Program Overview

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Master’s Degree in Teaching English and Another Foreign Language (7-12)

The Master’s degree in Teaching English and Another Foreign Language (7-12) is a 2-year program that aims to train highly qualified teachers who can perform their duties with rigor and professional competence. The program is designed to provide students with solid skills and knowledge in their subject area, as well as in foundational areas of education and subject-specific didactics.

General Objectives of the Course

The general objectives of the course are to:

• Train highly qualified teachers who can perform their duties with rigor and professional competence
• Provide students with solid skills and knowledge in their subject area, as well as in foundational areas of education and subject-specific didactics
• Enable students to understand processes of teaching and learning and use appropriate methodologies and materials
• Develop students' ability to apply knowledge and skills in their subject area to specific school settings, in accordance with pedagogical principles
• Foster an awareness of the social, ethical, and civic dimension of teaching in general and their discipline in particular, and critical and self-reflective skills that enable them to act in an informed manner in school settings and in civil society
• Develop students' communicative competence in various relevant situations
• Encourage an awareness of the changes that occur in their subject areas and in pedagogy and of the need for constant professional development in these areas

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the program are as follows:

1. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree or one of the qualifications referred to in paragraphs a) to c) of paragraph 1 of article 17 of Decree-Law No. 74/2006
2. Candidates must have obtained, in that bachelor's degree or in other higher education study cycles, a minimum of 80 to 100 credits (ECTS) in the area of English and a minimum of 60 to 80 credits (ECTS) in the area of the other Foreign Language (German, Spanish, or French), with 160 credits in both areas
3. Candidates must have oral and written command of the Portuguese language and mastery of the essential rules of logical and critical argumentation

• Candidates may also apply if they meet the requirements of points a) and c) of point 1, but not point b), and have obtained 75% of the necessary credits (120 ECTS) in the teaching area
• Candidates may also apply if they meet the requirements of points b) and c) of point 1, but not point a), and hold an academic, scientific, or professional curriculum that is recognized as attesting to the capacity to complete this cycle of studies by the Scientific Council of FLUC and have obtained a minimum of 75% of the necessary credits (120 ECTS) in the teaching area

Professional Goals

The professional goals of the program are to:

• Provide students with certification for teaching in elementary and secondary schools (7-12), specifically in the areas of French (code 320), English (code 330), German (code 340), or Spanish (code 350)
• Enable students to acquire the competences needed for culture-related activities in inter- and transcultural settings

Mode of Study

The mode of study is daytime, full-time, and face-to-face.

Teaching/Evaluation Language(s)

The teaching/evaluation languages are Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, and German.

Examination Regulations, Assessment, and Grading

The examination regulations, assessment, and grading are as follows:

• Assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, aiming to establish the students' competencies and knowledge, their critical sense, ability to recognize and resolve problems, as well as their written and oral presentation skills
• Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently registered for under the terms of number 6 of article 4 of the University of Coimbra Pedagogical Policy
• Examples of assessment items include oral or written exams, written or practical work, individual and group projects that may require an oral defense, as well as class participation
• Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20, and a grade of 10 is required to pass
• Whenever the grade comprises more than one item, the final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according to a formula published in the course outline under the terms of number 2 of article 7 of the UC Pedagogical Policy

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The learning objectives and intended skills of the program are to:

• Deepen and consolidate the knowledge and skills acquired in the bachelor’s program in English and other Foreign Languages (i.e., German, Spanish, or French), particularly in what concerns the subjects that are relevant for teaching in elementary and secondary schools
• Apply the knowledge obtained in lesson planning and execution, providing pedagogic and didactic justifications that take into account the teaching-learning process, curriculum guidelines, age levels, and other relevant factors
• Understand the social, ethical, and civic dimension of teaching
• Develop the critical and self-reflective skills that are needed to respond to new and complex situations
• Be able to act in school settings and beyond
• Be able to participate and communicate in the school community
• Recognize the need for constant professional development in their subject area and in pedagogy- and didactics-related issues in order to enhance their teaching practice

Course Coordinator(s)

The course coordinators are:

• João da Costa Domingues
• Mónica Sofia Marques Lourenço

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

The ECTS departmental coordinator is:

• Susana Isabel Arsénio Nunes Costa Araújo

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

The legal framework for the qualification is established by the following decree laws: 74/2006, of 24 March, altered by 107/2008, of 25 June, 115/2013, of 7 August, and 79/2014, of 14 May.

Graduation Requirements

The degree will be awarded to students who have earned the total number of credits, after having obtained approval in:

• All courses defined for this MA program
• The public defense of the action-research report presented at the end of the 2nd year
• In the case referred to in numbers 5 and 6 of Art. 18 of Decree-Law 79/2014, the degree is awarded to those who meet all of the minimum entry requirements as well as the conditions specified in paragraphs a) and b)

Access to Further Studies

The program provides access to PhD degree studies.

Study Programme

The study program includes the following paths:

• Specialization in French as a Foreign Language
• Specialization in German as a Foreign Language
• Specialization in Spanish as a Foreign Language

Academic Year

The academic year is divided into two semesters.

Course Type

The course type is 2nd Cycle Studies - Advanced Specialisation Master Programme.

DGES Code

The DGES code is M808.

Qualification Awarded

The qualification awarded is a Master’s degree.

Duration

The duration of the program is 2 years.

ECTS Credits

The program consists of 120 ECTS credits.

Category

The category of the program is Advanced specialization second cycle.

Accreditations

The program is accredited by the Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior.