The Assistant Teachership programme is a compulsory supervised teaching practice in English for advanced students of PH Zurich who are enrolled in the primary education (Bachelor of Arts in Primary Education) degree programmes. The supervised teaching practice in English lasts three weeks and takes place at a partner school in an English-speaking country.

The programme participants are those who are studying to become primary school teachers. They have already completed four semesters of their studies and have 13 weeks of practical experience at primary schools in German-speaking Switzerland. They are able to teach individual children, groups and whole classes.

Other participants in the programme are already working as teachers at primary level and are adding English to the subjects in their level diploma.

What you can expect as a partner school

As an English-speaking partner school of PH Zurich, you provide PH Zurich students with valuable experience and give them the opportunity to improve their English skills, general teaching ability and intercultural competence at an English-speaking primary school. Your teachers accompany the students, not only involving them in the planning and teaching of lessons, but providing them with feedback and engaging in professional discourse.

However, it is not only the students who benefit from the collaboration, but also you. Partner schools get to:

• Compare experiences working as teachers with the students, and exchange ideas about teaching methods
• Talk about approaches to dealing with differentiation and heterogeneity in the classroom
• Learn from the students about Swiss culture and the school system in Switzerland
• Promote cultural and intercultural awareness and broaden their horizons as a result

Student learning objectives

The students aim to achieve the following within the scope of their supervised teaching practice in a foreign language:

• Immerse themselves in an authentic foreign language environment (school – local community – cultural activities)
• Gain insight into a different school system and engage in professional discourse
• Acquire language skills for teaching and subject-specific terminology
• Gain experience in teaching in English
• Gain intercultural experience
• Make new professional and private contacts in the target language area 

Students complete the Assistant Teachership programme with the aim of improving their English skills as well as their teaching competence in English and to gain intercultural experience. Teaching German or French lessons is therefore not the focus of the supervised teaching practice. However, it cannot be ruled out that students may assist with individual lessons.

Assistant Teachership in primary education

The Assistant Teachership programme for prospective primary school teachers lasts three weeks and usually takes place in June. Placements are also possible in October, January, February, April and May.

Students are usually assigned to one teacher and one class for the entire duration of the supervised teaching practice. If appropriate or desired, students can also be assigned to different teachers and classes; however, they must stay in one class for at least one week.

At the beginning of the stay, the students are informed about the organisation of the partner school and observe some lessons. Afterwards, as agreed upon with the teacher, they independently take over full lessons or individual parts thereof as quickly as possible, and teach whole classes or individual groups (at least one lesson per day). The students also like to be involved in as many school activities as possible and take part in events, excursions and internal professional development at the school.

Taks and requirements

As a partner school, you must be able to do the following:

• Provide supervised teaching practice to students for three and four weeks, respectively.
• Introduce students to the school (show them around the school, help them get to know the staff and processes).
• Involve the students in the school system (such as assemblies, excursions, internal school conferences, professional development, parent-teacher meetings and so on).
• Allocate one class and one supervising teacher per student (usual setting, cf. alternative above).
• Provide opportunities for the students to actively engage with the learners in the classroom.
• Conduct a feedback session at the end of the Assistant Teachership programme.

Teachers who supervise PH Zurich students must:

• Enable the students to actively participate in the classroom (prepare lessons or parts of lessons and teach classes or groups).
• Provide verbal feedback to students on their English language skills and teaching ability as their mentor (written feedback is not required).
• Hold expert discussions with the students on topics such as lesson design, dealing with diversity, interculturality and school systems.
• Confirm the teaching blocks and student attendance on a form that they must sign.

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation and meals are the responsibility of the students. However, PH Zurich is happy for partner schools to help students find accommodation or a place in a host family.

Remuneration

Partner schools get paid for the three-week Assistant Teachership programme; for more information please contact us via e-mail.

Registration

If you are interested in becoming a partner school in the Assistant Teachership programme, please send us an e-mail.

Contact