The Field Experience Semester (FES) for HKIEd English-major student teachers

The Field Experience Semester (FES) for HKIEd English-major student teachers

Introduction

The Hong Kong Institute of Education is pleased to introduce an alternative model of teaching practice for students in the English major. “The Field Experience Semester” or “FES” is designed to provide student teachers with a longer, more in-depth teaching practice experience, while also providing better learning support from HKIEd supervisors. The FES will provide host schools a significant additional teaching resource equal to more than one new English teacher during the first semester.

5 Differences between FES and Traditional Block Practice

1. FES is Longer

The FES replaces the model of two block practice periods (two periods of six weeks each) for English majors with one block practice period of a full semester. The FES begins on the first staff day of the school year in August 2015 and continues until the last day before the Christmas holiday in December 2015, a period of 17 – 18 weeks. This longer period of practice, aligned with the host school calendar, allows principals and panel chairs to use the additional teaching resources (from both student teachers and their supporting teachers) in a more predictable and productive way. It also allows student teachers to integrate better with the school culture and their community of teaching professionals, preparing them for full-time teaching responsibilities.

2. FES Student Teachers Work in Teams

The FES places a group of 4 – 6 student teachers together at each host school. Grouping student teachers together in one school allows them to work together as a team in planning and teaching English lessons. They also work together to support extracurricular activities, teach enhancement and remedial lessons, conduct exam practice with students, as well as take up some organizational or administrative duties. These experiences offer a wider range of teaching and professional experience for student teachers’ and help out the school with the manpower of young teachers.

3. FES Provides a More Diverse Workload

Student teachers are given a teaching workload of 9 – 12 lessons per week each. Or they may be assigned as pairs to co- teach up to 18 lesson per week. HKIEd recommends that each student teacher be assigned to teach all of the English lessons for one class. Or a co-teaching pair may take up all of the English lessons for one or two classes. Schools may decide whether to assign student teachers to individual teaching or co-teaching, according to the school’s needs. Student teachers will also be expected to participate in all aspects of school life (such as staff meetings and professional development), to help with extracurricular activities (such as training students for the Speech Festival and organizing English Club activities), school-wide activities (such as assisting with Sports Day) and teaching enhancement, bridging or remedial lessons.

4. FES Provides More Support for Learning

Support from the Host School – Every school designates at least one Supporting teacher for each pair of student teachers. Supporting teachers are normally the English subject teachers of the classes assigned to the student teachers. Supporting teachers are essential as mentors and guides as the student teachers adjust to their teaching assignments. But supporting teachers should also allow the student teachers to become increasingly independent throughout the FES period. Supporting teachers transition student teachers to independent teaching within the first two weeks of the semester. The Host School helps student teachers to transition smoothly into the teaching profession by welcoming them at such events as staff meetings and professional development day activities.

Support from HKIEd – Teaching teams of 4-6 student teachers at each host school allows them to work together to plan lessons and other activities more effectively, helping each other to build greater confidence. But assigning FES student teachers to teams also allows HKIEd staff members to offer student teachers much more significant support for their learning. By supervising 4 – 6 student teachers at each host school, supervisors spend less time travelling between distant schools and more time helping student teachers to improve their teaching and other professional skills.

5. FES is “Win-Win” for Host Schools and Student Teachers

The FES model is designed to work best for host schools, their students and student teachers alike. Schools will have significantly more human resources to help with the teaching of English and related duties. The FES schedule is aligned with the school calendar (instead of the HKIEd calendar), helping with the organization of workload. Student teachers also benefit from having a longer practice period, plenty of peer support, increased professional support from the host school and HKIEd, and the opportunity to teach a class from the first day of the school year straight through to December. The practice teaching in FES is more authentic than the traditional block practice model, therefore better preparing student teachers to take on the role and responsibilities of full-time professional teachers.

The FES – Past and Future

HKIEd has successfully tried the FES model of student teaching in pilots conducted in 2011 and 2014 with a total of 76 student teachers. The host school principals and teachers, HKIEd supervisors and the student teachers themselves, agree that it was a successful model for practice teaching.

Summary of the FES Structure

• A minimum team of 4 – 6 English major student teachers are placed at each host school.
• Student teachers will begin on the first staff day in August 2015. Their first visit to the school will also occur on the first staff day or before, unless arranged by mutual agreement between the school and the student teachers.
• The FES and all student teaching duties continue until the last day before the December 2015 holidays.
• Student teachers must pass Stage 1 teaching assessment (by their HKIEd supervisor) in order to continue to Stage 2 assessment.
• Student teachers are assigned to teach 9 – 12 lessons per week each or 18 lessons per week as co-teaching pairs. Normally student teachers will take up all of the English lessons for one class, as well as help with extra lessons and school-wide activities. Student teachers should not be assigned to all-SEN, unusually small classes or other especially challenging classes for the majority of their teaching.
• Student teachers are all assigned a supporting teacher from the school and a HKIEd FES supervisor.
• Students are expected to participate fully in the culture and life of the school, attending meetings, professional development activities and supporting enhancement and extracurricular activities.