Teaching Focus [30.0]

IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with article 138 para. 4 of the decree of 7 November 2013 concerning higher education and the academic organisation of studies, teaching practice placements will not be assessed in the September session. Students are required to make every effort to successfully complete the teaching practice in the June session, subject to having to retake the year.

The teaching focus is concerned with preparation for teaching at the higher levels of secondary education. The programme is designed to develop the following skills:

• design, planning and assessment of practice;
• ability to assess practices and their context;
• understanding of the educational institution, its setting and players.

Three kinds of activities are involved:

• teaching practice at the higher levels of secondary education (60 hours);
• seminars;
• lectures.

They are divided into two categories:

• teaching practice, multidisciplinary courses and seminars, common to all subjects. They have the code LAGRE (13 credits);
• subject-based teaching practice, courses and seminars (17 credits).

The teaching focus of the 120 credit Master’s degree includes the training which leads to the qualification for teaching in secondary education (Agrégation de l'enseignement secondaire supérieur – AESS) (300 hours - 30 credits), in accordance with the Decrees of 8 February 2001 and that of 17 December 2003 (concerning the basis of neutrality) relating to the initial training of teachers at the higher levels of secondary education in the French Community in Belgium. These 30 credits also make up the AESS programme in Ancient and Modern Languages and Letters which can be taken after a 60 credit or a 120 credit Master’s degree.

In practical terms, successful completion of the Master’s degree with the teaching focus leads also to the award of professional status as a secondary education teacher. Assessment of the skills in the AESS programme is spread over the 2 blocks of the Master’s degree. Students may if they wish combine this focus with an Erasmus or Mercator exchange which must take place either during the 2nd semester of the first block or the 1st semester of the second block. All courses for the teaching focus must, however, be taken at UCLouvain.