Page 28 - ELG1911 Nov Issue 467

El•Gazette 467.qxp_El•Gazette 467 23/10/2019 13:10 Page 28

TRENDS: TEACHER TRAINING .

The northern school of thought IH NEWCASTLE

Rachel Halsall, Head of Training at NE14 Languages / IH Newcastle,
explains to Melanie Butler why the personal touch is key for trainers

How did you first get into teacher give the same input twice. Take a popular What are the
training? session like ‘Motivation’. With a Japanese art three most
teacher, who teaches teenagers, we used the important
I started off doing developmental observations session to discuss communicative methods things you
and assisted lesson planning in my roles as for rewarding students. With a Dutch have learned Rachel Halsall
senior teacher and Young Learner Co- literature teacher in adult education we from your
ordinator, here at IH Newcastle, where I’ve focussed on consciousness-raising of useful trainees?
been for nine years now. This led on naturally lexis. And for a Swiss English language
to training on Celta, Delta and other courses, teacher working with special needs children, First, never give up on learners. Trainees
and now I’m Head of Teacher Training. we did practical demonstrations of tell inspiring stories about ‘difficult’ learners
communicative flash card games. who suddenly produce something amazing.
What’s the best thing about being a They teach me to keep going, even when a
trainer? You offer qualifications like CELTA as student doesn’t appear to be progressing.
well as methodology courses. How are Second, never assume anything. Even if you
The way observing and thinking lessons they similar? think you know what’s going on with your
through with others constantly refreshes and trainees, you need to ask. You may be wrong,
inspires your own teaching. Teaching is IH Newcastle is referred to as a ‘demand and they really appreciate being asked. The
essential for trainers, but planning and high’ centre by Cambridge assessors, because personal touch is necessary, especially in a
running courses can take you out of the we push our Celta and Delta trainees to use world of online training.
classroom. So I try to make the most of the activities that reflect real life Finally, remember you’re only human. I
opportunities I get. communication. We take this principle into once took a day off Celta with my critically ill
other courses – getting trainees to think cat (who recovered!). I was convinced the
At IH Newcastle you design special, about applying communicative theories and trainees wouldn’t take me seriously when I
personal methodology courses. PMCs approaches in their classrooms. CLIL returned. But, everyone was genuinely
you call them. How do they work? trainees are specialists in their subject, PMCs concerned, and said it was easier to take my
are experts in their schools – we add the feedback after they saw I also had needs.
The beauty of the PMCs is how tailored they language knowledge and communicative Teaching is a ‘people business,’ and trainers
are. We have a bank of material but we never ideas. are people, too.

Teacher Training Courses:
Erasmus+ (PIC ): 942566461

• CLIL

• Personal Methodology Programmes (for
your training needs)

• CELTA (intensive and part-time)

• DELTA (intensive and online)

• TYLT (Younger Learners and Teens)
For more information, contact:

tt@ihnewcastle.com

28 November 2019