Phase 2 - Curriculums, Professional Practice, Subject Specialist Study. New Territories!!

So Phase 2 is well under way. Dates for observations of my teaching are being confirmed, assignment tasks explained, action learning set topics agreed and the dreaded course engagement tasks completed.

So what's the focus this phase?? Curriculums to start with. I always knew that would be a fun topic! I was asked for my thoughts on the ESOL Core Curriculum. And the honest truth? It's the most dry document I've ever had to deal with! As Philida Schellekens points out, it is a functional curriculum that places little emphasis on vocabulary teaching. And what do ESOL students want more than anything else? Vocabulary! So how do we get around this? The Core Curriculum is our "official" curriculum. On paper it's what we use to build our schemes of work (our actual curriculums?) but in reality we probably focus more on our "hidden" curriculum. Where does that come from? Well diagnostics, ILP's etc are a very good start but lets face it there are influences on our hidden curriculums from every angle - targets, funding, departmental issues - I could go on. I don't mean to be cynical but it seems as though as long as we can tick a box to say our learners can meet the competencies stated in the ESOL CC then that's really all we need to focus on. Can't wait to write my assignment critiquing the curriculum...

After curriculums comes the module entitled Wider Professional Practice. This week we looked at (FE) teaching as a profession. Is it a profession? No it's certainly not considered one. Yes we provide a service, we have to have completed a teaching course and have many policies to adhere to but we have no specialist regulating body (the IFL is funded by the government of course!), we have low pay, low status. But does it matter? And should it matter? One member of the class was disgusted that we did not all consider it a profession but that's not why I chose to enter it. Teaching for me is a vocation, not a job, Why am I doing it? I love it! I love my learners - they are the reason to get out of bed in the morning. Yes I may be cynical about the curriculum, government policies etc but all that is forgotten once I step foot in that classroom.

What else have I got to look forward to in phase 2? Well there is my research project which must be about my Specialist Subject (ESOL) and there is the continuation of the ESOL Theoretical Frameworks module. My Action Learning Set has been agreed. So pleased with the three members of the class I'll be working with. I'm up first in two weeks - I'll be presenting on differentiation and hope that the set gives me plenty of opportunity to reflect and feedback.

Half term is over, time to get on with my lesson plans...