In all school subjects one often learns thinking skills, concepts and the technique of the particular subject concerned, for example reading, writing, scientific and mathematical computation, but it is especially in the Humanities that one learns what it means to be human. It is in the Humanities that one learns about society and how it works and how one can participate in a democracy. The Humanities give you an appreciation of identity, the past, context and location while all the time one gains an understanding of the methodologies of these subjects and how they operate.
If you are passionate about geography and want to share your fascination with the subject with young people, then a career as a geography teacher might be just right for you. Geography is a holistic subject that bridges the humanities with the sciences. It is a subject of our time, dealing with a breadth of topics. It touches on many contemporary environmental concerns. Geography education adopts a rounded approach that helps young people to understand and appreciate the world around them.
The two-year course offers instruction on several educational and pedagogical aspects including lesson planning, what makes a good geography lesson, raising curiosity and opening up students’ awareness, resource construction and use, exciting out-of-classroom experiences, including fieldwork and site visits, learning theories, dealing with challenging behavior and assessment matters, to mention but a few.
Geography can be a fascinating subject to teach and has real-life applications. Student teachers observe classroom teaching and undergo two teaching practice sessions, where theory is linked with practice.
If you are thinking about becoming a geography teacher – go for it!
History is an exciting subject which presents various opportunities to study past events from Maltese and European history. Specific history skills and concepts help critical thinking which is one of the most important skills for future citizens of a democracy. Therefore, a history teacher is much more than a story teller of a given narrative, as a history teacher you can help pupils interpret historical evidence and come up with their own interpretation of past based on historical evidence. The department of Languages and Humanities in the Faculty of Education does not promote traditional history teaching but advocates a history pedagogy based on the ‘Source Method’. This involves learning how to analyse both Primary and Secondary sources and to build a valid interpretation. In turn you will train how best to help pupils in school achieve historical understanding while learning how history itself works.
Social Studies is a subject which presents various opportunities to focus on society, both Maltese, European and the globalized society. The Social Studies Educator has special responsibilities to deliver ideas and tools to study the society we are living in, and question everything. Critical thinking is a 21st century skill needed by both present and future citizens of a democracy. Social Studies students are discussing but rights, responsibilities of individuals within a diverse, multicultural and global society. The department of Languages and Humanities in the Faculty of Education does not promote traditional Social Studies chalk and talk teaching but advocates a Social Studies pedagogy based on the discussions and eliciting the information from students. This involves learning how to analyse the “WHY?” of situations and events occurring yesteryear and today, the sources and their bias and how to build a valid interpretation. In turn you will train how best to help learners achieve Social understanding while learning how society itself works.
European Studies is a subject which presents the European dimension of a globalized multicultural Malta and the wider society. The European Studies Educator delivers ideas and questioning tools to study what makes our society European. Critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity are a 21st century skills used in European Studies needed by both local and European citizens of a democracy. European Studies students discuss both the European Union and Europe in its wider context. European citizens’ rights and responsibilities are analysed, together with historical events that led to a diverse, multicultural and global society we know today. The department of Languages and Humanities in the Faculty of Education does not promote traditional European Studies chalk and talk teaching but advocates a European Studies pedagogy based on the research, discussions and eliciting the information from students. This involves learning how to analyse the European element of situations and events that occurred yesteryear and we still feel the effects today, 100s of years later. In turn you will train how best to help learners understand what is Europe and the European dimension.
