MOOC course on Teaching English to Young Learners

MOOC course on Teaching English to Young Learners
organized by the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, WCIES and Regional English Language Office in Tallin

The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Warsaw Center of Education and Social Innovation and Training (WCIES), and Regional English Language Office in Tallinn are inviting primary school teachers of English to participate in the MOOC program “Teaching English to Young Learners”.
Description
In this practice-oriented course, primary school English teachers will explore innovative ways to teach English to young learners.

Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) is designed to introduce you to the theory and practice of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to young learners 3-10 years old. Through engaging videos and practical readings, you will explore approaches for teaching English to children that are not only effective but also fun and engaging. You will learn techniques for teaching new vocabulary and grammar that encourage student participation. In addition, you will gain new ideas for teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a meaningful context. Through learner-centered activities and group discussions, you will have many opportunities to share ideas with peers and apply course content to your learning environment. You will gain access to an international online learning community and gain new avenues to develop professionally.

Learning Objectives and Learner Outcomes
By the end of the course, you will be able to…
• explain the reasons for teaching EFL at early ages
• implement teaching methodology in the classroom
• use effective approaches and techniques appropriate for young learners in the EFL classroom
• develop appropriate activities for teaching vocabulary, grammar, and the four skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—to young EFL learners
• describe your learning environment and develop a lesson for young EFL learners in your context
• access additional resources, recommended reading, and discussion posts via Canvas platform

This program will be enriched by the support of English Language Specialist (EL Specialist) Carol Foye (bio note below), who will guide teachers through this MOOC on the Canvas learning platform. The EL Specialist will conduct live, online workshops reviewing and deepening the participants’ learning each week, giving them more practical techniques and strategies, and answering any questions that participants may have. The EL Specialist will also help the teachers through difficulties they may encounter in the MOOC. The organizers will strive to build a professional learning network among the participants and organizers.
Certificates: At the conclusion of the program the participants will receive certificates with details of the completed program. Only those who complete all program tasks and attend 80% of meetings will be presented with certificates.
Dates and Time: The course will be 7 weeks long (week 1 – opening and orientation, weeks 2-6 work on the course modules, week 7 – closing and evaluation). The live meetings and the MOOC will add about 3-4 hours of work a week to your schedule.

The program will start on October 16 and conclude December 11, 2021. The Live sessions are planned for Saturdays (October 16, 23 and 30, November 6, 13, 23 and 27, December 11). Teachers selected to participate in the program will be notified on October 13. The first meeting is scheduled for Saturday October 16.
Participation: The program has been designed for a group of 25 teachers.
How to apply? Fill out the attached questionnaire and send by email to mzasunska@eduwarszawa.pl
Application deadline: Sunday, October 10
Program announcement on WCIES website.

The MOOC “Teaching English to Young Learners” (TEYL) is provided by George Mason University, as part of the Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program. This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government, and administered by FHI 360.

Carol Foye is a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience in teaching English to speakers of other languages. She earned a BA in International Relations from the University of Minnesota, an MA in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Hawai’i, and a professional K-12 ESOL teaching certificate with Gifted and Reading endorsements from the State of Florida. In her teaching career, she has worked in classrooms all over the US and internationally, including full-time positions at the University of Minnesota and TransPacific Hawai’i College. Carol is currently a district ESOL Specialist in Manatee County, Florida. In this position she supports K-12 ESOL programs, administrators, students, and teachers and develops curriculum and online courses. She enjoys contributing to the dynamic, global community that EL Specialist projects cultivate.