Training Programmesfor Teachersof English

2016

“English Can be Green too”Programme for teachers of English

Aim of Programme

� To offer teachers a chance todevelop their own Englishlanguage knowledge through atotal immersion in the languagein a supportive and positiveenvironment.

� To give teachers an insight intothe everyday life and culture ofpeople living in England throughfirst-hand experiences, meetinga range of people and subsequentdiscussions of what they see/hear.

� To consider a wide range ofenvironmental topics and issuesand one in more depth byobservation, research and projectwork with other participants.

� To experience how the“unplugged” approach can beeffective in engaging students inissues and their languagedevelopment.

� To increase the teacher’s ownconfidence in using English ineveryday situations.

� To develop a fieldworkobservational philosophy inraising awareness and developinginterest in the English language.

� To learn and develop the skill ofworking within a team on aproject, with decision making,task sharing, evaluating all partsof the process.

� To share with other teachersin neighbouring countries ideasfor teaching and motivatingstudents.

Target group of teachers

� Teachers in schools which placea high value on the environmentor teachers interested in theenvironment themselves andlooking at ways of integrating itinto their lessons.

� Subject teachers involved inCLIL through English or teachersof English being required to teachother subjects i.e. science orgeography.

Techniques used

� Fieldwork will play a major part ofthe course – teachers’ ownobservations and conversations willbe used throughout and this sharingof different experiences is key.

� Recording of conversations,images, signs, activities will beencouraged and then shared.

� Presentations of the selected topicto the other participants.

Activities planned

� Visits include one to The EdenProject but most visits will beplanned by the groups themselveson their selected topic of research.

� Talks will also be planned withlocal environmentalists and at leastone politician, and others can beset up once the groups are on tasks.� “The Classroom” is not confined to

a room, but is wherever there issomething to see, listen to ordiscuss. This can involve a pub, abus, a coach, a café, a shop or a train.

� Teachers teaching at all agegroups will also gain greatly, sincethe flexibility of the programmeenables appropriate experiencesto be had.

� Teacher trainers are alsowelcome and the combined 50years experience of the highlyregarded course trainers ensuresthat what is offered will bevaluable and fresh insights giveninto how to help teachers.

Themes

� Sustainability of our resources,agriculture, alternative energysources, UNESCO biospheres,recycling, lifestyle, nationalparks.

� Translating these topics intolanguage development tasks.

� Participants will discuss a widerange of issues which impact onthe UK but which will also beable to be considered in the lightof the teacher’s home.

The approach and Philosophy of the SOL“English can be Green too” Programmes.

17th - 28th July 2016

Many schools across Europe arebecoming ‘Green schools’ anddeveloping green attitudes toeducation.

In ELT and in CLIL (Content andLanguage Integrated Learning)settings there are already cross-curricular projects for both primaryand secondary students to raiseawareness of issues relating to thesurvival of our planet.

The SOL Green “unplugged” coursethis summer is a course which aimsto address these issues with ahands-on approach, allowingteachers to review and make deci-sions about which green issuesthey think are important.

The course is an adaptation oflast year’s highly successful“unplugged” course which wasbased on a methodology whichencourages teamwork, decision-making, responsibility andspontaneity.

The Eden Project in Cornwall runstransformational social andenvironmental projects and a visitto this centre, (pictured top right)at the beginning of the course willserve to frame the issues exploredby the teachers in Devon. Here,both tropical and Mediterraneanenvironments can be experiencedand there will be the opportunityto attend an educational talk onsustainability and what the wideraims of the Eden Project are.

After initial input from thetutors on key principles of thecourse and meetings with peoplewho are involved in caring forthe environment, teachers willorganise themselves into groups,be given money to explore NorthDevon, interview many localpeople and then produce anonline journal about the greening ofNorth Devon.

The course represents many of thefeatures of the strong form ofcommunicative language teachingwith an emphasis on negotiatingwhat happens in the classroom and,with a built-in reflective element,has led to many teachers who havebeen on the course already doingthings differently when they returnto their classrooms in September

By the end of the courseteachers will know more aboutBritain through visiting abeautiful part of the country bythe sea, where there are manyopportunities to use and listento English spoken by a widerange of people in the localcommunity and haveexperienced a course rooted in amore unplugged, spontaneousapproach to teaching.

Teachers will have experiencedworking in projects on Greenissues which they will be able totake back to their classrooms athome and be inspired to set upprojects in their own schoolswhich address the issues thathave been covered on in Devon.

“English can be Green too!”Programme with tutors Fiona Mauchline & Mark Andrews

At SOL, Bridge Chambers, Barnstaple, Devon . 17th -28th July 2016 (17th July arrival in London)

Monday 18th July

08.30 Teachers meet at the Heritage Centre

08.40 - 9.15 Mapping our course participants on our own map& Mosaic work

Getting to know each other activity where participants fromdifferent countries find out about each other

09.15 - 09.30 OrientationTeachers get to know the logistics of the SOL building and meet

SOL staff

09.45 -10.45 Launching our course in the Barnstaple Bike-Shed CafeThe Cafe is a friendly place and an ideal one to start a Green

course!

11.00 - 12.15 Barnstaple Town TourBarnstaple is the oldest designated borough in England and has along interesting history. This will be a tour through the Town

with the Town Crier, Tom Evans

Lunch

13.30-17.45 Out and About in BarnstapleMeeting local people and ending with a feedback session in the

Bike Shed Cafe.Tuesday 19th July

08.30 - 10.00 Focus on Principles and history of teaching“unplugged”.

10.30 - 12.30 Visit to Fullabrook Wind FarmFullabrook is the biggest on-shore wind farm in the west of

England.

Lunch

13.30 - 17.45Visit to Braunton Burrows

The North Devon Biosphere was the first reserve designated byUNESCO in the UK (there are 6 in all, but 621 across the Worldin 117 countries). It overs the area from Lundy Island to the

heights of Exmoor. Central to this is the Braunton Burrows sanddune system at the estuary of the rivers Taw and Torridge. There

will be a guided tour by the wardens of this remarkable placewith its exceptional flora and fauna.

Wednesday 20th July

08.30-10.00 Responsibility in language learning and organising themedia project

10.30-12.30“Fair Trade” and what it means

Includes a visit to the Fair Trade Shop in Barnstaple

Lunch

13.30 - 18.30 Visit to Yarde Orchard“A yummy organic cafe and eco-accommodation on the family-

friendly Tarka Trail cycle route, deep in the beautiful NorthDevon Country Side”

18.30 - 19.30 “Fish & Chips” Dinner

19.45 - 22.00 ‘International’ Folk Singing EveningAn opportunity for teachers to contribute songs from their

countries as well as listening to a local band singing songs aboutthe local area as well as other traditional folk songs.

Thursday 21st July

08.30 - 17.45 All Day Visit to The Eden Project (Cornwall)The Eden Project was a landmark project which opened in 2001and has welcomed more than 13 million visitors. It employs 600

people and 300 additional volunteers who maintain a trulyenvironmental educational experience to those who visit.

Its focus is on the interdependence of people with plants but alsoon conservation especially the massive amount of water used tocreate the humid conditions or the tropical biome. Geothermal

energy is also now part of the project.

Friday 22nd July

08.30 - 10.00 Reflections on the visits so far

10.30-12.30 Visit to The Museum of British Surfing, BrauntonAs well as celebrating 125 years of surfing in Britain the museum

is committed to promoting the conservation, protection andimprovement of the physical and natural environment and aims toencourage participation of surfing as part of a healthy life-style.

12.30 - 17.45 Visit to Saunton Sands and Croyde BaySaunton Sands, famous beach used in several film sets.

Croyde, a small village popular as a holiday destination and forhaving one of the best surfing beaches in the UK. The visit will in-

clude a talk by a surfing instructor about surfing.

16.30 - 18.30**Bus back toBarnstaple for20.00

*Optional surfing lesson (additional cost)For those interested the possibility of having a 2 hour surf lesson

(all equipment provided). A memory to be treasured!

Saturday 23rd July

08.30 - 17.00Beginning of Project Work

Locations and content decided on by course participants

17.00-17.45 Review of the day and sharing of research

Sunday 24th July

Family DayA day for teachers to spend some time with their host families.

The host family is a key element of the experience in Britain anda place where teachers will find out a lot about life in Britain.

Monday 25th July08.30 - 17.00 Project work continues

Locations and content decided on by course participants

17.00 - 17.45 Review of the day and sharing of research

20.30 - 22.00 Pub Quiz at “The Rolle Quay”

Tuesday 26th July

08.30 - 17.00 Project work continuesLocations and content decided on by course participants

17.00 - 17.45 Review of the day and sharing of research

Wednesday 27th July

08.30 - 09.15 “Bringing Students to SOL”How Sol works with students and their accompanying teachers

on a language and culture Course in Devon.

09.30 - 12.30 Preparation time for Presentations

Lunch Extended lunch

14.00 -15.30 PresentationsThese may be poster, powerpoint or realia based.

15.45-16.45 Evaluations and CertificatesAn important time to reflect on the course.

17.00 - 17.45 Finale

Thursday 28th July

06.30 Departure day - Travel to London

Application for SOL Teacher Programmes

Application for either of our teachers courses can be madedirectly by e-mail to SOL.

Please indicate your preferred course and give your full name,school and home address. This enables us to send youconfirmation that there is a place reserved for you on the course sothat the school can apply for the grant such as Erasmus+.

The Full price is or either course.

For those with grant the course is subsidised by SOL and the price is. Even less for returning participants or those with vouchers!

Whilst the programme involves 12 days in England, every day willbe part of the programme and SOL meets you in London on arrivalday and returns you on the departure day.

The breakdown of costs, which may be required for the applicationwill be sent with the confirmation.

You will be assured of a warm welcome from all at SOL and anoutstanding course.

Our contact e-mail is sol@sol.org.uk

Sharing One Language

SOL, 2 Bridge Chambers, The Strand, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1HB(+44 (0)1271 327319 * SOL@SOL.ORG.UK