Teacher Training

• A practical look at current teaching ideas and materials.
• Improving of participants’ English teaching terminology for the primary classroom.
• A comparison of teaching methods in different countries represented in the class, including Malta.
• Cultural background to children’s lives in Malta, their upbringing and educational expectations.
• Motivating and encouraging young learners.
• Instruction, suggestions and encouragement on how to design own-made materials.
• The provision of practical, up-to-date teaching ideas using new technology (IWB) specifically aimed at young learners.
• Creativity in the classroom using music, songs, story-telling, drama and art for presenting simple grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and all four skills.
• Use of the internet as a learning tool (introduction to websites).
• Meeting new colleagues from different cultures to share ideas and experiences.
• Self-assessment, improvement and continuing professional development through reflection and analysis

The goal of this course is to further equip and improve the practice of English language teaching at secondary levels. Importance is given to methods that help to motivate young pupils and engage their versatile imaginations. Participants will have the opportunity to share ideas and personal experiences in an environment where different approaches to secondary level language teaching can be discussed. Participants will be able to do important research into modern methodology using these approaches, and will also have the chance to put all this into practice.

The sessions are in English, presented through interactive whiteboards, covering the following:

• A practical look at current teaching ideas and materials.
• Improving of participants’ English teaching terminology for the secondary classroom.
• A comparison of teaching methods in different countries represented in the class, including Malta.
• Cultural background to children’s lives in Malta, their upbringing and educational expectations.
• Motivating and encouraging young learners.
• Instruction, suggestions and encouragement on how to design own-made materials.
• The provision of practical, up-to-date teaching ideas using new technology (IWB) specifically aimed at young learners.
• Creativity in the classroom using music, songs, story-telling, drama and art for presenting simple grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and all four skills.
• Use of the internet as a learning tool (introduction to websites).
• Meeting new colleagues from different cultures to share ideas and experiences.
• Self-assessment, improvement and continuing professional development through reflection and analysis

This course is aimed at developing and improving the methodological and pedagogical skills of non-native teachers of English who are teaching or want to teach children or young students with learning disabilities. All sessions are in English, presented through interactive whiteboards, and present a practical look at current ideas regarding the best ways to teach students with dyslexia. These latest methodologies for young learners with learning disabilities will be presented in interactive sessions and workshops. While learning about new teaching tools, participants will be able to do important research into modern learning disability methodology. By the end of the course, participants will feel confident in their understanding of and ability to adapt to the needs of these students.

The course consists of:

• A practical look at current best practice in teaching students with learning disabilities.
• Increasing participants’ understanding of English teaching terminology.
• Practical ways of ensuring learners’ comfort and developing their confidence and self-esteem.
• Ideas that motivate and encourage learners with poor auditory short-term memory.
• Techniques for getting students with dyslexia to move information from short-term to long-term memory.
• Creativity in the classroom for presenting grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and all four skills.
• Use of the internet as a learning tool (introduction to key websites).
• Using music, songs, drama and storytelling to help learners with dyslexia.

This course is aimed at developing and improving the methodological and pedagogical IT skills of teachers of English. The Interactive Flat Panel, known as IFP(the next generation of IWB - Interactive Whiteboard), revolution is now sweeping into English language classrooms, but many teachers are still unsure and afraid of the multi-sensory potential of the IFP, or lack sufficient IFP training. The course includes a combination of lectures and practical workshop sessions using the Hitachi StarBoard IFP software. All of the sessions are in English and presented on IFPs, and are designed to simultaneously demonstrate and empower trainees with the methodology and pedagogy behind the IFP. Trainees will learn to incorporate this new frontier into their language teaching and get the most out of the IFP’s powerful interactivity and how it can augment motivation and stimulate students’ learning. Whether you are a complete beginner or have limited experience of the IFP, this course will enable you to resource and prepare multi-sensory lessons and unleash the IFP’s potential in your classroom. It also gives you the opportunity to have practical skills training on the Hitachi StarBoard given by qualified Hitachi StarBoard Teacher Trainers.

All the methodology and techniques which apply to IFPs are also still equally valid for IWBs.

The course is designed to:

• Enable the understanding of IFP methodology and pedagogy so that teachers may incorporate and use the IFP interactively in language teaching.
• Enable use of the main functions of the Hitachi Starboard (IFP) and to learn appropriate StarBoard software skills.
• Improve the participants’ knowledge and understanding of English teaching terminology.
• Enable use of the IFP for the teaching of English language skills: speaking & listening, reading & writing, grammar & vocabulary.
• Give the teacher the opportunity to begin building some of their own IFP lesson resources using the StarBoard Software, overseen and assisted by the Hitachi Teacher Trainer.”

This course is presented in English using hi-tech, vibrant, audio-visual presentations on Interactive White Boards. The course gives trainees an overview, analysis and practical knowledge about teaching curricula based in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). The course is for teachers who teach subjects such as geography, history, mathematics, etc. through the English language to non-native speakers of English whether primary or secondary students.

Project workshops are set up with materials presented to be analyzed, and then participants collaborate on producing new materials or adapting existing ones for their own teaching environments. Successful and accurate assessment of learners will be discussed with various methods presented for participants to analyze. Participants will be presented with suitable websites to further enhance their teaching skills and their ongoing professional development, and in other workshops participants are given the opportunity to share their own stories, knowledge and tips based on their successes and difficulties with teaching CLIL. They will also be directed to CLIL-based blogs where they can share their experiences and activities with other teachers and trainers.

The course may also include a daily self-study component for participants to focus on enhancing their English language knowledge and complete some coursework tasks.

Aim of the Course:

• Introduce the main principles of CLIL.
• Create awareness of current trends in English language teaching, specifically with regard to CLIL.
• Develop teachers’ awareness of where they stand in their own CLIL teaching experience.
• Convey new and practical ideas for teachers to work with.
• Allow teachers to design their own teaching materials and share them.
• Help improve the teacher’s command of English in the area of classroom management