Is the course suitable for me?
Suitable for:	Experienced & less experienced teachers Teachers working in Secondary/ Higher Education Primary teachers can only be accepted as part of a closed group
Course length:	2 weeks
No of hours:	21 per week
Minimum level of English:	ESU level 5/Upper Intermediate/Cambridge First Certificate
Minimum no of participants:	4
Course dates:	16 July - 29 July 2006
	30 July - 12 August 2006

Objectives
The objectives of the course are wide-ranging, specifically to:
• Expose teachers to new teaching techniques, ideas and materials.
• Learn about other teaching environments, examining common international educational issues.
• Refine teachers' knowledge of current language usage
• Give teachers greater exposure to British life and culture
• Facilitate the exchange of ideas and materials with fellow teachers from around the world.

Methodology
We take a task-based approach. Course participants attend trainer-led workshops and discussion sessions with our team of experienced and well-qualified teacher trainers, as well as class observations and relevant study visits e.g. to world-renowned EFL bookshops, publishers, local schools (whenever possible). There may also be guest speakers offering sessions on specialist subjects.

Course Structure (21 hours tuition per week)

Morning classes:
2 hours of Practical Teaching Strategies each weekday
1 hour of Language Improvement each weekday
Afternoon classes:
2 hours of British Life and Culture on three afternoons each week, one of which is usually a Study Visit.

Outcomes
Teachers on our methodology courses will:
• Have learnt to become more reflective and considered about their own teaching.
• Have refined their teaching strategies, and developed new materials.
• Be able to use a range of authentic materials.
• Be more familiar with recent developments in computer based language-learning
• Have become more aware of the importance of learner training and how to implement it.
• Be more familiar with current language usage and modern-day British Life and Culture

Follow-up
Towards the end of the course, participants work on an individual project using authentic materials that they collect during their time in Oxford. This is then used on their return with their own students, and feedback on its relative success relayed to our tutors for comment.

Course Outline
We ask teachers enrolling on our courses to bring with them samples of materials and/or course books that they use with their students in their own institution. On arrival you also complete an 'Attitudes and Beliefs' questionnaire, read an article focussing on different teaching styles and answer some questions and exercises. This encourages you to think about your attitudes to your teaching and the classroom, as well as providing a basis for initial discussion in class.
Here is a sample timetable of some of the areas that may be covered on the course:

Strand 1: Practical Teaching strategies (10 hrs per week)
A pre-arrival needs analysis will be used in order to tailor the course to the needs of the participants. We have traditionally included sessions on:

• Grammar versus vocabulary
• Phonetics & phonology
• Project work
• Teaching the skills
• Using multimedia in the classroom
• Study skills

Strand 2: Language Improvement (5 hrs per week)
This strand will focus on:

• Collocations
• Current language usage
• Neologisms
• Idioms
• Advanced grammar

Strand 3: British Life & Culture (6 hrs per week)
This strand will include study visits to places of cultural interest. Once again the content will be tailored to the interests of the participants. Topics could include:

• Ethnicity
• Social class
• Youth culture
• Current issues
• The Monarchy
• The Media

Special notes
1. Teacher courses at St. Clare's are focussed at secondary level or older. Primary teachers can be accepted as part of a closed group on request.
2. Participants may be eligible for funding from the European Union, through Comenius.
3. Courses last 2 weeks but participants may join for the first week of any 2-week course.

Closed Group Courses
Tailor-made courses for closed groups (methodology or methodology plus language) can be arranged at most times of the year for both secondary and primary teachers. Contact Richard Walton, Director of Studies EFL, for more information.