Last Saturday we finished the seven-week course on “How to be a great English teacher,” which, from my perspective, has brought about a number of positive developments. I will speak briefly on just a few.

First, the teachers were given the opportunity to teach mini-lessons on particular topics and get their teaching evaluated. I believe that peer evaluation is more valuable than any other type of evaluation for it allows more honest feedback and generates a sincere desire to help one another in the task of teaching.

Secondly, reading on a variety of subjects that deal with improving one’s quality of teaching has challenged everyone’s teaching style and forced us to think over how and why we do what we do and how we can be more successful in our work. We have covered a lot of ground speaking on seven major traits that a teacher should possess, but the list can be continued at any time.

Thirdly, watching the brilliant Kevin Kline in ... Read more »

This week we focused on making a user-friendly, high-quality handout. As a student I remember those filthy, poorly printed pieces of paper that we had to use for our English classes. Of course, the resources were limited and the teachers were doing the best we could, but today, seven years after my graduation, I ask myself if the quality of handouts has changed. How much time does an average teacher put into selecting and making neatly-looking handouts for the students to use as guidelines for the lesson? Honestly, do we ever even consider what materials we are using for the class?

If I were a shop owner, one of the first principles of successful entrepreneurship I would learn would be on... Read more »

• The first group meets at GoodWin language school on Saturday mornings and has seven new, enthusiastic, and actively learning teachers. The lessons have been challenging and exciting, and I believe that the teachers are learning quite a bit on teaching methods (because they are forced to do a mini-lesson on a particular topic within a short period of time), on the quality traits that a fine teacher must have, and on the use of language itself, through Reading and Listening exercises. We are also watching The Emperor’s Clu... Read more »