On May 27-30 2011 the British Council in collaboration with the Ministry of higher and secondary specialised education of the Republic of Uzbekistan organised training for teachers involved in the English Reform project aiming to make pre-service teacher training curriculum more responsive to national education priorities as well as teachers’ needs and to link it to international standards. The project develops two modules in the curriculum: English for English teacher and English language teaching methodology which will incorporate elements of intercultural awareness.

The event brought together 130 teachers from pilot institutions who are and/or will be piloting the new modules of the curriculum in 17 PRESET institutions in Uzbekistan. We ran 4 parallel sessions for Years 1, 2, 3, 4.

Key Changes in the curriculum include:

• Balance between language learning and methodology training
• English medium
• Practice based not lecture based
• Reference to international standards in English
• Modern approaches to teaching and learning
• Developing independent learning skills
• Developing research skills
• New assessment approaches and clear assessment criteria
• Promoting Continuing Professional Development

This is what the project participants have said about their hopes for the new curriculum:

• Modelling good practice in language and methodology
• A stimulus for curriculum reform in other subjects
• Improvement in school-level English teaching throughout the country
• Enjoyable classes and enthusiastic students.

The event took place at the Shodlik Palace Hotel.

For more information please contact Jamilya Gulyamova or Aziza Shoismoilova.