Continuing professional development conferences and events

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Teaching French to young learners


Sunday 13 to Thursday 24 July 2008
Besançon, France

Are you a teacher of French to pupils below secondary school age?
Want to refresh you knowledge of French society and culture?

Teaching French to young learners offers a lively mix of language improvement classes and practical workshops designed to explore creative approaches to good teaching practice. As your linguistic fluency and confidence increase, you will be encouraged to exchange ideas and develop materials which will truly transform your teaching.

This course is held at the Centre de Linguistique Appliquée (CLA) in Besançon.  Besançon, known as the greenest city in France, was ranked third in the country in 2003 for its good quality of life.  The city’s superb blue stone architecture extends along a wide bend in the Doubs River, a truly unique site (www.voyages-sncf.com), every year Besançon is the destination of thousands of students from all over the world who come to learn French, and hundreds of French students who come to improve their skills in foreign languages.

Course Tutors
Experienced native speakers and tutors from the CLA, France and an independent CILT consultant from the UK.

Who is it for?
This course is designed to integrate language improvement with methodology work.  There will be an emphasis on active approaches involving games and songs.  The course is designed for current or intending teachers of French to pupils below secondary-school age.

The course will include:

  • Sessions on language-teaching methodology for young learners.
  • Language enhancement.
  • A varied choice of sessions, including some on aspects of French culture
  • Practical workshops focusing on play, songs and games.
  • Opportunities to collect teaching materials.
  • A programme of cultural visits to familiarise participants with the region of France.

The CLA is renowned for its training courses for teachers from all over the world.  Participants will have opportunities to join in a wide range of optional modules, as well as those specifically designed for this course.

Aims:

  • To improve and update French language skills and cultural awareness.
  • To investigate appropriate methodology for both introducing French and looking at progression in the teaching of French to younger pupils.
  • To examine ways of successfully teaching French and a knowledge of its culture to younger pupils.
  • To collect and develop suitable authentic materials for teaching French to young learners.

Pre-requisite skills
The sessions, including workshops on methodology, are conducted entirely in French, therefore teachers with a good working knowledge of French are encouraged to apply for this course. 

Registration:

  • Fill out the attached form to register your interest in attending this course.
  • We will send you instructions on how to apply for a grant towards the cost of the course.
  • You send your completed grant application form to the British Council Education and Training Group as soon as possible.
  • You will be informed by the British Council ETG whether you have been awarded a grant.
  • You tell us if you have been awarded the grant by sending us a copy of the confirmation letter from the British Council ETG.
  • CILT will confirm your attendance on the course if a place is still available.

For more information and a registration form please contact CILT on 020 7379 5101 or email conferences@cilt.org.uk

Fee and grant:
The fee for the course is Euros1,800. You can apply for a grant through the Comenius Professional Development programme (managed by the British Council) to contribute to the course fee, subsistence and your travel.

The course fee covers:

  • course and tuition fees in Besançon
  • bed & breakfast accommodation in single rooms in a town-centre hotel
  • a daily subsistence allowance to go towards meals
  • a programme of visits and cultural events
  • an independent CILT tutor to accompany you throughout the course

You or your institution will also need to pay for:

  • Travel from the UK to Besançon
  • extra optional excursions
  • your own social activities
  • your own day-to-day expenses

Regarding the grant, priority is given to applicants who have not received a professional development grant in the last two years. The deadline for grant applications for this course is 31 March 2008, please ensure that you send your registration form to us as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline date for funding. the British Council will not consider grant applications after this date.

Please note the first and last days of the course are travelling days.