New English Language Programs in Moscow

U.S. Embassy English Teaching Program “Shaping the Way We Teach English” was conducted in Moscow from January to June, 2008. It was supported by the Moscow English Language Teachers’ Association (MELTA), teacher-training officials from the American Embassy and volunteer teacher-trainers from the American Centre in Moscow.

The program incorporated a video series “Shaping the Way We Teach English: Successful Practices Around the World” which was presented during the workshops of David Fay, English Language Officer, US Embassy Moscow.

David is engaged in one of the activities with Oxana Danchevskaya

David Fay has taught and trained teachers in the United States, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Russia. His workshops gave an opportunity to look at essential building blocks to becoming a successful English language teacher. He encouraged using a constructivist, enquiry-based approach that involves applying authentic materials to real life needs and situations. Thus, it gives possibilities to improve language teaching classroom practices and promote active learning.

The content of the workshop series also included the following: contextualizing language, integrating skills, critical and creative thinking, individual learner differences, peer observation, and reflective teaching.

In the American Centre after teachers’ presentations

All Moscow teachers who have completed the series of workshops share enthusiasm about David Fay’s tuition. They expressed their wish to break their isolation and work cooperatively in future. “Shaping the Way” is a wave that should be spread’.

Olga Boltneva, MELTA Coordinator

Tatyana Kobzina, university teacher, added, “This course gave us a deeper insight into teaching and showed the ways to further professional development. Now we have a chance to reshape our approaches to teaching practice and think ‘beyond the box.”

Tatyana Kobzina and Alyona Pavlova