e-english for teachers: a case study from latin america graeme hodgson director english language...

E-English for Teachers: A Case Study from Latin America

Graeme Hodgson

Director English Language

British Council Brazil

IATEFL Online – Brighton 2011

“The field of Educational Technology has undergone three overlapping phases, as emphasis has passed from mass instruction, through individual learning to group or collaborative learning”

- Ellington, Percival & Race (1993)

“Since the 1980s, focus has shifted to applications supporting group work, in which the computer acts as a stimulus for exchanges between participants”

– Kenning (2007)

Theoretical Background

Increase the use of English as a tool for international communication;

Global Aims in English

Enable digital inclusion of teachers for access to online learning opportunities;

Ensure that every teacher and learner of English worldwide has access to quality language services from the UK.

Regional English Project

Aim: to create opportunities for Public Sector Teachers by providing access to quality Continued Professional Development, in particular to narrow the gap between resources and EL opportunities available to more affluent and urban communities, and those which are poorer, or in remote and rural areas.

3 Strands : - English language;

- Methodology;

- Professional networking.

Area Brazil: 8,514,876 km2UK: 245,000 km2

Distance Oiapoque to Chuí: 4,320 kmLands End to John O’Groats: 970 km

Geography of Brazil

e-English for Teachers

• MOODLE (Virtual Learning Environment) Initial online orientation period

• 150 hours (3-5 hours per week) over 11 months

• Brazilian e-tutors trained in Distance Education and awarded e-Tutoring Certificate

• Self-Assessment at the end of each unit

• Periodic evaluation by e-tutor of quantity and quality of forum posts and written tasks

Placement Test

www.oxfordenglishtesting.com

CEF Level A2-B1:e-English for Teachers

CEF Level <A2English Teachers’ Portfoliowww.britishcouncil.org.br/etp

www.britishcouncil.org.br

Needs analysis involving key delivery partners Training of e-tutors (e-TC) Placement Test (Level A2-B1, KET to PET) Lead time for signing of legal agreements Availability of ICT resources Monitoring and coordination of e-tutors and participants F2F Launch and/or orientation course Link between e-English and CPD / career plan

Essential Considerations

Key messages for IATEFL

Take Away Message

To narrow the gap in the quality of English Language teaching in Latin America and the Caribbean, the British Council seeks to work together with the private sector, and different levels of government, as well as other sponsors.

We are committed to the creation of

effective partnerships

We are committed to the identification of solutions which are appropriate for the contexts in which our partners live and work We are committed to

sustainability, through local training

and development

We are aware that today English is needed for improving skills for

employability

• Teachers: sign-up for British Council CPD courses (including the e-Moderation course)

British Cultural Institutes worldwide: identification and remuneration of e-tutors as form of outreach to public sector teachers in Brazil.

Private enterprise: remuneration of e-tutors as a CSR initiative

How you can help

Useful websites

• www.teachingenglish.org.uk/brazil

• www.britishcouncil.org.br

• www.oxfordenglishtesting.com

• www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

• www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglishkids

• www.premierskills.britishcouncil.org

• www.britishcouncil.org

Questions

Thank you – Obrigado – Gracias – Merci – Danke schön – Grazie – 谢谢 – Dank u wel – Спасибо - Takk deg - ありがとう

graemehodgson@hotmail.com

Twitter: @grammylatino www.facebook.com/grammylatino