Teacher Training | COMENIUS
Introduction
Course Aim
The course is designed for teachers of English in schools within the European Union with the aim of developing their English language and teaching skills as well as heightening their awareness of Irish education and culture.
Course Objectives
- To activate, develop and sustain their language and language skills, in order to use them in a meaningful way to use practical activities to develop their learners' language skills communicatively
- To plan and prepare lessons using a variety of materials and techniques with lexical, functional, phonological and skills-based objectives
- To evaluate their own and others' lesson plans
- To demonstrate that they can manage the classroom by setting up and overseeing activities, pair and group work in order to facilitate the learning.
- To use basic concepts for the analysis and description of language and language use in the classroom and apply this knowledge to planning and teaching.
- To use a range of appropriate activities and techniques to enhance all aspects of learners’ English
- To become more familiar with the European framework and create & evaluate their own materials from authentic Irish sources to use in future classes
- To improve their skill in monitoring and evaluating learning
Course duration and Programme hours
Course outline
There are to be three components to the course. A pre-course distance learning programme One or two weeks of face-to-face contact – inputs, workshops and visits – sample timetable attached An end of course project to be completed when they return to their home country
1) Pre-course study
Three tasks to be completed before the residential part of the course begins
1) A self-assessment task of strengths, needs and lacks in the English language and in teaching skills. (To be completed and returned, preferably on-line) * *2) A preliminary profile of one of their own learners (To be brought to the course) 3) A scheme of work for one class for a week (To be brought to the course)
2) Face-to-face contact sessions
The Atlantic SEAL course for EU Qualified teachers face-to-face contact sessions will consist of:
An intensive programme of two weeks **
a) A course of language development embedded in a integrated skills programme to improve reading, listening, reading and writing
b) An overview of the basic tenets of communicative language teaching through the presentation of a range of practical activities for improving their pupils language learning and cultural awareness
c) Activities to develop further skills in the preparation, planning and evaluation of teaching - setting objectives lesson planning, integrating skills and selecting, adapting and producing materials with reference to the CFER.
d) Inputs on classroom management managing activities and using classroom aids
e) A review of aspects of the English language according to need and request
f) Inputs that include the practical application of teaching techniques to support and facilitate the learning and development of language awareness and grammar, lexical items, the 4 skills and learners independence and autonomy
g) Inputs and tasks on diagnosing, monitoring and evaluating learning with discussions of how best to correct errors
** For those who can only afford the time to attend one week of the course that would be possible since the weeks can stand alone, as long as the pre-course tasks have been completed.
3 Post-course task
A bibliography for further reading will be issued at the end of the course. A post-course task will be negotiated with participants at a one-to-one end of course tutorial. This will be dependant on the individual participant and could be in the form of what is considered most useful from an English language improvement distance learning course or fuller completion of the pre-course profile task to an itemised scheme of work for a term using materials gathered during their visits and residence in West Cork.
Rationale for the course programme
The rationale for the programme is that course members are encouraged to work on certain tasks, backed up by inputs and workshop support, in order to fulfil the aim, objectives and purposes of their participation on the course.
Assessment of the course
Course members will be assessed through the pre-course tasks, their in-course assignments (including reading and listening tasks, lesson plans, materials collection & preparation compilation and participation in class discussions) and their end-of course task. The assessment will be in the form of a written testimonial attached to their certificate of attendance. Course participants will be encouraged to keep up to date with current innovations through the reading of journals such as the ELTJ and IATEFL publications.
The management and delivery of the course
The administrative director will be Barbara Connelly BA HDipEd DipTESOL.
The course leader will be Pat Spruyt BA, PGCE, Diploma in TEFL, MEd Pat has been involved in English language teaching for forty years. She has extensive experience in many areas of language teaching, including EAP, ESP, Course Design, Teacher Training and examining. She has taught EFL at all levels in Italy, Ireland and the UK, as well as co-ordinating training courses in Jersey, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Thailand. She has presented several papers at international conferences. She has worked for Trinity College (London) as an examiner, monitor, moderator and presenter. Her role on the course is to design and co-ordinate the pre-course distance learning, the programme and the assessment of the trainees. She is to share the inputs and the administering of workshops with Peter Spruyt and Aisling O'Donnell. (CVs attached)
The induction and requirements for new trainers
All trainers will be required to have a Trinity or equivalent Diploma or a Masters degree in a relevant area in order to enter the induction programme. An induction will consist of following at least 25% of an on-going course as an observer of both inputs and workshops. All members of the team are encouraged to sit in on each others' sessions from time to time and also to team teach to ensure consistency of delivery in the Atlantic SEAL style.
Support for the professional development and further training of teacher trainers
Trainers will be encouraged to attend outside conferences and to keep up to date with current innovations through reading of journals such as the ELTJ, The Teacher Trainer and IATEFL publications. There will also be regular informal meetings to discuss progress of the courses with the course director and course leader.