American TESOL Expert Trains
Saratov Teachers
On June 1–2, 2003, over 30 teachers of Young Learners in Saratov were
lucky to be able to participate in a series of workshops conducted by Dr. Eleanor
Black Eskey, California State University, Los Angeles Master of Arts program in TESOL. She
was assisted by Dr. Burgess, her former graduate student. Dr. Eskey focused on
teaching English through literature and content. Using two popular children’s stories,
she demonstrated the way kids can be exposed to lots of language, including some difficult
grammar issues, without even noticing it. The participants were introduced to effective
techniques for pre-reading and post-reading activities. What was intended to be fun for
Young Learners turned out to be fun for their teachers as well. They participated in all
kinds of interactive communicative activities offered by Eleanor Eskey as a tool for
language development. In their feedback the participants emphasized that the content-based
approach can be applied to any age level as a very effective strategy of teaching English.
Due to Dr. Eskey’s masterful encouragement, the school teachers
shared their professional experience with their colleagues. Nelly London of
“Kristallic” Middle School demonstrated a video taken in her class on teaching US
public holidays; Svetlana Deltsova of Saratov Lyceum of the Humanities shared her
experience in dramatizing stories with 6-graders; Marina Ezhova, a teacher of a school in
a small settlement, demonstrated some techniques of motivating less advanced students;
Olga Prozorova, the manager of a private child-caring center for pre-school children, told
the participants about the way English and American folklore can be used for teaching very
young learners. The American experts’ keen interest in what is happening in teaching
English in Saratov promoted lively discussions during coffee breaks and after the
sessions.
Most of the workshop participants were members of the “Smart Kid”
club, uniting Saratov English teachers working with young learners. English is now
introduced into the curricula of all Saratov elementary schools, but the present-day
in-service training centers don’t often offer courses focusing on teaching English in
primary and middle school. That is why we strive for every opportunity to learn and borrow
from competent specialists.
The loud applause for Dr. Eskey and her assistant Dr. Burgess
at the end of the session showed our appreciation of their teaching gifts and sincere wish
to share their expertise with us.
Our special thanks go to the English Language Office, Public Affairs
Section of the US Embassy in Moscow who sponsored these workshops.
By Irina Sipakova,
Olga Shevchenko,
“Smart Kid” Club members
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