Course Introduction
This Language, Methodology and Culture course is an intensive professional training course for primary and secondary school teachers who want to participate in a variety of innovative teaching methodology workshops to refresh their teaching practice, while also upgrading their language skills and gaining a better understanding of contemporary Irish life and culture.
20 lessons of group tuition / week
1 lesson = 50 minutes
Course Duration: 1 week or 2 weeks
Minimum Level: Upper-intermediate (B2)
Who is it for?
Primary and secondary school teachers who are interested in innovative ideas to motivate and engage their students. You must have at least a B2 (Upper-Intermediate) level of English to join this course
Course Format
This Language, Methodology and Culture course can be organised as either a one-week or two-week course and consists of 20 classroom-based sessions per week, plus an extensive cultural and social programme led by your teacher trainers.
- 20 lessons of group tuition / week
- 1 lesson = 50 minutes
2022 Dates
| Spring | Summer | Autumn |
|---|---|---|
| 4th April – 15th April
18th April – 29th April |
4th July – 15th July
19th July – 29th July 1st August – 12th August 15th August – 26th August |
17th October – 28th October |
Course Location
Dublin, Ireland
Course Aims
To promote and facilitate a practical critical engagement with new ideas and recent pedagogical developments in teaching.
To provide an opportunity to develop participants’ own language skills.
To promote awareness of Irish literature, culture and society through topical, collaborative lessons.
To establish contacts between teachers from a variety of European education systems and facilitate future networking.
Methodology
Theories, ideas and activities are presented and demonstrated through lessons with content that is suitable to the course participants’ level and interests.
Participants are expected to actively participate in the workshops, and applied exercises and tasks, to reflect on their own beliefs and practice, and share thoughts, ideas and expertise in pair work, small groups and with the class as a whole. Critical thinking and active peer and self-evaluation are essential for the course.
During the course participants will also take part in a range of afternoon activities where they will be encouraged to develop their language skills in a more informal environment outside the classroom and further enhance their knowledge of contemporary Ireland and the vibrant city of Dublin.
Course Themes and Sample Timetable
The Language, Literature and Culture course has three main components:
- Irish Literature and Language classes
- Teaching Methodology (innovative methods to enhance teaching and learning)
- Irish Life and Culture (including focus on language development)
To ensure your course meets your development objectives, the schedule of sessions on every course is drawn up and agreed with each group of participants and Erasmus Plus coordinators on the basis of pre-course training needs analysis questionnaires.
| Week Two (Sample) | Session One 9am to 10.40am |
Session Two 11am to 12.40pm |
Afternoon Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Expanding Vocabulary: Ideas for Teaching and Learning Collocation / Irish Expressions | Dublin’s Parks, Squares and Public Spaces | Lunch with Teachers and orientation tour of Dublin. (Second week students to add their favourite spots to the tour) |
| Tuesday | Alternative Approaches to Lesson Design 2: Task-Based Language Teaching and Dogme | Ireland – The Border and a Border Poll | Visit to Kilmainham Gaol |
| Wednesday | Teaching Pronunciation: Models and Goals | Poetry in the Classroom Yeats, Easter 1916 / Patrick Kavanagh, Canal Bank |
The Buskers and Street Art Walk and Talk Tour with teacher |
| Thursday | Literature, Culture and Stereotypes | Women in Irish Society | Visit to MoLi – Museum of Literature Ireland |
| Friday | Storytelling in the Classroom / Oscar Wilde | Reflection on learning. Developing your Personal Learning Network (PLN) Looking ahead. |
End of course Lunch and Irish Coffee Film and Fluency Club |
| Saturday | Full day excursion to Howth |
Follow Up
Participants on the course are encouraged to keep in contact, sharing materials and experiences when back in their own classrooms. Follow-up contact is made with the participants three months after completion of the course to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the classroom activities presented and on how your teaching practice has been developed. The course trainers are available for follow-up advice and support at all times.
Price List
1 week Training Course
- Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
- Additional Fee: Homestay Accommodation: €225 for one week of host family accommodation (single room, half-board) + €65 placement fee
2 week training course
- Programme includes materials, excursions and activities.
- Additional Fee: Homestay Accommodation: €450 for two weeks of host family accommodation (single room, half-board) + €65 placement fee
Erasmus Plus Info
Organisation ID (legal name): Atlas Language Institute
Participant Identification Code (PIC): 943679051
Organisation ID: E10128627
Registration Number: 373677