The aims of the project are to improve the quality of English Language teaching by introducing contemporary teacher-training methodology and to maintain a network of trained ELT trainers from existing ELT programmes run by British Council from 2003 – 2009.
In April 2008 the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan requested the British Council for assistance in identifying the problems that exist in English Language Teaching in secondary education in Azerbaijan. British Council were also asked to supply data on ELT practice in a selected group of countries in Europe and Asia.
The identified problems were divided into four groups:
- Currently there are insufficient hours in the English programmes within the secondary curriculum
- Curriculum and textbooks are not up to date: textbooks are not student- centred, and the textbook content does not fit with the students’ language levels
- The teaching methodology is not effective
- Azerbaijani English teachers lack experience
In the first phase of the programme the British Council, together with the Ministry of Education, have developed a new and dynamic English teacher training course to better position Azerbaijan teachers in the delivery of interesting and up-to-date English classes. The Ministry of Education has funded this cutting edge English Teacher Trainings course in seven pilot State-run Secondary Schools in Baku. This was followed by a second one next week. This new initiative trained a total of 55 of Baku’s leading English teachers in the latest teaching methodology.
The first phase of this programme for English teachers is part of a strategic approach in relation to the upskilling of Azerbaijan’s English teachers on the part of the Ministry of Education.
A celebration of the week’s course and a certificate presentation ceremony took place at the Park Inn Hotel, Dan Ulduzu hall on 11 July 2008 and in the Ministry of Education hall on 18 July 2008. The Minister of Education, Mr Misir Mardanov, and the Director of the British Council Azerbaijan, Ms Nicole la Hausse de Lalouvière awarded Intensive Teacher Training certificates to 55 English Language teachers from 7 pilot schools who participated in the training from 7-11 July 2008.
- Training Model on skills-based modules (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening)
- Classroom Management and effective Lesson Planning
- 55 trained teachers trained on contemporary ELT teaching methodology
- Seven pilot schools were introduced new ELT teaching models in September 2008
- Training models flexible to allow maximum coverage of secondary schools.
In the second phase of the project the teachers, selected from seven pilot schools in Baku, attended a training course from April 27th to May 1st 2009, held at the Number 23 School Baku, and organised jointly by the Ministry of Education and the British Council. Sessions were a carefully balanced mix of the theoretical and practical, with teachers trying out new classroom approaches on their peers at the end of each day through micro-teaching opportunities. Topics covered on the course included:
•Characteristics of young learners
•Teaching songs
•Dealing with multi-level classes
•Using stories in class
•Teaching chants and rhymes
•Catering to different learning styles
•Using drama techniques in the classroom
•What makes effective teaching and learning?
•Classroom management
The group responded to each topic with immense interest and enthusiasm, drawing on their own considerable experience as educational professionals and practitioners. They willingly discussed a variety of issues in pairs and groups related to the teaching of young learners and provided realistic and practical solutions to a range of classroom challenges. They demonstrated incredible creativity and commitment when preparing activities for their micro-teaching sessions and provided valuable feedback to their peers.
On the final afternoon they were fortunate to have the Minister for Education, Mr Misir Mardanov, as a special guest. He presented each of the teachers with an Intensive Teacher Training certificate and congratulated them on successfully completing the course.
It is hoped that the group will take all the new ideas they have learnt and apply them to their classrooms, thus benefiting their students and the development of English language teaching in Azerbaijan as a whole. It was agreed to have a planning meeting in the ministry of education to continue this cutting edge pilot programme next 5 years.
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