MAKING THE MOST OF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE IN LONDON, UK

           In August 2005 I had the wonderful chance to participate in an in-service teacher training course (within the Comenius 2.2- Socrates programme), held at Oxford House College, from London, UK.
          The course focused on 'Teaching Cultural Awareness', 'Teaching with ICT', 'Teaching Children with Special Needs', 'Learner Autonomy and Independent Learning' and 'Teaching English through Literature' and 'IELTS & TOEFL'. The Professional Course also included library research, project work, observation of teaching, staffroom collaboration. The observation of multilingual classes gave me the opportunity to explore the roles of observer and ‘observee’, to chart lesson stages and to see classroom management and techniques in practice.
Examples of syllabus content included activities for teaching English literature, conducting a cultural awareness survey, adapting to different learning styles and needs, promoting learning outside the classroom, teaching with internet and intranet, analysing didactic business English materials, career development and portfolio-building.
           The above-mentioned sections of the course helped me to update my teaching stategies according to my learners' needs and gain a broader understanding of the European dimension of my work. Besides, this in-service teacher training activity provided me and implicitly my institution with the opportunity to get into contact with my European counterparts and develop future activities in collaboration with them and their pupils.
           The training centre from Oxford House College offers an exciting central London location in Oxford Street, with world-famous shopping and sightseeing to enjoy.
Excellent facilities, including a modern library and free broadband Internet access, together with regular teacher feedback and a busy social programme mean that you will be able to practise your English at every opportunity.
            As regards the homestay accommodation, I felt at home and was able to practise my English in friendly surroundings.
 

by Andreea Silter (teacher) - School no. 191, Bucharest, Romania

MAKING THE MOST OF A DIGITAL AUDIO AND VIDEO COURSE HELD IN AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

          In August 2007 I had the wonderful chance to participate in an in-service teacher training course (within the Comenius 2.2- Socrates programme), held at 'The Amsterdam-Maastricht Summer University', Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
          The course I attended in 2007 focused on 'Digital Audio and Video in Language Teaching'. As we all know, this is definitely the computer age so, the traditional methods of teaching no longer suffice in this technological world. That is why this course (“Digital Audio and Video) was a great opportunity for me, as a teacher of English to update my teaching strategies and improve my competence in using computers and other new media (digital video and audio) in English language teaching.
This in-service training activity helped me get familiar with different collaborative and interactive working methods using synchronous communication with digital audio and video.
           In this intensive course participants acquired specific knowledge about Internet applications and resources relevant for foreign language teaching. This course helped the participating teachers create language materials useful in their classroom practice.
           Examples of syllabus content included activities of video and audio editing for language learning and teaching using Audacity and Movie Maker.
           The course was held in one of the buildings equipped with computer rooms of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) located in the city centre.

          The participants could take part (for free) in lots of cultural activities: guided walking tour in the historic city centre of Amsterdam, guided visits to the Amsterdam Historical Museum, a boat tour etc.
           This course helped me focus on professional practice and knowledge and enhance my professional status and career development, both within my institution and in the profession as a whole.
 

by Andreea Silter (teacher) - School no. 191, Bucharest, Romania