CULTURA INGLESA: facing challenges through creative
solutions
Innovation and Improvement
Which milestones would you point out as
having made the greatest impact on the
history of ELT at the Cultura?
Innovation and Improvement
1996 – C_______ F________
1997 – L _____ P_______
1998 – M_________ C________
2000 – L______F_____& C______ I_____ O______
2003 - Z____P___: courses for very young learners
Innovation and Improvement
1996 - Conversation Focus
1997 – Lesson Plans
1998 – Multimedia Cl@ss
2000 – LF Materials & Cultura Inglesa Online
2003 - Zip´s Planet: courses for very young
learners
Innovation and Improvement
2007 – I ______ & A______ A_______
2009 – The C_______ E______ (Pilot) & a new Business English Course
2010 – The Cultura Experience in all branches, S___ i__! Pilot), SME Project (Rio Criança Global)
Innovation and Improvement
2007 – IWBs & Academic Auditing
2009 – The Cultura Experience (Pilot) & a new Business English Course
2010 – The Cultura Experience in all branches, Say it! Pilot), SME Project (Rio Criança Global)
World Cup 2014
Olympic Games 2016
Brazilians, do you speak English?
“English is in greater demand in India than ever before: parents and employers want it, and public
policy increasingly accepts the need to provide universal access to it.”
(David Graddol, 2010 p 72)
The need for greater numbers of speakers of English:
State school students
Professionals
Adult learners
Role to play: to equip citizens with the necessary language and skills to face this
challenge
in all branches
LF & the public sector
Academic Auditing: Adult Learners
New Action & New Flash
2011
ADULT LEARNERS
BACKGROUND
‘Pesquisa de Satisfação’
Focus group discussions with adults
Academic Auditing reports
What do adult learners want?
BACKGROUND
Adult students want to
learn quickly
reach a post-basic level
develop oral skills
feel confident during the lesson
create a firm and solid foundation of the language
learnt
CEX – MUF & Drills
Training programme - focus on drills
Actions taken:
Students’ response (when drills are well-implemented):
Greater engagement
Willingness to take more risks
SITUATIONAL APPROACH – Jim Scrivener
Interesting context
Memorable situation (ideally funny)
Integrating intonation into grammar
Lead to naturally sounding language by learners
Involve authentic use of language
Role of the teacher: upfront
A more behavioristic approach: focus on the language,
form and meaning
“Communicative tasks- yes – but there is also a definite
need for an explicit focus on form and meaning, and
therefore for the micro skills needed to do that. And this is
often completely lacking in teachers and in their training.”
“The micro techniques (eg: drilling, contextualizing, use of
substitution tables, etc) ...are extremely useful ... and will
enhance coursebook work.”
(Jim Scrivener, IATEFL Conference 2010)
Relevance of repetition & “mental rehearsal” for
fluency
Adult Learners
Interested in the
development of the 4 skills
Value reflection and
hypothesis formation
Cultural aspects perceived
as relevant
Aiming at intermediate
level Cultura Express
31/01/2011:
CEX 1
556
2011.12010.1
CEX
552
SAY IT 1 SAY IT 2
326 53
Aspectos Avaliados CULTURA EXPRESS
2010
Satisfação Geral (Excluido My Cultura - P18) 85.5%
Satisfação Geral: Aspectos Institucionais - Excluindo My Cultura (P1aP6) 85.5%
Satisfação Geral: Qualidade de Ensino - Excluindo My Cultura (P7aP17 e P19) 85.5%
Adult Learners
Interested in the
development of the 4 skills
Value reflection and
hypothesis formation
Cultural aspects perceived
as relevant
Aiming at intermediate
level Cultura Express
Interested in the
development of speaking
skills
Clear communication
goals
Immediate results
Need to learn quickly
Methodology and Course Structure:
“audiolingual” with a plus
characteristics of the lexical and
communicative approaches
situational / clear communication
goals
18-month long
Piloting Scheme:
Adult Centre: 4 groups Macaé: 4 groups
Intense lesson observation scheme
Feedback incorporated into material
Training informed by piloting observation and results
1996CONVERSATION
FOCUS
1997LESSON PLANS
1998MMCl@ss
2000LF &
CI Online
2003Zip’s Planet
2007IWBs &
Academic Auditing
2009The Cultura Experience
(Pilot)
2010Cultura Experience
SMESay it! (Pilot)
1996CONVERSATION
FOCUS
1997LESSON PLANS
1998MMCl@ss
2000LF &
CI Online
2003Zip’s Planet
2007IWBs &
Academic Auditing
2009The Cultura Experience
(Pilot)
2010Cultura Experience
SMESay it! (Pilot)
2011
LF & the Public Sector
It’s all about people!
Thank you!