Mentor Workshop in Garm

Another mentor workshop was held in Garm conducted by Rahmiddin Mahmadov, mentor participant. You can read about his workshop here below.
Report on English Mentor Teachers Workshop

Date: October 3, 2008
Place: Business Incubator premises, Garm

Trainer:

1. Rahmiddin Mahmadov– finalist of the English Mentor Teachers Course

Goal:

The goal of this training was to improve teaching skills of the Rasht District English teachers.

Objectives:

1. Meeting with the Rasht Head District and Educational Board Chief to get their approval for conducting the workshop.
2. Dissemination of the invitation letters to the teachers
3. Conduct training in Business Incubator venue.
4. To copy all necessary materials for the workshop.
5. To provide logistical and financial support to organizing the workshop.

Activities:
During the training different methodology-presentation, pear and group work sessions, practical exercises, and individual exercises and energizer was used. Attention was paid to pear and individual work on lesson planning, learning styles and strategies, material development and the ways of learner’ assessment. Apart from it the teachers had an opportunity to meet with the students of the Rasht Access Micro scholarship Program supported by the US Embassy Dushanbe, where warm discussions hold on obstacles and constraints faced for the English teaches in teaching and students while learning the language. The teachers and students pointed out their interest in finding alternative ways of making the learning process more effective.

Organization
First of all a letter was submitted to the Rasht Head District and Educational Board Chief and after meeting with them approval received. Invitation letters had been disseminated through Educational Board via school Head Masters.
All necessary materials were available.
The place was comfortable (light enough, training room for workshop and separate place for coffee break and lunch).
Twenty two secondary, one Access Micro scholarship and two teachers for the Rasht Pedagojical University invited.


Conclusion
The trainees improved knowledge on new methodology, lesson planning, and learners’ assessment as well as shared their experiences and challenges faced. They expressed their gratitude towards Dushanbe Foreign Master School and US Embassy for making the workshop available for them. The participants also tasked the trainer to organize another workshop in January 2009.

Problems
Some of the participants were late as it was raining “cats and dogs”.

Lessons learnt
Time was not enough. A two days or three days workshop could be more effective.

Impact
The participants improved quality of providing English classes using different methodology.

Recommendations:
1) Conduct another workshop in January in collaboration with the local Educational Board.
2) A two days or three days workshop could be more effective.
3) Find the way if financial support for the other wokshop




Submitted by,

Rahmiddin Mahmadov,
English Mentor Teacher,
Garm Tajikistan