METHODOLOGY AND LEARNER DIVERISTY AWARENESS FOR TEACHERS OF YOUNG LEARNERS - PRIMARY AND LOWER SECONDARY is a course aimed at teachers employed in the field of language teaching, in primary and secondary education.

The course immerses educators from culturally and ethnically homogeneous environments into a culturally diverse setting, helps them improve their understanding of the English language, culture and history in formal and informal contexts and revises best practice in teaching methodology and new teaching technologies. It is a ‘Cultural Development Programme’ designed to broaden participants’ knowledge of the host culture and language, improve their cross-cultural communication skills, awareness and teaching strategies. The course is also intended to break down stereotypes or barriers resulting from lack of cross-cultural exposure or understanding and allows teachers to experience a linguistically and culturally authentic learning environment.

For the Language Mastery For International Communication sessions teachers will be placed in multicultural mixed-gender groups of adult learners to improve their cultural awareness and communication skills. Teachers will be exposed to different cultures, ethnicities, religious views, accents and learner needs. They will experience being a person of minority in an educational setting in a foreign country.

In the Cultural Immersion Project And Networking sessions course participants will be taken on field trips and required to interview native-speakers of English. They will be shown how CLIL and culture can be included in field trips and projects. These sessions will immerse them in local culture, history and geography. In the first week, the Methodology sessions will examine topics chosen by course participants in the introductory stage of the course. Subject to availability a school visit or lesson observation may be arranged. In the second week Teachers will then work on preparing a portfolio of activities and resources which they will present to and practically assess in their assigned groups through trial lessons and teaching practice sessions.

Teachers will be given an opportunity to discuss lesson plans and strategies with their assigned mentors, may be asked to observe classes and carry out practical tasks. They will assist and assess their peers, be guided and expected to carry out online research, prepare lesson plans, design web-quests, resources, CLIL activities and interactive lessons with smart boards. They will be guided in designing and selecting appropriate teaching resources and develop their ability to critically evaluate textbooks and teaching tools.