ALTE 3rd International Conference, 2008
The ALTE 3rd International Conference will be held from
10 - 12 April 2008 at the University of Cambridge and hosted by Cambridge ESOL. The central conference theme is The Social and Educational Impact of Language Assessment with sub themes on Assessment for Teaching and Learning, Intercultural Dialogue, Impact
and Stakeholders.
The call for papers is now open. To submit a presentation and for further information about the event, please visit www.ALTE.org or write to the ALTE
secretariat at alte2008@ucles.org.uk
There will be updates in future editions of Cambridge First.
Uptake on TKT
Bogotá teachers take lead on English for Colombia An international scheme to train English language teachers to a new British standard is expected to help thousands of students in Bogotá.
TKT . . . long-term impact on the teaching of more than 4,000 students each year
More than 140 state school teachers received an internationally-recognised TKT (Teaching Knowledge Test) certificate at a ceremony attended by David Green, the Director-General of the British Council, Colombia, recently. The event was a significant milestone for the Bogotá and Cundinamarca Bilingue programme which has been run by the Secretaria de Educación del Distrito de Bogotá with the British Council since 2003.
The first pilot – carried out among schools in the Fontibon area – is expected to have a long-term impact on the teaching of more than 4,000 students each year. Teachers prepared themselves for the TKT qualification using an online teacher development platform created by the British Council in Colombia, the Open Learning Teacher Development Programme.
New office in Vietnam
The drive to develop English language skills in Vietnam has been given an additional boost by the establishment of a Cambridge ESOL office in Ho Chi Minh City. The local operation will help support the raising of standards in the teaching and learning of English in Vietnam, enabling more people to take Cambridge ESOL’s internationally recognised exams, and will provide support for teacher training programmes and to employers in evaluating the language skills of staff and job applicants.
Simon Lebus (Chief Executive, Cambridge Assessment) and Dr Mike Milanovic (Chief Executive, Cambridge ESOL) flew out for the opening event which was attended by HM Ambassador Robert Gordon, Keith Davies, Director and Justin Spence, Deputy Director of the British Council in Vietnam, Professor Nguyen Tan Phat, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, and Dr Huynh Cong Minh, Director of the Department of Education and Training, Ho Chi Minh City.
Also attending the reception to honour the opening of the office were staff from the Department of Education and Training, representatives from the higher education sector, schools and language institutions, and publishers.
New staff in Vietnam
Pham Hoang Uyen has been appointed Marketing Manager and Chu Hue Phuong Education Support Officer for the new Cambridge ESOL office in Ho Chi Minh City. They will be promoting Cambridge ESOL exams. Their work will involve building relationships and liaising with education departments, universities, colleges and the corporate sector.
TKT Seminars
The TKT seminar packs, developed by Cambridge ESOL for TKT candidates and teacher trainers, comprise six modules. The seminars range from a discussion on quality assurance to a detailed exploration of the tasks and how these relate to classroom skills.
For trainers who need advice on setting up courses to prepare candidates for TKT, the workshop examines the principles and options to be considered when setting up a course. All the seminars are based on the principle that learning is enhanced when new knowledge is linked to previous knowledge and experience, and by undergoing a process of reflection. Learning also escalates when participants can work together and discuss and share ideas.
For more information on these seminars, centres need to contact their local Cambridge ESOL office or development manager.