English Global Products Fair in Irpin (Kyiv Region) on 28–30 October 2009 brought together 110 ELT professionals from around Ukraine to celebrate the British Council’s 75th anniversary by sharing experience and success stories.
The forum also aimed to explore the needs of Ukraine and current opportunities for quality language education as well as lifelong language teacher professional development.
The participants were welcomed by HMA Leigh Turner, Rector of the National University of State Tax Services of Ukraine (host university) Petro Melnyk, and Rector of the Kyiv National Linguistic University (key partner university) Myroslav Solovei.
Five months prior to the event, a group of researchers was set up at the Kyiv National Linguistic University to consider the value and potential of the English Global Products for the Ukrainian context. During the Fair, the research group led by Prof. Sofia Nikolayeva shared their initial findings and encouraged discussions around TeachEnglish and LearnEnglish products in three working groups: Teacher Training and Development, Young Learners and English for Specific Purposes. The participants examined, in particular, Global Home for Teachers, Lifelong Teacher Portfolio, TKT Essentials, Learning Technologies for the Classroom, Classroom English, Primary ETTO, LearnEnglish Kids, Parents and Professionals.
Outcomes
The results of the discussions make it clear that the English Global Products are:
high quality resources for learners and teachers
relevant to learners and teachers’ needs
flexible and adaptable
multifunctional.
The discussions also pointed out several issues for further consideration:
Ministry of Education support
language teacher standards
English Global Products curriculum fit
teacher skills development.
The Fair initiated an online discussion on Language teacher profile which will run for three months and feed into the agenda of an international policy dialogue event on 24–26 February 2010. Questions for discussion:
What makes a good teacher?
Do you know how good you are as an English teacher?
Do you know how to plan your professional development and career in English language teaching?
What can enhance the quality of language education?
If you want to contribute to the discussion, please see login instructions.
Project partners
Partners Kyiv National Linguistic University, National University of State Tax Service of Ukraine, British Publishers, Lenvit
Media partner Газета ‘День’
Media support Видання ‘Урядовий кур’єр’, ‘Українська культура і життя’, ‘Український тиждень’, ‘Освіта України’, ‘Іноземні мови’, ‘Іноземні мови в навчальних закладах’, ‘Сучасна освіта’, ‘Управління освітою’, ‘Менеджер по персоналу’.
