“Primary Education” specialization
A brief overview
At the beginning of the second semester of the second year of the English degree, students have the opportunity to choose a specialization. The “Primary Education” specialization is intended for students who wish to become teachers, assistant principals or librarians in schools. As part of this specialization, a continuity in the content of classes is required to enter the MEEF Master’s degree (Professions in the fields of Teaching, Education and Training). The aim is to provide students with a practical and theoretical background which will be useful to them during their studies. Students have therefore classes of mathematics and French but also of physics and educational theories.
The courses of this specialization are oriented towards the preparation of students for recruitment competitions of the National Education.
The third semester of the English degree
During the third semester of the English degree, students will be able to choose their courses in the 304 and 305 teaching units. These courses or options aim at helping students in their choice of specialization at the beginning of the fourth semester. For students interested in teaching, the “Culture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance” and “Linguistics” options are strongly advised. They provide students with a global knowledge of the Middle-Ages and of the Renaissance in the United Kingdom, but also with an introduction to linguistics classes. As part of the English degree, these two classes are mostly designed for the students of the “Secondary Education and Research” specialization.
In parallel with the two options that students will have to choose, they will have to choose classes of critical tools and oral practice, which concern students of the Teaching option. These two classes aim at improving their critical analyses of documents and at practicing their target language routinely.
The fourth, fifth and sixth semesters of the English degree
Tutorials
As part of this specialization, students will have tutorials divided into 12 hours of French and 12 hours of mathematics (during the 404 and 504 teaching units or during the 604 teaching unit) or physics (during the 504 or 604 teaching units). This way, students will be able to revise the basics of the French language and of geometry, as well as some notions of physics which are taught in primary school. These classes aim at strengthening the students' grammatical knowledge and at giving them basic notions of mathematics and physics.
Lectures
During the second year, students will have a course entitled “Building Inequalities in Education Systems.” They will study educational systems and the factors which are responsible for school inequalities through the concept of gender and gendered socialization. Gender is a social construct and has an impact on peer relationships at school, but also on the relationship between teachers and students. In addition, they will examine the French educational system and the inequalities which followed until the first part of the 20th century. In parallel, students will be able to enroll in a course of their choice as part of the 405 teaching unit.
During the first semester of the third year, the lecture course is entitled “Didactics and Teaching Practices.” In the first part of the course, students will take a look at the job of teacher as well as at the origins of this profession. This course will present this profession from individual, collaborative and didactic points of view and will consist of describing the training of teaches and the didactic means which are used through the model of the game. This course will examine the teacher’s behaviour and relationship with students. Secondly, students will discuss the case of Carla in the historical school of Élise and Célestin Freinet.
During the last semester, the lecture course is entitled “Educational Difficulties and Disability.” Students will study the management of pupils confronting with educational difficulties based on examples and official documents. This course will be an opportunity to reflect on the learning difficulties that pupils may have and to see how to overcome them through research. It will also examine the laws and arrangements which are implemented for pupils with disabilities.
Laura’s personal opinion on this specialization
Wishing to become a primary school teacher, I chose this specialization in the logical continuity of my professional project. The theoretical and practical contributions of my courses enabled me to prepare for the CRPE recruitment competition. The notions seen in class allowed me to revise my knowledge of language, physics, chemistry and mathematics, and to prepare myself for the difficulties that teachers may encounter during their professional activity. Each semester, my classes had a logical continuity with my training, which facilitated my understanding.
Thanks to this orientation and my pre-professionalization teaching assistant employment contract, I think I am better prepared for the CRPE recruitment competition and the needs related to the MEEF Master's.
Any question?
In order to have more information on the “Primary Education” specialization, please click here.
To have more information on the descriptions of its courses, please click here.
To have more information about the Educational Science undergraduate degree, click here.
If you have any question related to this specialization, please contact Laura.