A powerhouse of information is be an apt expression to describe the workshop on English language teaching in the English Lab, organised for the English faculty of The Indian School and The Indian School-Second Shift on 1 February 2020. In the first leg of the workshop, the resource person explained how the interactive software was a treasure trove of information and designed to develop the four language skills-Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. He mentioned that the software being used is a unique programme that prepares students from classes III to XII to communicate in English, with clarity and confidence. The software offers the best in terms of continuous evaluation, content, teaching expertise and methodology. The methodology is a blend of Instructor Led Training (ILT), with a Computer Based Training (CBT), practice and evaluation. The class sessions in the lab are designed so that the course follows a parallel structure in which concepts are introduced in the ILT session and reinforced with practice and an innovative approach to learning in the CBT session. The entire programme progresses through eight levels of advancement where each module comprises 40 hours of intense language training with 7344 grammar exercises! Modules 1, 2 and 3 are basic modules, also known as the ‘Ice-Breaker Sessions’ structured for students in the primary (III, IV and V). Those modules provides the learners with rich vocabulary best suited to a relevant topic, right pronunciation, use of contractions in speech and helps the children overcome their fear of speaking in front of others. The modules also include various CBT (Computer Based Training) exercises for students to practice in the lab in the form of class activities. The resource person explained that Modules 4, 5 and 6 are designed for middle school students (VI to VIII). All the topics included in these modules are based on the prescribed curriculum. The modules include CBT (Computer Based Training) exercises for the students to improve their grammar, syllables, phonetics and pronunciation. He informed us that Modules 7 and 8 are structured for students of the senior wing (IX to XII). They include activities to help teach the art of public speaking, instill life skills, etiquette and prepare students for group discussions in addition to enhancing writing skills. After discussing the modules in great detail, the second half of the workshop took off with the CBT session with a hands’ on experience. The teachers used the computers set up for them to test their practical knowledge and learnt how to assign tasks to the students, evaluate them and monitor their progress. They were taught to create their own grammar exercises in the software. The session ended with some valuable information shared by the resource person about the availability of flashcards and the Teacher’s Manual which contains details of the programme. He suggested that the teachers download the app for tutorial videos on how to use the software. The workshop was very informative and beneficial for the teachers as the rich content of the language lab greatly helps not only the students but also the teachers, the latter, to learn varied teaching strategies and more effective ways of teaching students who have different learning needs.
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