Another challenge

Today I presented my Salaam teaching materials for the 1st year international class. It was a challenge, but also a very good experience and I got to practice my English which I haven't spoken much for the last three months. Somehow I fear the day when I don't have English classes anymore....will I loose my English again?

Why don't they dare.....?

I'm very lucky to have the opportunity to do loads of teaching materials for Salaam Filmfestival. During April I've done 6 sets of materials and I believe I've done a good job.

Yesterday we had a meeting at Salaam about my production and they didn't quite agree on the level of expectations I had for the pupils and especially not for the teachers.....!!
What I mean is that I expect the teachers to be engaged and curious when they are to teach a subject, that they want to have a solid base to teach on. E.g. that if they use a film to teach about Peru, the inca indians and finding your identity when you are adopted to Europe, they shoul also be provided with basic knowledge about the history of the incas and the country, the politics of the country and basic facts about the traditions and the people. But the experienced teachers at Salaam don't believe that you can expect that kind of engagement from neither the teachers nor the pupils!!! and I fear that this attitude is not their's alone.... sadly enough!

Salaam believe that the level of some of my tasks is to high for pupils, but I'm of the opinion that if the material is for the teacher's inpsiration it should be aimed at a high level. I don't want to regard the teachers as dumb, lazy and ignorant - to my experience they are very eager to pass on knowledge. If you don't expect anything from them they become lazy and less interested......this goes for both the teachers and the pupils!! From my karate training I know that if you are challanged you sharpen your sences - if I at my karate lessons trained with somebody higher gratuated than myself I had to keep focus and I experienced that I learned more and felt a strange kind of satisfaction that I was able to "survive".....a kind of "YES! I did it!"-feeling... challanged within your ZPD (Vygotsky) that's when you're learning.

Another thing is that Salaam don't expect the teachers to use more than two hours on a film....WHY ON EARTH NOT!? If the material they are presented with is interesting and thoroughly created it will in my opinion inspire to work a lot more with the themes the film represents, and at the same time cover the governmental requirements. Inspiration, engagement and reflection is what should drive the teachers and the pupils. If not, I definitely feel that it's a major problem for the Danish Public Schools not to expect that kind of engagement and interest for learning.
It's a problem that a lot of teachers only want to work their way through the day as easy as possible...it rubs off on the pupils.....and the society (their future employers) will not accept that - they expect interest in what the employee is working with...and it all starts in school that's where they should learn to be interested and reflective...The teachers have a huge responsibility - I wish they all were aware of that!
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Maybe it's just me - but this kind of attitude disappoints me...and I really have no idea what to do about it?!
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A very useful link

If you're at all interested in language and especially English as a second language you should have alook at the link below. It's in Danish though .....

http://www.sproglaererforeningen.dk/cms/uploads/SL_Engelskhefte.pdf

Definitely some useful information for English teachers to be....

I'm doing so well producing teaching material for Salaam.....my head is stuffed with good ideas for teaching materials.....it's so much fun producing loads of tasks for the kids....EVER SO happy I insisted on doing placement (or whatever it is :o) ) with Salaam.