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Bachelor of Education
GAELTACHT COURSES - TRÉIMHSÍ FOGHLAMA SA GHAELTACHT
All Bachelor of Education students
are required to attend two residential placements in the Gaeltacht as part of the programme – Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 1 agus 2. Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 1 is taken in Year 1 of the programme and Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht 2 in Year 3. Each placement lasts two weeks. Students bear the cost of this compulsory course and the cost for 2017 - 2018 was €750 per placement. Each of these modules is graded with an examination in oral Irish. Students will take an examination in oral Irish after completing the first placement
at the end of their first year of initial teacher education. Students must pass this examination in order to continue to the second year of the programme. A repeat of the examination in oral Irish test is provided by the College. All Bachelor of Education students must have completed the two Gaeltacht placements successfully before entering year four of the programme.
PROFESSIONAL PLACEMENT
The professional placement element of the programme is designed
to meet the Teaching Council’s requirements, and students will spend approximately 24 weeks in schools during the programme.
This period will allow students
to engage in observation, class- based and whole-school teaching and learning activities. Working in partnership with schools, the placements are designed to enable students to experience
all class levels and a range of school types, and the student is guided and empowered along his/ her learning-to-teach journey.
STUDY ABROAD
Semester 5 of the Bachelor of Education programme offers students the opportunity to study abroad. Students are encouraged to spend this semester in another country so that they can experience and understand the education systems and policies of other countries and, in the case of placements in continental Europe, improve their foreign language skills. Among the many benefits of studying abroad are:
• Enriching a primary degree with a global perspective;
• Developing independent thinking and resilience; and
• A distinctive CV displaying adaptability, cultural awareness, and risk-taking, all essential attributes in today’s workplace.
Students can study abroad at one of Mary Immaculate College’s partner universities, which is a safe and well-supported means of gaining valuable international experience. Financial assistance from the ERASMUS+ programme is currently available to students who study in an EU State. European study destinations for Bachelor of Education students currently include universities in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. Study abroad opportunities at North American and Australian universities are also a very popular option. MIC has exchange partnerships with universities across the USA.
Ryan Quirke Bachelor of Education
My extremely positive experiences as a student in primary school, learning from compassionate, enthusiastic and motivating teachers, acted as the initial prompt which supported my desire to become a primary school teacher. So being offered and accepting
a place on the Bachelor of Education programme in Mary Immaculate College was like
a dream come true. Incoming students, make the most of all and any opportunities presented to you, because it is these opportunities that will build friendships, and will help to form valuable memories of your initial teacher education training in Mary Immaculate College.
44 MIC Undergraduate Prospectus — 2018-2019