to the College in the normal way for the International year. Students will not normally be required to pay tuition fees at the host university.
• A student who is in receipt of a Local Authority higher-education grant should apply to his/her local authority for a transfer from the BEd programme to the 4-year BEd International programme. A letter will be provided by the Registrar’s Office in College stating that the student is a full-time student at the College for the forthcoming academic year and that the time spent studying abroad forms an integral part of the course. This letter should accompany the formal request to the Local Authority. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he/she is eligible for the grant while on the International year abroad.
• Students visiting EU institutions with which the College has an Erasmus exchange agreement will receive a grant, the amount of which will depend on the amount of student mobility funding received for the relevant year from the Erasmus programme. Receiving an Erasmus grant will not be a condition for acceptance on this programme.

If you are interested in applying for the BEd International degree or require more information, contact the Head of Department.

Please now read what you will achieve during your BEd courses at St Patrick's College by clicking here.

Last Updated: Wednesday May 11 2011