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Since the early 1990s, professional learning communities (PLCs) have been widely recognized as an effective, extensively researched approach to professional development, school improvement, and student learning enhancement as well as leadership development within educational settings. Nevertheless, there remains a scarcity of research concerning the impact of this approach to professional development within the context of initial teacher education. The present study is one of the first to systematically examine the possibilities and potential of PLCs for student teachers in their practical pedagogical studies (internship). In particular, the study examines whether Student-Teacher PLCs (ST-PLCs) can be implemented in pre-teacher education and the perceptions of student teachers concerning their participation and professional learning within an ST-PLC. A total of 56 students from the University of Education Vorarlberg (Austria), the University of Málaga (Spain), and the European University Cyprus participated in the study, responding to an online questionnaire and engaging in focus-group interviews. The data collected indicated that ST-PLCs serve as a robust strategy for collaborative learning and the development of professional competencies. An analysis of the qualitative data showed that ST-PLCs are spaces where the reflection and analysis of teaching-related topics are stimulated, supported, shared, encouraged, and enhanced.

Background: Research interest in FLE and its associated factors has increased in recent years, especially regarding learner-internal factors. Happiness could potentially be one of the predictors of FLE. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the link between foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and a measure of subjective happiness (SH). Methods: A total of 594 adult foreign language learners aged 16 to 72 participated in the study. Ten items extracted from the FLE scale and the SH scale translated and validated into Spanish were used to gather the data. Results: With a significant 3.6% shared variance between FLE and SH, the study found that participants with higher scores on FLE have higher scores on SH. However, the percentage of shared variance found is considerably higher for different subgroups (e.g., 6.7% for the older adolescent group and 10% for mature and senior adults). The results suggest that the relationship between personality variables and FLE may differ depending on learner-internal factors such as age, gender, competence level and foreign language. Implications: The study opens a new line of research into the interaction between FLE and happiness, and factors affecting it with a sample that, due to the wide range of participant ages and the number of participants beyond their twenties, is more representative of the adult foreign language learner population than is usually the case in studies of FLE.

This paper presents a test aimed at assessing university students’ reading competence –The Reading Competence Test for University Students (in Spanish, Test de Competencia Lectora para Universitarios, Test CLUni)– and the results obtained in the test by prospective Early Years and Primary Education teachers. The theoretical framework underlying the test is followed by description of the pilot stage and the validation process; this included content and expert validity. Next, the test is characterised. It consists of six authentic texts (four continuous and two non-continuous texts) that were selected according to the proposed text types in PISA-2012. Finally, the results obtained in the test by a sample of 288 students in the Bachelor Degree of Early Years (n=148, 51.4%) and Primary Education (n=140, 48,6%) at the University of Málaga in the academic year 2013/4 are presented. Results pertaining the students’ perceptions on the difficulty of the test are also included.