Sergi Gordon

Combining philological and practical teaching

During the Master's degree in Barcelona, we focused on a deep knowledge of Spanish on different philological aspects, and it was well complemented with specialised subjects like 'Cinema in the Spanish lesson', which gave a more practical side. Overall, the Master's gave me a really solid basis on teaching approaches and the Spanish language.

On the other hand, the PGCE at Goldsmiths focused mainly on practical aspects, especially for the subject lectures, which were the most engaging in the way that Goldsmiths’ teachers showed us how amazing and fun the communicative approach and using target language is.

Experiencing different cultures

When studying a Master's for teaching Spanish to foreigners, we can assume that a possibility is working abroad, and that was my intention. I had already studied abroad thanks to the different programmes that the University of Barcelona has, and I find it very enriching living abroad and learning about other cultures.

When I arrived at Goldsmiths, I had quite functional English, which improved extremely with living in the UK when I started with the PGCE. It allowed me to see how universities worked here and gave me an insight into how the educational system in England operates.

Interactive learning

Something amazing in the PGCE was the teaching of methodology through experience. We spent a few lessons learning Urdu just for us to see how the student is feeling while learning a foreign language, all of this with engaging activities, games, songs, and competitions which enhanced the use of the target language.

Preparing for the future

The combination of practical learning on the PGCE with the solid pedagogy of the Master's allowed me to have a head start on my teaching career and quickly gain the opportunity to get into positions of responsibility and manage teams with more experienced teachers.

Advice for prospective students

I would definitely recommend this partnership programme if you are considering being a teacher and are attracted to the English culture. It is a great opportunity that allows you to have an insight into an amazing profession and live in a vibrant city like London, which was my first idea coming six years ago.

I said to myself "Give it a try, if you like it, amazing; if not, you've got the opportunity to live in London for a year".