Teaching Skills for Teachers: a practical approach
to methodology and techniques to use in the classroom

English Language Course Time Table

Description:

It is aimed at teachers in primary and secondary education, who are required to teach their subjects in English. The course focuses on enhancing and improving the participants' language and teaching skills, while also presenting an opportunity to observe how the British school curriculum is taught. In addition, participants will be exposed to British culture while staying in an English host family. The teaching element concentrates on specific classroom language usage, management, teaching and learning styles and general English.

There are 1 and 2 week courses available (Monday – Friday) - Arrivals/Departures are at weekend
These programmes are also eligible for EU funding through Comenius [2]
Applications should be made minimum one month before the course starting date
The maximum group / class size is 8 and the minimum 3
The minimum language level required is Intermediate/B1

Application Deadlines:

30 April 2013 (courses starting 01 September – 31 December 2013)

17 September 2013 (courses starting 01 January 2014 – 30 April 2014)

2013 course dates:

March 4-8 (one week) and 4-15 (two weeks) Plymouth

May 6-10 (one week) and 6-17 (two weeks) Plymouth

June 3-7 (one week) and 3-14 (two weeks) Portsmouth

June 17-21 (one week) and 17-28 (two weeks) Plymouth

July 15-19 (one week) and 15-26 (two weeks) Plymouth

August 19-23 (one week) and 19-30 (two weeks) Portsmouth

September 9-13 (one week) and 9-20 (two weeks) Plymouth

September 23-27 (one week) and Sep 23 - Oct 4 (two weeks) Portsmouth

October 7-11 (one week) and 7-18 (two weeks) Plymouth

October 28 - Nov 1 (one week) and Oct 28 - Nov 8 (two weeks) Portsmouth

November 11-15 (one week) and 11-22 (two weeks) Plymouth

The course package includes:

Tuition
Enrollment fee
Training and workshops
Course materials
Private Home Business class half-board accommodation
Free internet use
Orientation tour of Plymouth or Portsmouth

The price does not include local bus pass, cultural programme, airport transfer or upgraded accommodation (For other types of accommodation, please contact us).

Funding

Teachers from the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Turkey and Iceland applying for this course at Meridian Plymouth English Centre, are eligible for EU Lifelong Learning funding.

This programme is also eligible for EU funding through COMENIUS.

Who can apply?

We are providing In-Service Training for school education staff - teachers and trainers.

COMENIUS

Primary, secondary and vocational schools.

How to apply?

You can apply directly to your national agency within Lifelong Learning Programme within Grundtvig. http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/llp/national_en.html [3] " target="_blank">Click here to find your national agency website.

Essential Preparation for the Course

Course participants are kindly asked to write a 250-word essay (minimum), in which they describe the following:

Their most memorable learning experiences, both positive and negative

These tasks, which will be kept anonymous, will lay the foundation for the first methodology workshop. Prior to the course, we will send each confirmed participant an electronic questionnaire to ascertain their needs, so that we can adjust the course accordingly. Participants will be continuously evaluated and adjustments made in response to the evaluations.

Methodology

Wherever possible, the participants are divided into multi-national groups so that they can practice their English communication skills. An important part of the course is based on workshops, focusing on various aspects of teaching and learning styles, introducing the various techniques in use, the challenges involved and their solutions through discussion, role play, team work and assignments. The methodology, along with the techniques used, aim to search and improve ways in which students at home can be supported to benefit from their lesson as much as possible.

Targets

Improvement of language skills
Boosting confidence in teaching subjects in English
Revision / introduction of transferable teaching techniques, e.g. multiple intelligences, editing and structuring reading texts, reinforcement and different approaches to teaching.
Gaining insights into British culture
Encouragement of sharing best practices, ideas and materials between colleagues within the EU

Expected Outcomes

Acquisition of practical language to be used in the classroom
Heightened awareness of different classroom techniques
Acquisition of new techniques, ideas, sources of materials and new contacts
Enhanced personal language skills
Boosted confidence in teaching other subjects in English
New insights into British culture

Feedback and Follow up:

Towards the end of the course, each participant will be provided with a private session with the tutor(s), so that feedback can be obtained and advice for further development given. Also, each participant will receive a certificate at the end of the course.

Airport transfer: [4] We can assist with airport transfer.