Professional Certificate in Spanish for Teaching at Post-Primary Level

The Professional Certificate in Spanish for Teaching at Post-Primary Level aims to provide domestic and international candidates with an opportunity to complete the subject-specific credits they require in order to be able to submit themselves for accreditation through the Teaching Council of Ireland. It is particularly suitable for holders of a BA and HDip/PME who already teach in the post-primary system and want to add Spanish as an additional subject to their skillset, it will also be of interest to international candidates (including native speakers of Spanish), who have completed their teacher education, have had it approved by the Teaching Council, but require up to 20 ECTS credits in Spanish to register as teachers of the language. This programme has been specifically tailored to meet the Teaching Council of Ireland's requirements for registration as an accredited Spanish teacher at post-primary level. The programme offers intensive studies in the areas of Spanish translation, literary/cultural studies of the Spanish-speaking world, and Spanish language pedagogy. In this way, it aims to enhance students knowledge and understanding of important concepts in Spanish language and literature, culture and society, including their didactic and methodological application.

Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. Under normal circumstances, applicants should have a BA involving Spanish Studies or a cognate discipline (e.g. linguistics, literary/cultural studies) with at least a 2.1 degree, or equivalent. Applicants whose previous history of education does not fit this profile are invited to contact the Programme Director to enquire about their eligibility to apply for the programme.

Minimum CEFR Proficiency level of B2.2 in Spanish and C1.1 in English. You will be required to provide one of the following:

a) Documentation from a previous institution/course in which the proficiency acquired is deemed to be commensurate with B2.2

b) Where this is not available, you could complete a SIELE exam to confirm level of proficiency. The Cervantes Institute in Dublin, for example, would facilitate these exams.

IELTS - 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each band; TOEFL internet-based test iBT: 90 with no less than 21 in writing and at least 19 in all other sections; Pearson Test of English - 63 with no less than 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section; Duolingo English Test (DET) - 120 with no less than 110 in literacy, conversation, and comprehension subscores and no less than 95 in production. (This lower production subscore applies to non-EU applicants only), Cambridge Proficiency Cert. - 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English. Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2); Cambridge Advanced Cert. - 176+ on Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2); ETAPP - C1 or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2); Oxford Test of English - 140 with no less than 125 in each skill.