Teacher benefits from Comenius Inservice training programme

Stephanie Vella, MA, a teacher of English Language and Literature at St Paul's Missionary College, Rabat, recently attended a week's International Teachers' Course funded by Socrates - the European Community Programme, and the Comenius Inservice Training Programme.

The course, entitled "Language Development and Britain Today" was held at Hilderstone College, Broadstairs, Kent, between August 12 and 16.

Hilderstone College is an international college where respect for people of all cultures is valued very highly. The course was organised for teachers of English from various countries and other participants came from Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Holland, Germany, Turkey and Japan.

The intensive course was aimed at developing the language and teaching skills of teachers of English, as well as at giving an updated picture of British culture and society. This was effectively carried out in an enjoyable and stimulating atmosphere.

The "Language Development" module, which was held in the mornings, was language intensive and designed to help foreign teachers of English to improve their fluency, pronunciation and command of English and their teaching technique in stimulating ways.

The afternoon module, entitled "Britain Today" focused on British society and culture. Areas covered included British landscape, architecture and art, politics, the monarchy, education, housing, and British humour.

The first lesson of "Britain Today" consisted of an orientation tour of the local area with a commentary on local history and places of interest. Course participants visited the British coastal resorts of South East England, stopping in Margate to have a close look at the beach, the steets and the shops.

This gave them the unique opportunity to drink in the typical Kentish atmosphere and to capture the authentic charm of the British seaside - the greyish blue sea, the imposing chalk cliffs, the vast sandy beaches, the large white seagulls mingling with the people, and happy children building sandcastles with their colourful buckets and spades.

This experience, which was made possible through Comenius funding, was highly enjoyable and valuable for the personal and professional development of teachers and the dissemination of the understanding of a European dimension to teaching and learning.