The main objectives of English Teaching Market educational meetings is to help English teachers from villages and small towns improve their teaching competence, as well as integrate their environment and facilitate their cooperation. The meetings have been held already for 16 years, as part of the “English Teaching” program.
The English Teaching Market conference held in Stare Jabłonki near Ostróda on June 25-27 was attended by almost 500 English teachers from villages and small towns.
The conference was opened by Agnieszka Mazur, the PAFF Program Manager, and Krzysztof Margol, President of the Nidzica Development Foundation “NIDA”, the manager of the “English Teaching” program. The inaugural part consisted of presentation on The Profile of Empowering Teachers given by Anna Grabowska and Maria Bogucka, and a lecture on young children developmental problems given by Bożena Janiszewska.
During three days of workshops and lectures the participants could learn how to motivate students, how to work with students with disabilities, how to include elements of improvisation, theater, and play into a lesson, among others. They had also a chance to learn about projects implemented by teachers as part of “ET” program, and the activities of English Teaching Polish Association of English Teachers, an organization for English teachers from villages and small towns, as well as educational offer of English-language publishing houses and of NGOs and aid schemes addressed to schools and offering funds for educational initiatives.
So far over 8,000 people have participated in English Teaching Market meetings. The meetings are organized by Nidzica Development Foundation “NIDA”, as part of the “English Teaching” program of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation.
Launched in 2000, the “English Teaching” program supports activities aimed at improving the quality of English teaching and learning in villages and small towns, and promoting English language among students, their parents and the whole local communities. At the same time, the program contributes to the professional development of English language teachers working in small localities. The program offer includes methodological training, participation in small grants competition, as well as individual training and consulting.
