Page 17 - ELG2307 Jul Issue 485

SUPPLEMENT

Talking accreditation and teacher supply One problem, I point out, is the cost of training. Schools I know in Spain
“The British Council has been involved in English teaching for very now offer four-week courses for free, but tie the takers into a contract first.
many years and we have built a strong reputation; we have a brand. “We’re looking at some kind of apprenticeship,” he offers. “And how
British Council accreditation means UK language Centres can benefit we can make best use of talented local teachers.”
from that branding,” Mark tells me. Something, I point out, which UK summer schools did for years
I couldn’t agree more. Agents certainly look for the BC logo when until Brexit.
choosing a school, only to be burnt when around 20% of British Economists say when labour is in short supply, put the wages up.
Council Accredited Centres went bust during COVID, often owing It’s already happening in big name destinations: London, Dublin, even
agents money. It was perfectly predictable to anyone looking at schools’ Malta. Why not in the British Council’s own schools?
accounts pre-pandemic, but Council inspectors do not check the I do not mention it. After all, Mark Walker is the man whom the
financial position. Most agents, though, think they do. British Council called back from Asia to help when they were faced with
When one operator went quite early in the pandemic, agents wrote bankruptcy; he needs solutions which don’t endanger the bottom line.
to the Gazette asking for advice. Don’t we all?
“You should have checked their accounts,” I told them. Get your free copy of the “Future of English: Global Perspectives” here.
They didn’t need to do so, they
replied. They relied entirely on the
British Council
Mark conceded, “We need to
train the agents better.” But hasn’t
the British Council been accrediting
agents for years?
There is still an oversupply in the
UK, I say. IMAGE COPYWRITE IN-PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY LTD
“The question of managing supply
is for our partners, English UK,” says
Mark, firmly. “If they wanted us to
inspect a thousand schools we would
do so.”
We move on to the teacher shortage;
a global problem for English language
schools, as the British Council, with
language centres in 40 countries,
knows only too well.
“It is an endless topic of debate
here in the office,” says Mark. “What
exactly is in short supply? What are
the critical skills we need in teachers?
Can we use more variants of blended
learning? How can we increase entry
into the profession?”

Contents

THE ROLE OF TECH IN ELE
Mike Solly asks if Tech can narrow
18 the equity gap

What are the
critical skills we
ADAPTING ASSESSMENT
Mina Patel proposes how assessment need in teachers?
21 needs to change in our modern world
Can we use more
variants of blended
22 we increase entry into
learning? How can
DOES EME BENEFIT STUDENTS?
Ann Veitch brings English-Medium Education
under the spotlight
the profession?

ENGLISH IN THE MULTILINGUAL CLASSROOM
Steve Copeland discusses the role of English
25 in a multilingual world

editorial@elgazette.com 17