ACE ELT

Advanced Certificate in Education (ACE) in English Language Training (ELT)

Course outline
English educators in the Eastern Cape have a very special responsibility as the majority of the learners not only learn English as a second language, but also learn all their other subjects through the medium of English. Research has shown that many learners do not perform well in examinations because they have problems in understanding the questions and communicating their knowledge when their English skills are weak.
The purpose of this course is to strengthen the knowledge, skills and classroom practices of English teachers, so that they are able to effectively implement the new curriculum and to improve the English language skills of their learners for learning across the curriculum
The ACE (ELT) is a two-year part-time course, starting in January, with contact teaching sessions taking place during school holidays in March, June and September and examinations in December. School-based support is an integral part of the course.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING (ELT) ACE (SENIOR AND FET PHASE UPGRADE)

Components Credit allocations per NQF level level 5 level 6
Fundamental Component 1: competencies relating to fundamental learning
Reading and writing in context
Language in practice
Mathematical literacy

Elective Component 2: competencies relating to teaching and learning processes
ELT teaching and learning (Senior and FET Phase)
Curriculum Studies in ELT

Core Component 3: competencies relating to teaching and learning processes
Teaching, learning and research

Component 4: competencies relating to the school and the educator profession
The education environment

Total credits 120

In the Fundamental component, educators' own knowledge and skills will be developed:
• Reading and writing in context: There will be a strong focus in the course on developing educators' own reading and writing skills; to enthuse them about reading and writing and to see themselves as readers and writers.
• Language in practice: Educators will be taken through a basic language course that will cover the language structures, conventions and functions of English and include critical language awareness.
• Mathematical literacy: Educators will be equipped to cope with the classroom demands of working with marks, percentages, averages etc; reading information from graphs, charts etc; and basic accounting needed to run school accounts.

In the Elective component, educators' competencies relating to teaching and learning processes will be developed.
• English Language Teaching and Learning (Senior and FET Phase): The course has a practical classroom-based approach and educators will apply their knowledge and skills in classroom-based assignments and will receive classroom-based support from course tutors.
• Curriculum Studies in ELT: Educators will work with the curriculum statements and assessment standards and will develop an understanding of the theoretical basis for Curriculum 2005.

In the Core component educators' professional and research competencies will be developed.
• The Education Environment: Educators will explore the values and ethics of their profession.
• Teaching, Learning and Research: Educators will develop their competencies as reflective practitioners and researchers and developers of their own practice.

Computer and library resources
As registered students of Rhodes University, educators will have access to the Rhodes University Computer Centres and libraries. Educators will learn basic computing skills and how to access information in the libraries and on the Internet.

Practical details
Contact teaching sessions will take place at Rhodes University Grahamstown during school holidays. Educators will be accommodated in the Rhodes University residences when the University students are on holiday, or in the boarding house of Victoria Girls' High School.
Educators will attend lectures and workshops from 8.30am –5.15pm each day of the contact teaching sessions. In addition they will be expected to work in the evenings in preparation for the following days' sessions. In between contact teaching sessions, teachers will be required to do classroom based assignments, reading and journal writing.

Further information

For more information please contact:
Dr Monica Hendricks
Institute for the Study of English in Africa
Rhodes University
P O Box 94
Grahamstown, 6140
Tel: (046) 603 8565
Fax: (046) 603 8566
E-mail: m.hendricks@ru.ac.za

Application Forms are available from:
The Registrar
Rhodes University
Grahamstown, 6140
Tel: (046) 603-8276
Fax: (046) 603-7350
E-mail: Registrar@ru.ac.za
Website: http://www.ru.ac.za/applying