About Spanish Teacher Initial Teacher Training
For those looking to pursue a career in teaching without returning to university, Best Practice Network’s Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes for Spanish teachers offer a compelling alternative. Instead of following the traditional academic route, trainees are immersed directly in schools, allowing them to gain real-world experience while working towards Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in just 11 months.
This practical model attracts individuals keen to bypass the constraints of university life and step into teaching roles with immediate impact.
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How will I learn to be a Spanish teacher?
Our Spanish teacher training programme offers a blend of online learning and practical school-based experience, designed to fit around your schedule while providing excellent support throughout.
- Structured Weekly Plan: You'll follow a well-organized weekly schedule that balances online learning with practical experience in your school, making it manageable alongside your daily responsibilities.
- Flexible Online Learning: Spend 20% of your time on professional development and subject knowledge modules through our interactive e-learning platform. The flexibility of this format allows you to access lessons, resources, and tutorials at your own pace, ensuring you can learn whenever it suits you.
- Dedicated Support: Throughout your journey, you’ll be supported by an experienced school-based mentor who will regularly check your progress and help you plan your next steps, ensuring you are always moving forward with confidence.
What will I be teaching?
You will teach the national curriculum for modern foreign languages. The national curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:
- understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
- speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
- can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
- discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied
Why become a Spanish teacher?
Hola! Do you have a passion for the vibrant Spanish language and culture, and a desire to share it with others? Then becoming a Spanish teacher could be your dream career! Here's why:
Open doors to a world of opportunity: Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, spoken across continents! By teaching Spanish, you'll equip pupils with the skills to travel, study abroad, and connect with a rich and diverse culture.
Spark a lifelong love of learning: Spanish isn't just about memorising verb conjugations. You'll design engaging lessons that bring the language to life through films, music, literature, and cultural exploration, fostering a love for lifelong learning in your pupils.
Nurture well-rounded individuals: Learning another language promotes intercultural understanding and empathy. As a Spanish teacher, you'll help pupils develop these vital skills, preparing them to be successful citizens in a globalized world.
Why is teaching Spanish important?
Spanish is more than just a beautiful language; it's a gateway to a rich culture and a valuable skill in today's interconnected world. Here's why teaching it matters:
Empower pupils for future success: Spanish is spoken in many countries across the globe, making it a valuable asset in numerous careers. By equipping pupils with Spanish language skills, you'll be opening doors to exciting opportunities for their future.
Promote intercultural understanding: In today's diverse world, appreciating different cultures is essential. Teaching Spanish fosters empathy, communication, and understanding between people from diverse backgrounds in your pupils.
Boost cognitive development: Learning another language enhances memory, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. As a Spanish teacher, you'll be contributing to your pupils' overall cognitive development.
How do teachers make a difference to young people's lives?
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Apply to be a Spanish Teacher
What qualifications do I need to train to be a Spanish teacher?
To train to teach Spanish you will need:
- GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths
- a bachelor’s degree in any subject
- A keen passion for, and interest in, Spanish
- If we think you might need to top up your Spanish knowledge, we might ask you to complete a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course before you start your teacher training
The Application Process
You can apply directly through our website below. After an initial check, we will then contact you to arrange an interview. Once a successful interview has been completed and you have accepted a place to train to teach with BPN, we will then search for a school placement for you (if you do not already have a school that is willing to support your training).
How can I prepare for Spanish Teacher Training?
- Read the National Curriculum programmes of study for KS2 and KS3 Languages
- Read the GCSE specifications for Spanish for Edexcel and AQA from September 2024 (these are taught the most in schools currently)
- Engage with the A level specifications for Spanish for both AQA and Edexcel
- Visit the following websites: Association for Language Learning (ALL)
How can I prepare for a secondary teacher training interview?
- Consider why you want to teach in a secondary school and why you want to train to teach your subject
- Reflect on why you've chosen to apply for either the teacher apprenticeship or fee-funded route
- Identify some personal qualities or characteristics that you possess that would make you a suitable secondary teacher
- Think about some examples of skills or knowledge from your education or work history that you could share at interview that demonstrate your potential to train to teach, e.g. your knowledge of your chosen subject, previous experience of working with children or young people etc
- Familiarise yourself with the Secondary National Curriculum and your chosen subject's Programme of Study and use these to identify your strengths and areas for development in terms of your subject knowledge
- Research lesson plans and resources that are available for teaching your chosen subject using Oak National Academy or BBC Bitesize as a starting point
- Brush up on your literacy and numeracy skills so you are well-prepared for the Maths and Written Tasks
- Where possible, talk to current teachers or trainees so you can find out more about the teaching profession and the role of a secondary school teacher
- Research current issues in education using Schools Week or TES and think about how these might affect pupils, teachers and schools. Prepare any questions that you want to ask us about the Secondary ITT programme and/or training to teach
- Think about whether there's any important information that you need to share with us that would help you to access the programme, if you are offered a place. This could include reasonable adjustments, a learning support plan, or anything else you feel you may need support with.
"I do not work in a school" - Apply Here
Those not currently working in schools can complete our Initial Teacher Training programme for Spanish teachers. This 11-month course is perfect for anyone who wants to become a Spanish teacher including recent graduates and career changers.
Best Practice Network will do our best to find you a placement school no more than 45 minutes from where you live. You will complete the majority of your training in this placement school as well as completing a temporary placement in a contrasting school.
Initial Teacher Training costs £8,500 which can be paid with a student loan or self-funded through monthly or termly instalment plans.
A bursary of £26,000 or a scholarship of £28,000 is available to eligible candidates. Read more about scholarships and bursaries.
"I work in a school" - Apply Here
The Teacher Apprenticeship is a school-based training programme designed to help staff currently working in schools take the next step and become a qualified Spanish teacher.
Funded through the Apprenticeship Levy, this pathway will allow you to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and a Level 6 Teacher Apprenticeship Qualification in just 15 months.
During your apprenticeship, you will be employed at your current school and receive a salary of at least £20,598 per year on the Unqualified Teacher Salary (UNQ1).
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