Since 2001 we have been working with Guangdong Department of Education to meet the increasing demands placed on English primary school teachers in Guangdong province. The Primary School English Teacher Training project, which runs through 2004, will equip large numbers of English teachers with the skills to train other Guangdong English teachers.

Leeds University consultants delivered training to 150 leading primary school English teachers and English teaching researchers from Guangdong province in the skills required to be teacher trainers. This took place in Guangdong. The 150 trainers then split into four groups and went to Leeds University for a three-month intensive training course to develop and modify teacher training materials. They cascaded the skills that they learned to fellow teachers upon their return, creating a sustainable training model.

We have also helped to establish a resource centre at the Guangdong Teacher’s College of Foreign Language and Art which supports the sustainable development of teacher trainers and teachers.