Teacher training courses in London
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Thousands of international students train to become teachers in London. Education is crucial in creating fairer societies across the world and is also a key contributor to the achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.
Education experts at London's universities are providing high quality teacher training to help realise the aim of universal education. Such training enables individuals to develop their skills and also helps international governments create education systems within their own country.
The range and type of teacher training courses available in London is huge with over 3,000 international students undertaking education-related courses each year.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is offered by a number of the capital's universities and there is also a range of education-focused Masters degrees.
Institutions such as the Institute of Education (IOE) also offer short courses and host conferences for professionals at all levels and a large number of universities host an impressive range of international speakers to debate leading educational practices and theories.
Dr Jim Anderson of Goldsmiths, University of London runs a flexible secondary PGCE, which won the prestigious European Award for Languages.
The course trains students to teach Arabic, Urdu, Mandarin and Punjabi. “International students are drawn to the UK because of its reputation for high quality, cutting-edge training,” Dr Anderson explained.
“Students particularly value the experiences afforded them through teaching in the capital's schools.” The course is attracting a growing number of international students, in particular from China and Taiwan.
Kingston University London has launched its MA Education in English Language Teaching in response to demand from an increasing number of professionals teaching English as a foreign language or seeking to set up language schools worldwide.
“Our aim is to develop professionals capable of working beyond basic English teaching who are able to go forward with new skills and ideas into what is a steadily expanding workplace around the world,” says Andy Hudson, head of the School of Education.
Dalal Beidoun recently completed the course. “The course was a great experience for me, specially as I had always lived in Kuwait and had never studied abroad. It was challenging, fun, interesting and inspirational. Now that I've completed it, I'm heading back to Kuwait where I will be teaching English to first and second year students at Kuwait University.”
Kingston is also about to launch a new Masters, which will compare international educational systems and investigate universal themes including the relationship between education, citizenship and rapid social change.
Posted: Tuesday 9 February 2010