Page 29 - ELG2003 Mar Issue 469

El•Gazette 469.qxp_El•Gazette 469 25/02/2020 21:52 Page 29

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Watch what teachers do

and help them do it better

Classroom observation is key to course innovation, Mariela Gil tells Melanie Butler

ariela Gil thinks reading and
writing are essential skills, even MACMILLAN
for the youngest learners. It is,
Mshe tells me, “never too early to
start developing literacy. Literacy
development can start in the womb!”
“But Literacy is so much more than
reading and writing skills. Our literacy
practices are tied to our identities, to who we
think we are. And school literacy practices
unlock so much in society. They are key to
accessing other subject areas apart from
English and eventually to studying in the
English medium.”
It was observing teachers in the classrooms
around the world that inspired her and her
team to produce two course books for each
level of her new project, Global Stage, one
focussing on language and the other on the
development of literacy. It’s the same with grammar: some teachers use these approaches, Mariela and her team
Mariela and her team saw how much like to give rules, others want students to aim to help them.
pressure teachers were under from parents work them out, so the interactive course book “One of things we saw,” she tells me, “is
and governments to include elements of allows teachers to choose their approach. that students were asked constantly to stand
Content and Language Integrated Learning That’s cultural too, I point out. A lot of up and speak.” So, the team set out to make
(CLIL) and Global Citizenship into their cultures, even in Europe, believe in explicit the speaking sections of Global Stage as well-
lessons. What the teachers need, the course instruction and have an educational tradition developed and complete as possible.
should provide, Mariela believes. of learning deductively from explicit rules. And everything is designed to be as
“The most satisfying thing about working Others, like the Anglo Saxons and the transparent as possible. Structured,
on Global Stage was being able to incorporate Nordics, prefer implicit scaffolded, methodical.
ideas such as global citizenship so that it’s learning and inductive “Everything on the page
woven into the course. thinking, working out for grammar, vocabulary,
There are stories in the literacy book about rules from examples. Who are we to tell speaking, writing…”
a boy with autism, a girl who has to make “I hadn't heard that teachers what they are Global Stage is a
difficult choices, they are really inspiring,” before,” said Mariela, labour of love.
she tells me. though she doesn’t doing is wrong? “This is a course that
But it’s generally believed in ELT that sound surprised. It fits in was loved by many,
reading and writing are transferable skills. If with the Global Stage many people, from
you can do it in your own language you can philosophy of watching what teachers do and authors to editors to designers. A lot of
transfer that to English. So why teach them? helping them do it better. “Who are we,” she people put their hearts and souls into it,”
“Yes, they are transferable skills,” she says, “to tell teachers what they are doing is Mariela tells me. “Just today somebody who
agrees, but, “you still need to practice them wrong?” was on the team contacted me. They are
to internalise them! Also, there is an aspect “But why the emphasis on collaborative working in a different department now,
of writing which is very cultural. So, in our learning,” I ask, “isn’t that culturally specific, nothing to do with language teaching. They
writing lessons we included a model so too?” Yes, there is a lot of emphasis on just wanted to know how the course was
children would know what is expected of collaborative learning, particularly in the doing…”
them, a focus on mechanics so that they can literacy part of the course. Isn't reading and
practice...” writing naturally something you do by Mariela Gil has a
What about phonics? Global Stage has yourself? Masters in TESOL
them too. Mariela does not agree. “I like the concept and taught English
“Each of our Literacy book units includes of literacy practices,” she tells me, “because in the US, Thailand
a phonics activity in the book and then a literacy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s a and Mexico before
phonics worksheet for teachers to download social practice.” joining Macmillan
for extra support.” Process writing, too, works well when Education in 2002.
But as Mariela points out, this is a global children work in co-operative groups, She is currently
course book, and different parts of the world drawing on the different strengths of team Publisher for American English Pre-Primary
have different approaches to phonics and the members. “That form of writing is very and Primary. She is passionate about
emphasis on it varies greatly. What the cultural and needs to be practiced as well.” childhood development and learning, as well
teacher needs, the course book should Watch what teachers do and help them do as creating the best possible learning
provide – and if other teachers don’t need it better. Visible thinking, co-operative materials to support teachers and students in
something, they can leave it out. learning, process writing: if teachers want to the classroom.

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