This Mandarin-specific and enquiry-based professional development micro-programme provides experienced school teachers of Mandarin in the country with the opportunity to upgrade subject knowledge, optimise learning and teaching practice, and develop further in their career.

This course will be delivered using blended learning with 3 online seminars and 3 face-to-face joint practice development sessions on campus at UCL.

In line with Teachers’ Standards, this programme will support experienced teachers, enhancing their professionalism and fulfilling wider professional responsibilities through engaging with a collaborative action research project. Through such a project, experienced teachers will investigate a particular area of learning and teaching, and collaborate with peers, experts and academics to explore and implement innovative pedagogical approaches, in a bid to improve their students’ outcomes.

This programme will also lead to further opportunities for experienced teachers to contribute to the wider network of learning and teaching of Chinese as a second language and as a school subject by disseminating the findings from and the knowledge gained through the research project, promoting the evidence-informed practices related to the area of investigation, and being involved in delivery of subject-specific professional development at regional and national scales.

Throughout this year-long programme, participants will work closely with their group leads and team members in an area-specific working group, and contribute to development of the research project. Please see Programme Content section below for more information upon the working groups recruiting new members in 2023-2024, and the sub-topics which will be looked into throughout the year.

Open to
Qualified School Teachers of Mandarin in the UK (with at least 1 full-year UK school-based teaching experience)

Availability
Available – Limited Places 

Location
IOE Confucius Institute for Schools – 15 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0NS

Organiser
IOE Confucius Institute for Schools
chinesenetworks@ucl.ac.uk

Programme Information

Programme Aims

• • To enable experienced school teachers of Mandarin to upgrade subject knowledge, and optimise learning and teaching practice
  • To support experienced school teachers of Mandarin in investigating an area of practice and explore pedagogical approaches with clear intentions for impact on pupil outcomes, and engaging critically with research
  • To provide experienced school teachers of Mandarin with the opportunity to collaborate with their peers and experts
  • To support experienced school teachers of Mandarin contributing their expertise to the wider network of teaching and learning of Mandarin

  Programme Content

  The programme consists of well-structured support and guidance, in order to facilitate participants’ further development of subject knowledge and optimisation of practice while being engaged with one of the working groups below in 2023-2024: 

  • Working Group 1: Enhancing Learning Motivation and Enriching Learning Experience through Contextualised CLIL Approach 
    • How to enhance learners’ communication skills and encourage in-depth learning?
    • How to promote cultural knowledge development and inter-disciplinary learning?
    • How to adapt to context and implement CLIL within Mandarin curriculum in English schools?
    • How to stimulate learning motivation and develop intercultural communication competence?
    • How to analyse and develop interpretations of data, and develop evidence-informed practice?
  • Working Group 2: Enhancing Performance at Listening Comprehension and Learning Motivation through Mixed Approach Listening Activities
    • What L&T approaches to listening skill development?
    • How to apply the approaches in practice and develop learning activities?
    • How to adapt to context and implement mixed approach activities in a GCSE preparation course?
    • How to analyse and develop interpretations of data, and disseminate findings through academic writing?
    • How to examine the approach and its findings in relation with existing studies, and identify possible changes for further research

  Structure and Certification

  The programme will be delivered through 3 online seminars and 3 full-day F2F sessions on campus at UCL.

  • Online Seminar 1: Wednesday 18th October 2023, 17:00-18:30
  • Online Seminar 2: Thursday 9th November 2023, 17:00-18:30
  • F2F Session 1: Friday 17th November 2023, 10:30-16:00
  • Online Seminar 3: Thursday 11th January 2024, 17:00-18:30
  • F2F Session 2: Friday 15th March 2024, 10:30-16:00
  • F2F Session 3: Friday 14th June 2024 (TBC), 10:30-16:00

  Total professional development time: 20 hours.  

  A programme completion certificate will be issued provided full attendance to the online seminars and F2F sessions, and contribution to the group-based research report.

  Who the programme is for

  This programme has been developed specifically for qualified teachers of Mandarin with at least 1 full-year UK school-based experience and who will be working in a UK secondary school during 2023-2024.

  Fees

  Free of charge for qualified teachers of Mandarin with at least 1 full-year UK school-based experience and who will be working in a UK school during 2023-2024.

  How to apply for this programme

  The deadline to apply for this programme is Monday 16th October 2023.

  Please click « Apply Now » below and fill out the application form.

  We anticipate high demand for the limited places available on the programme. Therefore, potential participants should complete the application form below as soon as possible.

  Please note: applications may close earlier than the above deadline if all places on the course are filled.

  Apply Now

  If your application is successful, the admission confirmation email will be sent to you and your Line Manager by the application closing date.

  Programme Coordinator

  Victor Wu
  
  Lecturer in Teacher Training and Professional Development

  Enquiries

  Catherine Li
  
  Project Officer
  chinesenetworks@ucl.ac.uk