DESCRIPTION
The idevelop English Course is designed for teachers and other school staff, and aims to simultaneously improve their language skills and exchange professional and cultural experiences. We expect our participants to become effective educational leaders and positive change agents in a wide variety of institutional settings and cultural contexts.
To achieve these goals, the whole course programme is based on active participation, effective communication and constructive discussion. Moreover, the modules taught combine linguistic, educational and cultural aspects and are fully adjusted to each group specific expectations, needs and level.
While learning and practicing English in a group setting, participants are able to work together to improve their language skills and competences.
COMPETENCES
The skills acquired by the participants can be useful for:
- Speaking more effectively in public and better controlling and reducing stress.
- Getting more confidence while teaching and expressing their arguments, statements and opinions in a more understandable and clear manner.
- Understanding the basics of conversation not only in person but also on the internet.
- Widening the teachers’ opportunities of the resources and material they can view online, regarding both work topics and materials for personal use.
- Being more aware of both British and Spanish culture and traditions.
- Understanding cultural elements that they may come across through potential work with English or Spanish speaking individuals which they previously would not have been aware of. The course promotes multiculturalism and the understanding of other cultures aside from their own.
- Promoting internationalism, tolerance and simple worlds’ curiosity among students and their co-workers.
DAY BY DAY
- DAY 1: Introduction
Language competences test to evaluate participants’ actual level of English
Introduction to Spanish tradition and culture (watching and analysing video about most important Spanish traditions and celebrations)
Grammar & Vocabulary Summary
Introduction to the next class
Educational systems and programmes in Europe
Introduction to Spanish and British/ American educational system
Comparison and description of educational programmes in participants’ countries (teamwork, presentation)
‘Seville in a nutshell’ – short walking tour in English through Seville (most important monuments, heritage and history)
- DAY 2: Communication skills / Workshop
Communication skills as one of the key competences in teaching and learning Discussion
How to communicate effectively with students? – brainstorming, sharing of experiences and ideas
English pronunciation –introduction
Distribution of topics to be prepared for the next class, explaining a form of presentation
Effective learning & teaching methods / Presentation and practice
Each participant’s presentation of one type of effective learning & teaching methods including practical explanation of its functioning e.g. short exercises for the whole group
Examples of learning methods to be presented:
– Mnemotechnics
– Mind-maps
– Effective note taking
Examples of teaching methods to be presented
– VAK – visual, auditory, kinetics
– Case study
– Simulation games
– Decision trees
– Watching and analysing presentations of each group member (body language, communication skills, etc.)
- DAY 3: Online learning and ICT tools in education
Modern ICT tools in education – discussion and presentation of extracurricular online courses and tools available for students
Debate: ‘The traditional education should be replaced by online learning’
Video analysis – arguments, communication skills, vocabulary, grammar structures, pronunciation
Introduction to Problem Based Learning
Introduction to Problem Based Learning methodology
Are school programmes designed to support or to limit students’ creativity and individualism? – discussion and case study (simulation of PBL class)
Should children be able to choose their courses from the age of 12?
Advantages and disadvantages of prioritising individualism at school – exchange of professional experiences
- DAY 4: Family and Religion in Education / Writing Skills – workshop
Successful writing – workshop
Family and its role and functioning in various cultures (emphasis on its role in education) – discussion and preparing individual essays
Religion in Education – discrimination because of religion or belief in schools Case study
Should religion be taught at school? If so, in which form? – preparation of essays
Comparing the issue of religion as a school subjects in various countries – discussion
Improving Listening Skills
Successful listening – workshop
Listening exercises, quizzes and tests
The idea of multiculturalism – brainstorming
Multiculturalism in different countries – presentations
Teamwork – risks and benefits related to multiculturalism at school
- DAY 5: Course Summary
Final test and evaluation
Summary of goals and results achieved
Networking (exchanging of contacts, etc.)
Tapas evening – Spanish cuisine: tradition and practice – theoretical and practical workshop, revision of food and ‘going out’ vocabulary
Hading in Training Certificates.
METHODOLOGY
The course is designed to encourage active participation of each beneficiary and to use more practice than theory. The following methodologies are to be used:
- Visual learning – a visual source such as a PowerPoint presentation, a guide or an information sheet is provided so that the participant may observe for themselves what is being taught. As teachers they will understand that not every student learns in the same manner and through visual learning they are able to look at/ read what they are learning to further absorb it.
- PowerPoint Presentation – in order to practice their language skills, the participants will have the chance to research a cultural topic and create a presentation on this topic. The act of teaching somebody else,further engrains the material in one’s mind, therefore, this activity is designed to help the participants to reinforce what they have learnt.
- Kinetic learning – the participant will put into practice what they have been taught by completing activities, worksheets and discussions about each topic in order to reinforce their knowledge and to ensure that the vocabulary is retained after the completion of the class.
RESULTS
On completion of this course participants will be able to:
- Greet somebody and ask how they are
- Introduce them self and give personal information
- Use vocabulary from basic topics such as colours and professions
- Ask and tell the time
- Discuss their likes and dislikes and what they enjoy doing in their free time
- Know and remember vocabulary from basic topics such as days and months
- Know and remember food vocabulary and traditional food in the UK
- Place an order in a restaurant
- Follow a recipe and create their own
- Use the imperative tense
- Give and follow directions
- Know and remember how to form the present simple tense
- Know and remember some colloquial English phrases
NEXT COURSES
400€
Services included
- Pre-arrival information.
- Tuition & training materials.
- Coffee break.
- Training Certificate.
- Europass Certificate.
- Admin & organizational costs.
Additional services
- Accommodation (hotels & self-catering apartments).
- Half-day and one-day trips.
- Cultural activities.
- Airport transfer.
- Local transport.
