Global Voices 32-2

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Janet, France

My name is Janet Mournard and I teach general and business English to adults. I did my initial teacher training course (the equivalent of a CERT TEFLA) way back in 1981 in the UK where I was born, with the intention of taking up residence in France the same year. My first teaching experience was in a private language school in Montpellier where I not only prepared students for the Cambridge exams (First Certificate and Proficiency) but also taught in companies (one to one or small groups) working on their objectives.

A year later I relocated to Saint Raphaël where I taught in the language section of the Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years. During that time, I became involved in teacher training and was responsible for finding new teaching resources in particular, using new technology.

Teaching methods have changed immensely since the beginning of my career; and over the years I have become more and more involved in the use of multimedia technologies and the internet. I teach online on a one-to-one basis and now as a freelance teacher I have international students taking English and French courses. When I create my online courses I need to clarify their objectives, develop and diversify them in order to keep the student’s attention. My motto is: ‘If it’s boring for me, it’ll be boring for them.’

I am a fervent believer of the Direct Method so still base my lessons on getting learners involved spontaneously – through as much oral interaction as possible – in everyday situations using functional language. Of course, having been involved in the Cambridge exams, grammar rules and vocabulary were inevitable, but I have always tried to present them in a fun way. I avoid translations whenever possible. For more about me go to
https://efl-fle-online.monsite-orange.fr/


Fedor, Jordan

What makes a good language trainer? I have always believed that first and foremost it’s being a good listener. When you engage with and really listen to your learners, you get the opportunity to really figure out not only what they are good at and what they need to improve, but also what they really need the language for and how you, as a trainer, can best assist them.

My name is Fedor and I am from the Netherlands. Though my first language is Dutch, I grew up speaking English as well from an early age. I have been teaching both languages for the past 15 years. Early on, I opted to focus on adult learners, because I really enjoy the corporate environment and working with people who know what they want and what they need to do to get there. I also lived in Latin America for several years where I had the opportunity to work for different United Nations agencies. This added another dimension to the job as it allowed me to gain insight into the internal workings of international organisations devoted to tackling global issues like climate change and gender equality.

In truth, there is nothing more stimulating to me than hopping from workplace to workplace and seeing people at work on the inside, getting that precious glance into what really goes on inside companies. Besides learning a lot myself, I believe it also makes it so much easier to tailor content to learners if their trainer really understands what they actually do. One of my favourite activities is to get my learners to take a walk with me and try to explain what goes on in all the different departments of their organisation!

These days, I teach online (for EdTech company Learnlight), which I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, this allowed me to continue working during the pandemic and lets me choose when to work. I optimise the number of sessions I can do in the morning, giving me the afternoons to spend with my four-year-old. But on the other hand, of course, I do miss the excitement I feel about – and satisfaction I get from – in-person corporate training courses. My learners are still those motivated professionals I so like to work with, but I do hope I can get back to their workplaces soon!


Gloria, Nigeria

My name is Gloria. I am a teacher from Nigeria with 14 years of teaching experience. I am the founder of, ‘Kiddie Press Club’ and ‘A Walk Through Education’ which is an online learning platform that helps gather and share educational tools that will help to enhance learning and teaching in the classroom.

Growing up, I was what a lot of people would consider introverted – shy, soft spoken and even more – and because of this, I really did not have the easiest time in school or in public. I was always that kid that sat at the back of the classroom and never spoke or raised her hand to answer or ask questions because of fear of making mistakes and being laughed at by other students. I was constantly bullied and harassed at any slightest opportunity, yet I couldn’t speak out. I was afraid, depressed and withdrawn; and all this affected my academic studies. I give thanks to my teacher who noticed all my challenges and was able to redirect me towards the right path. There are millions of children in the world today who are facing similar challenges of low self-esteem and lack of confidence.

We need to catch our children young. They need support to learn how to use their voices, whether that helps to advocate for themselves, express their opinions, fight for their rights or stand up for a friend.

This is the reason why I founded Kiddie Press Club. It’s an organisation of children journalists, creative writers and newscasters who are engaged in the production and dissemination of information. The activities of the club concentrate mainly on enhancing the student’s communication skills and empowering them to express their feelings through writing. It is an avenue to promote student voice, gender equality and quality education through journalism and newscasting.

Through Kiddie Press Club, I create opportunities for authentic conversations with the students which will build up their confidence and empower them to tell their stories – and then I amplify their voices and give them a safe environment to share their stories.

For me, there’s no job more important than teaching the future leaders of our world the information they need to know, especially showing them their worth, potential and ability to form their own opinions by thinking critically and observing the world around them.

https://www.awalkthrougheducation.com/


Hugo, Mexico

My name is Hugo Maldonado Figueroa. I currently teach at a technological high school called CBTis No.66 Agustin de Iturbide, in a city called Tierra Blanca, in the state of Veracruz. As an EFL teacher, I usually search for new ways to allow my students to use English in meaningful situations. Having been inspired by talented mentors and colleagues, at an early stage of my teaching practice I understood that caring for your students is one of the most powerful tools for a teacher. Nonetheless, it also helps to be a permanent, curious learner yourself. Curiosity has taken me through various learning / training processes.

For many years, my students have been exposed to several Rassias Method® techniques, the NatGeo Learning Framework, Kidlink Association projects, Flip Interactions with classes around the world, alongside a permanent promotion of extensive reading with the assistance of some Extensive Reading Foundation members. The success of all these applied methods – and the techniques learnt – could never have had an impact without the collaboration of amazing colleagues. Having a strong network of such people simply works wonders in your classroom.

Apart from decreasing the anxiety that naturally arises when speaking in a foreign language, when students see another student’s accomplishment it encourages a deeper cultural understanding of local and global communities. Once students see there are more similarities than differences between their peer students overseas, they become more aware of issues that seemed too distant.

Cultural awareness has been also promoted in class with a Reading Corner. After I requested our school for a spare room, they gave the English Academy a storeroom and we (students and English teachers) transformed it into a small English library. It serves all students and we love receiving donations from volunteers all around the globe. Have an amazing school year!

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