Language training for Refugees and Migrants: Informal language methodologies (working language: English and Greek)

At the end of the seminar, participants are expected to have acquired the skills that will enable them to:

– develop a repertoire of teaching skills and informal techniques and become able to make judgments as to when and how to use them,

– develop the ability to make choices with regard to informal teaching techniques   and learning materials and to adapt or supplement them to cater for the specific needs of groups and individual adult learners

– learn to recognize learners as individuals with their own learning styles, motivation and aims and act appropriately in their informal language teaching

Methodology

The course is based on the principles of participatory adult education, by embodying participants’ experiences and fostering the exchange of their ideas, proposals and materials. Its focus is not merely on the didactic aspect of teaching adults but also on the participants’ social and cultural knowledge gained through education, and teaching to different target groups throughout Europe. During the course, the following techniques will be implemented: working in subgroups and pairs, role play, microteaching, lectures, guided conversation, brainstorming, language and educational games and experiential activities.

Participants will also be given hand-outs, original materials, lists of intercultural activities and websites for teaching tools.

Day 1 (Friday)

– Presentation of the participants and their organizations

– Presentation of the seminar’s programme and the trainers (educational contract)

– Locating the characteristics, the needs and the expectations of our learners

– Formal-informal-non formal methods and contexts

Day 2 (Saturday)

– The Language café methodology

– Participants practice their knowledge and skills in the Language café methodology

Day 3 (Sunday)

– The Language Exchange methodology

– Participants practice their knowledge and skills in pairs and in group Language  Exchange

Day 4 (Monday)

– The Montessori methodology for adults

– Participants practice their knowledge and skills in the Montessori methodology for adults

Day 5 (Tuesday)

– Coping with practical problems in informal language teaching

– Reports on the visit and the course

– Evaluation of the seminar – farewell activities – Creating a communication network

Participants will be given information on the subject of informal language teaching as well as information on relevant projects. Before the course, they will be asked to describe the institution they work for and the basic characteristics of their learners and their own professional background. It is also required to bring and present samples of the didactic material they use. Participants will also receive some information for the course group (trainers, organizers and organizing institution, other participants). Organizers will be responsible for sending all the necessary information regarding the venue and the trip. All the above will be communicated via e-mail and Drop Box.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be encouraged to form a network which will function as a meeting point. Within this network, they will be able to exchange didactic materials and proposals as well as useful ideas for promoting informal language learning in different European countries.

26-30/10/2018 Megalochori, Santorini, Greece