Post-graduate Certificate in the Teaching of Shakespeare
Learn to teach Shakespeare with world experts. Let the Royal Shakespeare Company and our own distinguished academic staff inspire your students with passion and understanding for Shakespeare and other classic texts.
The Royal Shakespeare Company of Stratford on Avon (RSC) have combined with the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne, in the words of the RSC's own mission, to: "give all young people opportunities to have positive experiences of Shakespeare:
- To give young people ownership of Shakespeare by unlocking the power of his language and exploring the contemporary relevance of his plays;
- To give teachers the confidence, skills and support to engage in the practical teaching of Shakespeare's plays."
The techniques of the rehearsal room come together with the strategies of the classroom to give you a new way of teaching based on the most up-to-date and innovative practices of both the theatre and of arts education.
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Who is this course suitable for?
The course is designed for all teachers and other professionals who encounter and teach both Shakespeare and other complex and classic texts, in secondary, tertiary, upper primary and other community contexts: English teachers and lecturers, drama teachers, also teachers of general liberal studies, literature and literacy, directors of theatre in the community.
Course structure
The innovative structure of the course comprises:
- Two intensives: practical workshops in the school holidays
- Followed by implementation and action research in your own classroom or workplace
- Backed up by our online and electronic support
which makes it available to rural and regional teachers across Australia.
An intensive workshop starts each semester, with RSC professionals and the University's own renowned drama educators: the first, a week in mid-January, the second a week in July.
The teaching strategies and techniques you have experienced in the workshops are then trialled with your own students, in your classrooms, so that you are value-adding to your teaching without adding to your workload. These trials will take the form of assisted action research projects; designed by you with our ongoing advice, support and tuition through distance mode: online and including teleconferences, electronic meetings and forums.
Intensive Dates:
Summer: 11 - 15 January 2010
Winter: 5 - 9 July 2010
Eligibility
An applicant may be eligible for entry into the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Shakespeare, if the applicant has:
- For teachers: An appropriate undergraduate degree and a fourth-year level education qualification, or equivalent, including some study of drama, theatre studies, literature or allied disciplines, or
- For community workers: An undergraduate degree in a relevant area, eg English or drama, together with at least two years professional experience in either theatre performance, directing or production, or in working in educational contexts.
In addition to one of the above, you must have access to a school or educational setting where you can implement the work-place based component.
There is a strict quote on the places available, and you will need to write a letter of application stating your qualifications, appropriateness and readiness for the course. Interviews may also be called for.
We look forward to meeting you on the course - but hurry - places are very limited!
How to apply
For information on how to apply, please contact the course co-ordinators:
John O'Toole: j.otoole@unimelb.edu.au, Tel (03) 8344 8339
Richard Sallis: sallis@unimelb.edu.au, Tel (03) 8344 8799
Kate Donelan: k.donelan@unimelb.edu.au, Tel (03) 8344 8534
Application process
Timely applications close on 30 November 2009 with late applications considered on a case-by-base basis.
For more information download the brochure (pdf 3.8 MB)
You can submit your application for the program online here