The British Council in partnership with a Scottish educational consortium is currently running phase 2 of a teacher training/teaching project in four Vocational Lyceums in Atyrau. Two UK English language teachers started teaching on 12 April and will continue until 7 May.

Over 20 English language teachers as well as 170 students have participated so far in this pilot phase which will be expanded to include up to 3 more oblasts by September 2010.

What are the aims of English@Work?

To raise the level of English of vocational college leavers in the Aktau, Uralsk and Atyrau regions through developing the capability and enhancing the skills and knowledge of the English language teachers by setting up a sustainable infrastructure for ELT teacher training and learning in the locality.

The programme also has the potential to become an important plank in fulfilling President Nursultan Nazerbayev’s ambition to have Kazakhstan become a trilingual  Kazakh, Russian & English) nation.

Who are the partners?

The British Council is currently in partnership with Knowledge Alliance (K.A.) a consortium of Scottish colleges, and the Departments of Education in the Aktau and Atyrau Oblasts. The British Council is responsible for the training in Aktau and Atyrau and some on line delivery of ELT, while K.A. is responsible for other areas including specialist industry related subject delivery lessons via interactive whiteboard.

What is the Training Model?

The basic model is based on 6 intensive one week seminars led by UK trainers followed by team teaching in the classroom with UK and local teachers to consolidate professional development. There are also inter-seminar tasks for practical application, observation and reflection over an 18 month cycle of training, making use of computers and interactive whiteboards.

There will be a significant on- line component to the training as participants will use British Council Global products such as Classroom language, Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) Essentials and British Council Teach English materials. The new British Council products such as Connect, English for Work etc. will all be included as appropriate.