Competences and Physical Activity -based Service-Learning of future Primary School English teachers

Abstract

Service-Learning (SL) is an educative methodology that combines student’s pragmatic and inclusive learning, and benefits community. In addition, together with supervised physical activity (PA) and Total Physical Response (TPR) group games, it could make the foreign language learning more natural and effective. The main aim of this study is to analyse the effects of SL competences on university students of Primary Education specialised in English language teaching. The participants were students of the Faculty of Education and Sport Sciences, Campus of Melilla, University of Granada, and the course was Didactics of Literature for Children and Young People in a Foreign Language: English. The SL experiences of 14 students who offered services to migrants by Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) with TPR as a main tool, showed to the students a new pedagogical space and a break in traditional teaching practices. In conclusion, TPR-based SL is a useful methodology to teach English and obtain new perspective of TEFL. Moreover, PA is a tool that favours the development of academic, professional, and personal skills of university students of Primary Education specialised in English language teaching.