Education and Training Activities
From 2003 to 2008, when the PEDYAS curriculum reform project (funded by the European Social Fund and the state) allowed the restructuring of the PRE-ED programme, the special activities listed below were redesigned and implemented regularly:
- Peer teaching: Student teachers choose one of a series of issues in TEFL and research the area before they are tutored for the session they will carry out with their peers by teaching assistants (experienced EFL teachers, seconded to the Faculty).
- Special TEFL seminars: Depending on staff availability, each year one or more seminars are organized for students to take on an optional basis, for extra credit. Most recently, the lesson-planning seminars have been popular with students.
- TEFL Workshops: Students taking the elective course TEFL Practicum are offered the opportunity to choose and attend two out of a series of workshops offered by ELT professionals to classes with 15-25 people each. Participants are carefully guided to use current methods and techniques when teaching children, adolescents or adults who are learning English for different purposes.
- Professional portfolio: Student teachers undergoing professional training are guided into creating a portfolio which basically constitutes a record of their education and training as EFL teachers by documenting the knowledge, skills and expertise they have developed during their studies at the Faculty. It aims at raising student teachers' level of professionalism and at facilitating the evaluation of the effectiveness of the student teacher for employment decisions or postgraduate study. Students develop their portfolio throughout the fourth year of their studies and are assisted in their task by a university tutor. Informal feedback from our graduates shows that the portfolio has helped them immensely in applying for postgraduate studies in the field and for applying for teaching posts in the private sectors.
- ICT literacy: Some of the seminars and workshops offered are related to the use of new technologies in language teaching. Student teachers are also encouraged to visit websites with practical tips on language teaching and learning, and they are provided with references to sites which have been reviewed by tutors and students.
- Independent project work:: This is an option for working students.
- Practice Teaching: As this is often a separately funded programme, it has developed as a project on its own (see: TEACHER TRAINING: PRACTICE TEACHING)