Page 33 - ELG1804 Apr Issue 456

PEOPLE . FEATURES & COMMENT

The proof teaching in this way can be as good as face to

face, Mina puts up a strong defence.
‘The technology doesn’t stop the creativity
is in the in the lesson. We think harder. For example,
we had a lesson on germination and we
labelled the parts of a plant, we germinated
the seeds and compared seed growth in both
countries.
(remote) talented teachers in Europe. The way we
‘We [in the UK] have some of the most
teach is very different the way they do in
South America or other parts of the world.
We have pair work, group work – the
pudding pedagogy is totally different. The teachers
[in other countries] welcome it and enjoy
working in partnership.’
To back up what they are doing, Mina
asked teacher-educator Warren Kidd from
the University of East London to carry out a
qualitative study on her teachers’ experience
of remote teaching.
Dr Kidd observed lessons, did interviews
A UK company is plugging a teaching skills gap with teachers and ran focus groups over a
by using videoconferencing technology to deliver three-month period, looking at how the
teachers felt about their practice and the ways
English lessons to state school children in South in which it differed from ‘normal’ teaching.
He says remote teaching could be
America, Irena Barker reports characterised as ‘similar to the manufacture
and broadcast of live television’ – with the
hen the pupils at the Nucleo Amy Bentley, isn’t even physically present (see below) a state-school English teacher and the questions come like “Do you have a ‘I would like to extend our work with South teacher taking on the roles of the producer,
de Convivencia Menino Jesus – instead, she gives lessons from a pleasant who volunteers at the NGO and is physically motorbike?” – nothing connected to the class, American countries and more parts of Brazil, director and camera operator.
supplementary school attend office in north-east London via the latest present ‘on the ground’. Mariana is on hand they want to be talking to the teacher. Asia and Europe – wherever there’s a need ‘They are kind of director and the
WEnglish classes, they never quite videoconferencing technology. to translate into Portuguese when necessary ‘They really feel they are learning. They feel and a shortage of teachers. performer at the same time,’ he says.
know what to expect. A special ‘visualiser’ camera allows Amy and to facilitate pair and group work. they have much more than their friends at the ‘Governments feel it’s very futuristic, The study showed that the presence of the
One day, these underprivileged 12- to 16- to share resources, such as maps, books or Mariana also sees the lessons – which began regular schools because they have the chance and they don’t realise that they can make it camera didn’t seem to affect the building of
year-olds from Sao Paulo could be looking at typically British items like apple pie or a a year ago – as an opportunity to develop her to speak – they are talking. They are really happen now. That perhaps is linked to the a rapport, according to Warres, who adds,
that day’s print edition of the London Metro scotch egg, with her pupils, who see it on a big own practice. forming relationships with the teacher, and need for broadband connectivity.’ ‘If there’s a global teacher shortage, it seems
newspaper. Another, they could be ‘sharing’ TV screen. She told the Gazette, ‘This is also in-service they want to meet her in person.’ Some countries, she said, already had that practices like this are sustainable and
a traditional English trifle with their teacher Amy can adjust her own view on her training for me. I’m here learning British The idea of remote English language the infrastructure, but did not realise what scaleable.’
and learning about the difference between a monitor to check what the pupils are seeing at English, I’m learning new vocabulary, learning teaching using video conference technology was possible in terms of remote teaching n ‘A Mixed Methods Ethnography of Remote
meringue and an Eton mess. the same time as gauging their reactions. She new teaching techniques, helping the teacher. is not new, and is an increasingly popular and and learning. And for anyone doubting that Video Conference Teaching’ by Dr Warren Kidd
It’s all a far cry from the regular English is able to control a camera in the Sao Paulo I’m also seeing a good model of a class, so I economical way for people to try to improve
lessons they attend at their main school, classroom to zoom in on individual students have ideas to use afterwards.’ their skills, especially adults.
where grammar and reading exercises are too. Lessons are recorded and can be replayed She describes her working relationship But it is rare to find an English teacher in ‘It’s not just English, it’s opening up their view of their world’
the order of the day. And what’s even more for training. with the teachers in the UK as ‘a partnership’ the UK remotely addressing – and interacting
unusual is that their main English teacher, Amy is supported by Mariana Bonotto which brings ‘a really big reward’. with – a thirty-strong class of school children English teacher Mariana Bonotto ‘When you teach English here, it is much
But teachers, of course, are not the only in a state-funded school abroad, following a volunteers at the Nucleo de Convivencia more grammar and translation and some
ones to benefit. Although some remote curriculum and timetable. Menino Jesus school. reading techniques. It doesn’t really focus
learning technologies have a poor reputation British company Video Conferencing for This NGO offers after-school activities on fluency.
(we have all experienced the joy of a rickety Global Learning (VCfGL), which is behind to children from poor backgrounds whose ‘It is cheaper to do video conferencing
Governments feel it’s the lessons in Sao Paulo, is also working parents work full-time. They take part in and better to be taught with someone
who is in constant contact with life in the
sport and ballet and are offered remotely
with the Ceibal en Inglés project in Uruguay,
very futuristic but they delivering lessons in primary schools there. taught English lessons with a focus on UK. ‘It’s more personal, more authentic
fluency and speaking.
– the teacher brings her reality. It’s really
don’t realise that they In just three years, the company has reached Mariana told the Gazette, ‘We interactive. We really feel as if she is
6,000 pupils in total and hopes to expand
can make it further. wanted to provide the kids with more here. We might ask her what she has for
breakfast!’ The technology also makes the
possibilities, they don’t see far beyond
VCfGL’s founder and executive director,
happen now Mina Patel, believes remote teaching using their neighbourhood – they don’t go out pupils more engaged and motivated to
sophisticated video conferencing technology very often. When we realised we could learn, Mariana says.
Skype connection) Mariana says the pupils is set to be the key to improving education bring London inside the classroom – it’s ‘During their first class, they want to
have warmed to their lessons immensely, around the world and addressing shortages of not just English, it’s also this cultural input, have fun with the camera. They really have
partly because the quality of audio and video specialist teachers. this opening up of opportunities – the kids fun with it. They focus on it.’
is so good. The former science teacher told the could think about the possibility of going Mariana Bonotto, is a
She adds, ‘It’s really interesting that in Gazette, ‘[This is not about] teachers in abroad.
the first class they are a bit frightened of the England taking over the roles of other ‘We want them to learn English, of state-school teacher
of English language
technology, then they start getting attached teachers, it’s about our teachers giving help course, but it’s not just English, it’s opening in the outskirts of Sao
to the teacher and they start to ask a lot of and support. We are a cost-efficient resource up their view of their world. This really Paulo, Brazil.
questions. They are interested in the teacher for them. matches what the NGO wants to do.
32 April 2018 editorial@elgazette.com 33