Page 34 - ELG2202 Feb Issue 479

TEACHER TRAINING .

A look at
t

English

English

instruction
instruction

in Egypt

One size is never going to fit all, says
educationalist Abeer Okaz

or quite some time, the Egyptian so in national ones. These centres usually feedback, but were left with only a few
Ministry of Education and Higher provide language classes to undergraduates resources to refer back to. The main aim was
Education has been aware of the need as part of their credit hour system. In the one to improve classroom management, with a
Fto qualify teachers. While there are I was attached to, every student, regardless special focus on motivation.
different types of training programmes for of their major is required to study general
language teachers in almost all sectors and English at three levels, for two credit hours
despite good intentions, there still continue to each. In other universities, students may take Most undergraduates in
be challenges. courses in ESP or EAP, but my journey has Egypt do not see a reason
First, there are a large number of untrained, involved general English.
unqualified teachers in almost every sector. to learn English
This is especially true in vocational schools Before the pandemic
and at the primary level, but it’s worse in When my journey began, the same training Most undergraduates in Egypt do not see
English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and sessions were given to staff members teaching a reason to learn English – core courses are
English for Academic Purposes (EAP). in any discipline. It was ‘one size fits all’ more important and relevant to them. They
Second, changes in the curriculum also affect continuous professional development – that register for their English classes because they
the quality of teacher training. And, finally, was the aim back in 2013. have to, not because they are intrinsically
teachers of large mixed ability classes do not The focus of training was always the same: motivated to learn. Students in a few
normally receive the tailored training they classroom management, lesson-planning disciplines do understand the importance of
need to support their classes. engagement and participation, while the learning a second language, mainly so they
This article takes you through my personal overall objective was always to prepare can understand their textbooks or to help
journey in Egyptian training programmes, teachers to teach undergraduates from 11 them if they intend to travel abroad for further
specifically in higher education, which covers different disciplines. education.
the time before and during the pandemic. The training would always follow the The approach to training started to change
I have been the director of the English same pathway. Before starting work at the gradually. The centre started recruiting more
Language Centre in a private university centre, every new staff member would go teachers as the university started growing, and
for the past eight years and worked on the through the same induction programme, it became evident that programmes needed to
teacher training programmes which focused irrespective of their own background and/or be tailored to the needs of both teachers and
on getting teachers ready for teaching general experience. During the semester, the their students.
English courses to adults. Every student, members of our Professional Development There were still obstacles. First, the number
irrespective of their major, must study general Unit would give sessions that they thought of students varied from one class to another
English courses in order to graduate from would be beneficial. Once again, one and from one level to the next, often making
university here. training for all, with attendance a must. the techniques teachers learned in training
In Egypt, English language centres are a This was followed by class observations, inapplicable. Second, students’ language
major part of private universities, though less where teachers received one-to-one levels were affected by which faculty they were
34 February 2022