It was a cheerful classroom.
Turning a bit naughty ,now and then.
”Hey ! Look ! I could easily figure out this!”
“Come on show me !”
“Hey, let me see!”
“I am the first to answer “
“I am the next !”
”Oh! I have gone wrong “
”It’s alright ! Try again”
“ You Can do better next time”
The usual classroom buzz.
They were all very lively students.
Enthusiasm, laughter, discussion and debate..
were filling the room.
Everyone was nodding head with worksheets and handouts infront of them,
Solving, Guessing.Sharing.Giggling.Whispering.
A perfect winter morning class!
Fresh and warm , filled with “all new “students!
And ofcoursre,late- comers!
Until they stepped into this meeting hall turned classroom ,
they were Teachers, Trainers and Resource persons
Once they stepped out, they will the same !
Not perhaps.
Because this workshop was organised by Trinity ESOL, National Manager, Orient Black Swan ,lead by Mr.Joe Tun Sein and his wonderful team,
with the intention that the invitees step out little more better or much more better in what they have been doing, teaching a foreign language.
Ofcourse, classrooms are not new to them.
But, everyday they walk into the room,to teach .
Today, they humbly walked in, to be taught !
Dr.Susan Russell, a PhD in English as foreign language, was conducting a workshop for English Teachers , Trainers and Resource persons engaged in Trinity College London ,ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)program .
Ms. Susan was very inspiring ,friendly and cheerful throught the day.
She created a wonderful classroom where teachers turned students, experiencing how difficult is it to solve simple challenges in worksheets!
Perhaps all these teachers might have handed over several sheets like the one they were solving themselves.
A brilliant example is created,very naturally and casually, simply to understand what passes through the minds of students when they pass through the same experience!
Thanks to Ms.Susan for creative and generative workshop and few words to introduce the diverse classrooms she has been .In her own words.:I’ve taught and researched EFL in a number of countries including Australia, Hungary, Bosnia, Sweden and China and in organisations ranging from high schools and universities to commercial and industrial workplaces.
My original BA was from Lancaster University and my PGCE was from Sydney University, Australia, where I taught in English in the Workplace programmes for migrant workers and support programmes for refugees and asylum seekers.
I then went to China to teach as a ‘foreign expert’ at the University of Finance and Economics in Shanghai for one year, after which I returned to England where I took up the post of Senior Lecturer in EFL at London Metropolitan University. Studying for an MA in Linguistics brought me back to Lancaster University a few years ago, and I’m currently returning to my PhD studies here, jointly in the Linguistics Department and the Management School, having recently worked as a research associate in the Department of Educational Research.
I also work as a Trinity examiner mainly in Spain and Italy, and occasionally conduct EFL training with Swedish military personnel, just for a change!
***
What is the essence of her vast and diverse experience as language teacher?
She concluded:
Let the students express naturally.Let them speak naturally.
If you find mistakes ,pelase don’t quickly correct or interrupt.Wait until they finish.
First , let them get confidence in their expression. Then, occuracy and then ,fluency .
Encourage Natural expression but not a scripted speech.
First let them understand the language functions then grammer and then phonology.Once they get clarity with the languagefunctions , grammer ,intonation ,stress and otherskills will naturally get perfect.”
***
Dear friends,
there was so much to learn from our new friend, Ms.Susan.
Next time when we step into a classroom either as a student or a teacher , it’s simply to learn !
***
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