Page 5 - ELG2301 Jan Issue 483

WELCOME . EDITOR’S LETTER

Tackling the big issues

If you’re wondering what next for your career,
a Master’s degree could well be the answer theteam

The headline news in this issue is two pronged. MELANIE BUTLER,
First, we present our Master’s listing, where we’ve tried to provide the most important information editor-in-chief,
for each UK university that offers this degree for teachers of English. started teaching EFL in
Iran in 1975. She worked
As our editor-in-chief, Melanie Butler, explains on page 16, it’s up to you to decide which area for the BBC World Service,
most interests you, but beyond that, it’s worth taking a look to find out how the universities that offer Pearson/Longman and
what you want to study have fared against various measurements. Do they warrant a gold star as far MET magazine before
as the Teaching Excellence Framework is concerned? Are they a British Council accredited Centre taking over at the Gazette in 1987 and
of Excellence? And is their research of a world class standard? Turn to our special supplement on also launching Study Travel magazine.
furthering your English teaching career prospects Educated in 10 schools in seven countries,
she speaks fluent French and Spanish, and
To have engaged on page 15 to find out the answers to these and rather rusty Italian.
other questions you may have before embarking on
people to spread English the next step of your educational journey. melanie@elgazette.com
The other tine in our metaphorical prong is the
values and the English British Council-employed teachers who are still in LIZ GRANIRER,
editor, has edited for
Afghanistan, fearing for their lives under Taliban parenting, travel and kids’
language... rule. Their plight is both heart-wrenching and magazines, writes for a
terrifying, as well as surely a great big untick for the number of print and online
British Council. To have engaged people to spread English values and the English language, and then publications, and has
worked on a range of
abandon these same people to a regime that abhors both of these is a terrible abdication of responsibility. well-known consumer and
Joe Seaton, a former teacher, and English manager and deputy director at the British Council in contract magazines.
Afghanistan, presents their case and campaigns on their behalf. Read his account on page 12. editor@elgazette.com
You’ll find a number of other engaging reads in
this issue. For instance, have you considered Ireland ...and then abandon GILL RAGSDALE,
as your next teaching port of call? There are plenty research news reporter,
of reasons to go there, from good workers’ rights, these same people to has a PhD in Evolutionary
Anthropology from
including seriously reasonable rates of pay, to a Cambridge and teaches
welcoming population and plenty of craic (fun), a regime that abhors Psychology with the Open
whether that’s exploring the beautiful countryside or University. She also holds
getting down in a Dublin pub on a Saturday night. both of these is a an RSA-Cert TEFL. Gill has taught EFL in
the UK, Turkey, Egypt and to refugees in
Find out more on page 30. the Calais ‘Jungle’ in France. She currently
There’s also the inside info on a book that will show terrible abdication of teaches English to refugees in the UK.
you how to engage your students by turning your
classroom into an escape room – yes, really; the row responsibility CHARLOTTE DYASON,
over native-speakerism rumbling on, how things went senior sales, a graduate
down at the ELTons and plenty more from the world of English language teaching. of Canterbury and
As ever, if you’re involved in research, a project or news that you think would be of interest or use to experienced education
other EL Gazette readers, we want to hear from you. Send your idea(s) to editor@elgazette.com. We marketer, Charlotte has a
look forward to hearing from you. wealth of expertise and
knowledge to assist with
Happy reading! promotional campaigns.
info@elgazette.com, tel 020 3137 9119.
LIZ GRANIRER, EDITOR
IAN CARTER,
publisher, has a
Masters in Strategic
Business Management
(Westminster) and
30 years’ publishing
experience in the
professional and academic sector.
elgazette@media-shed.co.uk,
tel 020 3475 6811.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in EL
Gazette editorially or by contributors do
not necessarily represent the official view of
EL Gazette or Media Shed Ltd, nor is either
responsible for claims expressed or implied
in advertising. EL Gazette is published
under licence by Media Shed Ltd and all
reproduction rights are strictly reserved.
Joseph Seaton, former teacher, English Manager and Deputy Director at Copyright 2021. ISSN 1368-2628.00
the British Council Afghanistan (centre front) and British Council teachers in
Afghanistan, whose faces have been blurred to protect their identities
editorial@elgazette.com 5