Ecuadorians Graduate from the Teach English Caribbean Program.
Forty-four Ecuadorian teachers are now equipped with the necessary skills to be better teachers and speakers of the English Language following the completion of the seven-month long Teach English Caribbean Program.
The Program is an expansion of the Go Teacher Program USA to the Caribbean. It is a mutual agreement between the Prime Minister of Ecuador, Rafael Correa and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
The program, which commenced on 9th November 2015, was designed to improve the English proficiency and pedagogical skills of the Ecuadorians English teachers.
Tuesday 7th June 2016, saw a Graduation Ceremony to mark the completion of this cohort of the Teach English Caribbean Program in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at Lecture Theatre 2 at the Villa Campus of the Community College.
Academic Co-ordinator of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC), Ms. Jannis Deane, who gave an overview of the program, said that the students now hold a Certificate of Proficiency in both English as a second language (ESL), and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TSOL). “Today is a day of firsts,” Ms. Deane exclaimed. “This is the first cohort of Ecuadorian students to graduate from our institution with certificates in ESL as well as TSOL, this is also the first time that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has ever offered such a program. It is also the first time that St. Vincent and the Grenadines has ever participated in such a unique experience that has not only expanded our diplomatic ties, but has also offered quality educational opportunities to countries in South America,” Deane noted.
The SVGCC Academic Co-ordinator further said that the program of study was divided into two major sessions, English as a Second language, which was of three months duration and teaching English to Speakers of Other languages, which was also a three-month stint. She also said that the final month of the program was dedicated to a three-week practicum, where students taught in a number of primary and secondary schools in Kingstown and the Villa area.
Ms. Deane noted that the ESL courses were linked to language learning acquisition and included subjects such as reading, writing, listening, oral presentations, conversation, language structure and phonology. “The College’s state of the art language laboratory enabled the students to practice the four language skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing,” she said. she added that the program sought for a multiplicity of meaningful context, which will enable oral proficiency in English, and towards this end the Ecuadorian students were engaged in oral presentations in English in their country on the provinces or neighbourhoods in which they lived in Ecuador.
Ms. Dean added that they also researched on places of interest in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and gave presentations on these. “Additionally they participated in activities such as debates and expositions, conducted interviews with business owners and later gave presentations on these in class. These classes on the ESL Program tremendously helped the practitioners to improve their proficiency in the English Language,” Deane stated.
In terms of the TCL Program, she said that the students took courses in the pedagogical aspects of language learning and teaching, noting that they were exposed to current and conventional theories of learning acquisition and teaching practice.
In the students’ response, Ms. Gabreilla Monteros Loor, who delivered her speech in English said that the Teach English Caribbean Program has been very enriching for them in many aspects. She noted that the experience helped them to learn innovative strategies that are new in the educational system. She also said that they were able to interact with native speakers of the English Language who assisted them in their pronunciation of English and fluency.
Loor expressed gratitude to all who assisted them in achieving this goal, particularly to the Ecuadorian President, who gave them the opportunity to study abroad in order to improve their skills in teaching English. She also expressed gratitude to the Vincentian Prime Minister for extending the program to the Caribbean, noting that “without his endorsement this educational venture would not have been a reality”.
The Ecuadorian students received two certificates, one for the Teach English Caribbean Program and another for participating and successfully completing the Community Outreach Program. Several students also received special prizes and awards.
