Aix-en-Provence, France - Course Descriptions - Comparative European Education

Course Information

Contact Hours and Credits

Availability

Full Description

I. Course Description

Education 301 examines the cultural values and historical developments which have shaped schooling in France. The syllabus focuses mainly on the French educational system but also compares educational systems in Europe, Asia and the USA. As well as exploring French education from kindergarten to university, students are placed in French elementary schools to teach one hour of English per week. The course combines the theoretical aspects of teaching at the same time as providing students with the chance to teach.

II. Rationale

Living in another country while studying its history, language and culture is a profound and powerful learning opportunity and Education 301 augments this experience by bringing IAU students into a French school where they will teach school children. The students will be given support in planning, preparing, teaching lessons and classroom management skills. This support is provided during the Education classes and, if needed, can be arranged one-to-one with the professor. The weekly lectures consist of a theoretical examination into France's educational system which has evolved in response to philosophical, political and economic change over the centuries. During the second half of the course, students compare the French model with educational systems in other countries. Students will be asked to write a research paper on a topic that interests them as well as keeping a journal to record their teaching experiences, reflections and ideas.

III. Course Objectives and Outcomes

• Students will play an active part in everyday French life.
• Students will have experience planning lessons, organising material and assessing their own teaching performance.
• Students will be a part of the lives of French school children.
• The educational system in France is the core of the nation's underlying belief in égalité, fraternité and liberté and students have the opportunity to evaluate how France's ‘socialism' has been implemented over the generations.
• With an understanding of how mass schooling works in France, students then explore other countries' educational systems.
• Students will form reflective and defensible opinions about their own education by examining other countries' policies on schooling.
• This course puts great emphasis on students assimilating new information and thinking critically. Students will be given the opportunity to work individually, in pairs and in groups to present, discuss and share their ideas.
• The on-going journal, which forms part of an assessed piece of work, allows students the opportunity to reflect, monitor and record their progress.
• The Research Paper directs the students to develop and analyse an aspect of education that has particularly interested them during the course. This assignment gives students the opportunity to use the research facilities and resources of Aix-en-Provence.

Download course description here in Acrobat PDF Format
Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to download this file

Download your free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader Here