SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1979
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY COURSE FOR TEACHERS
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MORE AND MORE STRESS IS BEING PLACED UPON THE NEED TO DEVELOP PROFICIENCY IN LANGUAGE AND TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNICATIVE SKILLS OF TEACHERS, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A REFRESHER COURSE IN ENGLISH RUN BY THE BRITISH COUNCIL FOR 50 TEACHERS FROM GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE WITH ABOUT 120 HOURS DURATION SPREADING OVER THREE MONTHS, IS TO IMPROVE THE TEACHERS' ORAL PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH AND TO DEVELOP THEIR COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
IT IS A PILOT PROJECT AND, IF PROVED SUCCESSFUL, THE SCHEME MAY BE EXPANDED SO THAT ALL PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ENGLISH WHO WISH TO ATTEND MAY EVENTUALLY BE OFFERED PLACES.
MR. TOPLEY SAID: THE PRIMARY SECTOR HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE FIRST OF THESE COURSES SINCE THE ENGLISH TEACHERS HERE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF PUPILS' ENGLISH LANGUAGE ABILITY.
THE PROGRESS OF THE COURSE WILL BE MONITORED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.
+ IF ENGLISH IS PROPERLY TAUGHT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, THE PUPILS CAN LEARN A GREAT DEAL, AND THE STANDARD OF ENGLISH IN PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVED,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.
HE ALSO COMMENDED THE BRITISH COUNCIL FOR ITS EFFORTS IN THE FIELD OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING.
NOTING THAT THERE ARE AT PRESENT OVER 6,000 STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE ENROLLED IN THE COUNCIL'S COURSES, MR. TOPLEY POINTED OUT THAT THE COUNCIL ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO USE THE FACILITIES AS THEY MIGHT IN A CLUB.
+THERE IS A VERY PLEASANT INFORMAL ATMOSPHERE HERE WHICH IS SO NECESSARY TO LANGUAGE LEARNING, HE ADDED.
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