Professional development camp for teachers of English to primary-age children in Spain with a simultaneous children's English "lab" camp

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Authors
Cummings, Sylvia A.
Advisor
Issue Date
1999
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
Department of English
Other Identifiers
Abstract

I have lived and worked in Spain as a missionary for fifteen years. My desire is that Spaniards will know and love God. Just as Jesus "did not come to be served, but to serve", so I wish to serve the Spanish community in a way that meets a felt need. One of those needs is the ability to communicate effectively, correctly and appropriately in English."The possibility of communicating in a foreign language is a necessity in today's society. It is a pressing need within the framework of European unity - in the movement of professionals and workers between countries of the European Community, but also for overseas trips, cultural exchanges, and communication of news and knowledge. For this reason there exists a great social demand that mandatory education provide students with communicative competence in a foreign language."" (document on foreign language instruction from the Minister of Education and Science in Spain, 1992, p. 13)Spaniards expect to receive quality instruction in English; for this reason I have worked on a Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. My goal is to serve Spaniards by being a good English instructor and through training others to teach English effectively.I also desire to serve the mission community around the world. There are so many who are more experienced than I am. However, perhaps this project will be of help to those with little experience or training. Part of the joy of learning is to be able to share what you have learned with others.I chose to focus this project on foreign language instruction for elementary students (FLES) because I believe that this is the area of greatest need in Spain. (Even though I use FLES in reference to this area of TESOL, I choose in this paper to use the term "primary schools" when referring to grades one through six since this is the term used in Europe. In Spain the title given to FLES is LEEP - Lenguas Extranjeras de la Educacion Primaria (Foreign Languages in Primary Education). FL instruction has only officially moved down to the primary level since the passing of the new educational reforms in 1990. At the present time there are not enough trained FLES teachers in Spain.As I considered this problem I asked myself the following questions: What do I have to offer that others who are involved in English instruction or teacher training are not already offering? The first answer is a Christian perspective of teaching and learning... a Christian perspective of teachers and students. Maybe this perspective will be noticed by students through the power of prayer and the teacher's love for the students and Christ-like lifestyle. Maybe this perspective will be "taught" as part of the curriculum. Each teacher must decide for him/herself.The second answer is to provide two programs that I do not believe are offered in Spain: 1) a two-week professional development camp during summer vacation for teachers of English language and culture in primary schools taught by qualified staff. The teacher-training would raise the teachers' level of English competency (both in language and culture) and provide them with the skills that they need to teach the official curriculum and teaching objectives set by Spain's Ministry of Education and Science. 2) a summer English camp for third through sixth graders which would occur simultaneously with the Teacher Training Camp. The Children's Camp would first be offered to the children of teachers who attend the professional development and then would be opened to other children. This camp would be beneficial for both teachers and children. The teachers would be free to attend the camp because their own children would be cared for and taught English, and a part of each day could be set apart so that the children's camp is a "lab" for the teachers' methods and materials class.My hope is that this program design could fulfill the two-week English teaching practicum suggested by the Ministry of Education and Science for Spanish college students who have chosen "foreign language instruction" as their specialty in their primary education degree program. This camp can also be used to train "veteran" Spanish primary teachers who do not know how to teach English and native English speakers who teach English without formal teacher training.A two-week program is just an introduction to English language instruction in primary schools. Perhaps this program could be supplemented with in-service training weekend camps three times a year.May this project bring glory to God in whatever way He chooses.