Teacher Training

All languages are not created equally and this has lead to a fragmented approach on how a language is taught and conveyed. This is why so many training sessions exist for the popular and commonly used languages and not enough for the ‘smaller’, less popular languages. For precisely this reason, in addition to all my years of extensive foreign language studies, I would like to propose an overarching method allowing teachers to develop useful content, enabling them to structure their own lessons individually regardless of the language they are teaching.

54

CEFR Scales

Special Skills-Related Training

During business language courses, a normal lesson can quickly evolve into a specialist language lesson. Here, instructors often ask themselves the following questions: How specialized do I need to be? What do I do if I can't keep up with my students regarding their subject? Do I even have to keep up? What skills do we need? How do I efficiently determine the needs in detail? How do I go about methodically teaching the required skills? How do I give my students adequate feedback on their performance?

Success Through Understanding the CEFR

The CEFR is perhaps, one of the most successful European Projects. However, over the past 15 years it has been solely used as a way to measure language proficiency at the various levels. This does not do the CEFR justice. The CEFR can be used as the basis of developing course curriculum and preparing lessons due to its in depth explanation of language competences at the difference levels in the form of can do statements. This is an invaluable aid in understanding and planning expanded skills training. For many years, I have taught the modular use of the task descriptors as a basis for generating class content during CEFR workshops. To me, this is cornerstone of showing the numerous portfolios that can be developed using this diversifying reference. It promotes better understanding and builds better collaboration opportunities.

Various Methods in Practice

The standard method of choice in teaching foreign languages has traditionally been ideologically driven by the trainer. However, today’s students have different requirements, origins, language levels and needs that are always changing. All of these factors, in addition to the methodologies need to be constantly addressed when teaching a language. Given all of these factors, methodologies and approaches are always changing and after a while, become outdated. With that being said, there are an abundance of different methods that when combined together, work extremely well. I completely support this mix-and-match approach, using workshops to convey this method. As teachers, we have to adapt to the ever changing diverse range of students wanting to learn a foreign language. This mix-and-match approach will ultimately lead to success.
Language CoachingLanguage Test Consulting