Workshop: Understanding the challenges of English language training

Teachers from public and private schools participate in focus group, give feedback.

Teachers from government and private schools participated in a focus group on English Language Training (ELT) at Serena Hotel on Monday. The aim of the focus group was to understand, consider and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead for English teaching, said a press release issued by the British Council.

One of the key challenges discussed was how to accelerate the transition from old school ELT methodologies to new, innovative teacher roles, approaches and styles.

“You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it; you must learn to see the world anew,” said Roudaba Shuja, a participant in the focus group.

The focus group highlighted the need for English is growing significantly in Pakistan. Fuelled in part by Pakistani institutions and systems being in English and economic empowerment.

The focus group work will enable participants to present outcomes and develop recommendations based on these outcomes. The Head of English at Islamabad College for Girls F-6/2 Rabiya Qadir appreciated the focus group and called for more of such interactions between private and government sector schools.

The focus group was organised by the British Council under its English teaching programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2011.