Teachers from the Universidad Católica del Maule in Talca, Chile visit USask
USask hosts English language development and teacher training program in partnership with Chilean university
The College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), along with the International Research and Partnerships Office and the Language Centre, hosted 15 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers and one professor from the Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM) in Talca, Chile from May 8 – June 2. This was the second group to complete this program that was co-facilitated by the Language Center and the College of Education through The Saskatchewan Educational Leadership Unit (SELU).
The month-long program included a Saskatchewan-based thematic English Language Development curriculum that included a wide range of cultural, social and historical site-based tours and activities.
The Language Center team consisted of Tanya Napper (manager), Fatma Mohamed (manager of academic programs), Dewey Litwiller (instructor) and Language Center supports Chris Lambert (coordinator of learning resources) and Ken Seto (student experience coordinator).
The College of Education team consisted of Vicki Squires (Director of SELU), Greg McJannet (associate director of SELU), Holly Mayes (SELU office manager), Nadia Prokopchuk (Instructor) and Hannah Berry (ambassador and instructor assistant). Teachers of English from the Maule Region of Chile attended a 3-week methodology course offered by the College of Education titled Current Methods in Teaching English as a Global Language, taught by college instructor Nadia Prokopchuk. The course focused on language learning theory, methodologies, program design, reference scales, and strategies for instruction and assessment. Teachers also had the opportunity to participate in two full days of school observation in language classrooms (Spanish, Michif, Ukrainian Bilingual, French Immersion, and English as an Additional Language) in the Saskatoon Public School Division and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division.
Visiting teachers from UCM, who were sponsored by the Ministry of Education in Chile, will return to their schools and utilize their learning and experiences from their time in Saskatchewan, to improve English Language Instruction at home.
This was an exciting partnership, and all parties look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and continue its rich partnership.