Bring out your students’ creativity with TESOL France
February 8th, 2012 | Published in Comment, Features, Info & Advice, Interviews, Work & Study | 1 Comment
Using theatre in the classroom? Photo: alancleaver_2000
Christina Rebuffet-Broadus invites local English teachers to participate in TESOL France Grenoble activities ahead of a swap shop on using theatre in the classroom.
English teachers of Grenoble unite!
Grenoble’s chapter of TESOL France has been around since 2008 and is here to give dedicated English teachers a support network where they can exchange ideas, share tips, and even get professional advice.
One of the main activities of TESOL-France Grenoble involves organizing regular swap shops. They take place on Thursdays and/or Saturdays because let’s face it, we’re all busy, and it is a great way to meet like-minded professionals. In the past, the sessions themes have sessions have been devoted to “Watching and Making Films,” “Using Podcasts in the Language Lab,” “Student Presentations—Make Them Beneficial and Worthwhile for Everyone” and other themes that participants have suggested.
Often teachers have given excellent, short talks (10 minutes to half an hour) on techniques that have helped their students progress.
These workshops are conducted in English, and teachers are encouraged to share ideas that have worked for them. After all, the more brains the better!
The swap shops alone make membership worth it, but there are other benefits to taking part in TESOL-France Grenoble too! Members get free admission to all TESOL France events. The biggest ones are TESOL France Spring Day (in Strasbourg in April 2012) and the annual conference (every November in Paris) and it pulls in some big names in the industry. Think David Crystal, Luke Meddings, and Ken Wilson!
All this costs only €49. And if you can get your school to agree on an institutional membership, four teachers will get yearly membership at a reduced price.
Membership also includes a subscription to the quarterly newsletter Teaching Times, which publishes articles on teacher development ideas, academic research, conferences in France and abroad, news from other TESOL France regional chapters, EFL/ESL book reviews, and more.
Of course, you don’t have to be a member to go to the regional events such as the swap shops. You’re just asked to pay a participation fee, usually around 8€. For more information about becoming a member, you can check out the TESOL France website at www.tesol-france.org.
And now for the personal note!
I signed up about a year ago, when I felt I needed a career boost. That was probably one of the best professional decisions I’ve made as yet (the other was joining the WWNG, Working Women’s Network Grenoble). I had been teaching for about five or so years and was ready for a deeper involvement in my job. I was getting bored and a bored teacher means bored students! No fun for anyone!
I’ve been to two Paris events and a couple of swap shops here in Grenoble (where I met the lovely Marianne Raynaud who is a mine of good ideas, met teachers from different parts of France and the world. Thanks to the Internet, we stay in touch on Twitter and Facebook, which have become my virtual teachers’ lounge!
But I’d have to say the biggest benefit was about this time last year, when I wanted to go for a Cambridge certification. I’d thought about the DELTA but wasn’t sure where to do it. Then I opened up the Teaching Times and there was a two-page spread on ESOL Strasbourg and their new CELTA/DELTA program. So I got in touch with the coordinator and signed up for the DELTA, which has literally changed my teaching life for the better. And all that thanks to TESOL France. No kidding.
I decided to start my own teaching blog, where, for the moment, I’m logging my DELTA Experimental Practice Assignment with Dogme teaching. Of course it’ll expand with time, but right now you can follow what is going on in a class where we are trying to go a whole semester with lessons that are materials-light, conversation-driven, and completely focused on students’ emerging language. Sound a bit fuzzy? You can find out how it works in practice on my blog!
Curious to know more about TESOL France Grenoble? Our next swap shop is coming up on Saturday February 25th! Click here to find out more.
This event is FREE to TESOL France members. Non-members are kindly asked to pay an 8€ fee at the door.
If you like, becoming a member of TESOL France (49€ for one year for individuals) on the day will also be possible. Please fill out the online membership form in advance if you would like to join.
February 9th, 2012 at 10:22 pm (#)
It’s great to feel your enthusiasm for this network, and obvious valuable resource for teachers of English. I had heard of this group, but your article has inspired me to find out more….. Thanks!