My Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepared me to teach the secondary school English curriculum. I've learnt how to teach both English language and literature, covering subjects such as media, drama, and phonics. I have looked at a variety of short texts and poetry – perhaps Shelagh Delaney’s play, A Taste of Honey, the poetry of John Agard or prose such as Conan Doyle’s The Sign of the Four – and focused on how I can turn literature into learning. During the course, I have explored ways to teach literature, to develop oracy and spoken language confidence and proficiency as well as understand how to prepare a novel for teaching and the role literary theories might play in our approach to teaching works of literature. And, had language lessons to help you develop your skills in areas such as grammar. I've considered how to plan lessons, reflect on your planning, learn how research can develop your teaching practice, and looked at ways to develop your teacher persona. The PGCE encouraged me to develop a critical and reflective approach to my own classroom practice and teaching when on school placements. Doing this develops your understanding of how children can learn as well as to realise the impact you can have a children’s knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of English. I am an expert practitioner in English.

This course gives you the opportunity to explore English language from the perspectives of history, art, media and culture. You will examine its power in spoken and written form, understand how it helps inform our identities and communities and how it is used to influence social change; to influence, mystify and even subvert. Throughout your course you will consider English as a regional and global language considering how it is used among different communities and cultures. You will explore how we acquire language and how we use it to communicate via different genres and styles. You will develop a deep understanding of the fundamentals of the English language, its historical development and its role in constructing identities, social relations and practices.