Marianne Raynaud

Marianne Raynaud worked for twenty-four years at Grenoble Institute of Technology
(INPG). She has conducted TESOL workshops in France (Paris), Spain (Madrid and Seville) and the USA (Seattle). Now, she is offering workshops here in Grenoble. Grenoble Life wanted to know more.

When I was close to retirement, my young colleagues kept saying, “Marianne, you must find a way to tell other teachers about our course.” While working with me they had seen how fast our students progressed. Moreover, we received numerous letters and e-mails from former students thanking us for teaching them how to give presentations, introduce speakers, debate on topical issues, and of course be successful in job interviews where competence in English is required. They often reported on the high scores they had obtained at international exams: TOEIC, TOEFL, and Cambridge.

The year was 2003, and we were experimenting with new tools offered by the computer and Internet revolution. We were already correcting student work through email and communicating with students via our school’s intranet. So that is when I had the idea of taking the two-year CPPG (the first cycle of engineering studies) English course and putting all the material we had developed ourselves onto a DVD. This new data format enabled me to combine text, image, PowerPoint, audio and video and to make use of hyperlinks to connect explanations about techniques and exercises directly with the files we used. I also intended to make good use of the work our students produced: essays, CVs, letters, stories, TV ads and even 10 min films they wrote, directed and produced themselves. In all there are over 1,500 different files on the DVD (2.2 Go).

Now this digital book is available on my website QualityTime-ESL.com and is being used by teachers on four continents and even in China. I often communicate with these teachers and continue to write materials according to needs that are articulated. One example is the series of podcasts I have produced called Better Speaking Skills (found on iTunes). The first two are available free of charge on my website. Just look for QualityTime-ESL Podcasts (oral interactive drills) and Your English (oral vocabulary-building exercises).

Bringing teachers together to work towards a common goal is my next mission. I believe teamwork is so essential and beneficial. I am now starting a series of practical workshops in the Alps. I hope teachers will join me – and the speakers I invite – for some lively and productive collaboration. The aim is: making the life of an ESL/EFL teacher easier and more enjoyable – with great progress for our students:

Thursday, October 15th, 2009, 2 pm to 5 pm
“Student Presentations—Making Them Beneficial and Worthwhile for Everyone!” with Marianne Raynaud, Coordinator, TESOL France, Grenoble
Room B10, ENSE3 – CPPG, 961, Rue de la Houille Blanche BP 46 – 38402 Saint Martin d’Hères
Free even for non-members this year
To register or if you have any questions, write to me through my website

Thursday, October 29th, 2009 2 pm to 5 pm
(We realize it is during the holiday week, but this is our unique opportunity to work with an outstanding colleague from Paris)
Swapshop: “Using Film and Song in the Classroom“ with Sophie Pietrucci
216 rue Victor Hugo, 38920 Crolles
Free even for non-members this year
To register or if you have any questions, write to me through my website

I am also willing to organize workshops at different lycées or universities. This is an opportunity for you to have an event with colleagues at your own place of work.

There will be future workshops on:
- preparing customized booklets (workbooks),
- increasing individual student speaking time
- evaluation (written work, oral skills and participation)

And here is the program for the TESOL France Colloquium on Nov. 6th and 7th in Paris – with well-known speakers from many different countries.

Marianne Raynaud worked for twenty-four years at Grenoble Institute of Technology
(INPG), setting up English programs at ENSERG (today part of Phelma), EFPG and CPPG. She recently published QualityTime-ESL: The Digital Resource Book and runs the website QualityTime-ESL.com. She has conducted TESOL workshops in France (Paris), Spain (Madrid and Seville) and the USA (Seattle).

Related Posts:

• 5 things I learnt teaching English in Grenoble
• Starting your own business in France
• More Quality Time with Marianne Raynaud
• How to be poor in Grenoble
• French classes at the CUEF?