Mairi Godley- Modern Languages Teacher
Having graduated from Strathclyde University in 2005 in French with Marketing, Spanish was entirely new to me when joining St. Margaret’s in 2006. Back then it was proving to be a popular subject and so I decided to embark on a graduate diploma, a distance learning course, in Spanish from Dundee University.
Miss Doran (at the time) and I initially participated in a 6 month intensive language course, which progressed onto the two year diploma. Although this was successfully achieved in 2009, my command of the language at that time did not leave me feeling fully confident to teach Spanish at senior level. Curriculum for Excellence did not pose any problems but I felt the need to further improve my level in order to teach at a higher level.
This is what prompted me to complete a Comenius in-service training course in Barcelona this summer. I am no stranger to such courses as, in the summer of 2008; I spent 3 weeks in Granada, completing a language course that supported my studying in obtaining the Spanish diploma.
The first day of the class was on the 8th July (my birthday), and I soon realised that I was the only British student in the group. Within the room there were students from all over Europe, 3 from Austria; 2 from Poland, 1 Croatian, 1 Swede, 1 German and 2 students from France. I found their level of Spanish to be very fluent so I was pushed to achieve a high standard throughout the 2 week duration. It felt like my days back in university, sitting poised with some preparation written in my notebook, ready to respond to questions that I could tackle.
The course was intense and comprised many aspects of Spanish Grammar; using Images in the Classroom, how Spanish is spoken in America, presenting and working with vocabulary, dealing with error (spoken and written) and working in Groups. All these areas I felt were relevant in my own classroom practice.
There were many resources distributed in class which I will share with colleagues both in school and within the West Lothian network. My level of Spanish has improved and I have enhanced enthusiasm for teaching the subject.
This year I have a National 5 Spanish class, a level I now feel confident to teach. Having completed this training course I feel well prepared, refreshed and ready to motivate the students under my guidance. The best part is, that as I have completed two courses abroad, I have satisfied my residency in Spain and am now GTC registered in both French and Spanish.
