English language teaching project concludes in Trinco

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 March 2005, 21:11 GMT]
The training for English Language Teaching (TELT) Communities Project in Trincomalee conducted by the British Council and funded by the USAID concluded in Trincomalee during the weekend. The presentation of certificates to twenty trained senior teachers under this project was held at Lotus Park Hotel in Alles garden in Trincomalee, sources said.

Mr.R.Thiayakalingam, Provincial Secretary for Education, Cultural, Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr.Tony O'Brien, Director of the British Council, Ms Amy Hamlyn, TELT Co-Team Leader and Ms Brenda Barret, USAID Trincomalee regional programme manager spoke at the concluding event.

Mr.G.A.Francis, Assistant Director of English (English Unit) made the welcome speech. Senior teachers Ms S.Mariyanesan and Mr.M.Jainulabdeen and Master Trainer Mr.K.Chitravelutham also spoke. Ms R.M.Solomon, District Co-ordinator of the TELT project proposed vote of thanks.

Twenty teachers who concluded the training would set up and deliver teacher training workshops, conduct developmental observations, advise teachers on professional skills development, liase with all English Language Training providers to continue more extensive training for teachers and run teacher support groups, TELT sources said.

Mr.Tony O'Brien, British Council Director in Sri Lanka lighting the traditional oil lamp at the concluding session while Mr.Thiayagalinkam ( L) and Ms Brenda Barret ( R ) are also seen

Mr.Thiakalingam hands over certificate to a senior trainer. Ms Amy Hamlyn, TELT co-team leader is also seen

The guests awarded certificates to senior teachers and master trainers.

The objective of the project was to develop English Language Teaching in each district in the northeast province by training 20 experienced teachers in teacher training and mentoring, thus increasing the number of resource personnel in each educational zone and offering an intensive teacher training course on practical methodology and skills for 240 teachers of English in each district, TELT sources said.

The project was launched in Trincomalee in July last year. 8 Master Trainers and 40 Senior Teachers were selected to take part in trainer training and teacher training activities. Senior teachers took part in a trainer training course on workshop delivery and mentoring. Four batches of 60 teachers took part in a 10-day workshop based on communicative methodology. Senior teachers delivered ten-day teacher training course-to three batches of teachers following the example and training program of the master trainers. Senior teachers were trained by master trainers to observe and advise less experienced teachers on classroom methodology and approaches. All teachers and senior teachers took part in regular discussion groups with the assistance of Teachers Centre managers, TELT sources said.

Support for the TELT Communities project has been provided through USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI), which aims to generate support for a negotiated peace settlement to end the long-standing conflict in Sri Lanka, sources said.