Managing Challenges: Leadership and Learning in ELT

Peter UptonDirector Thailand

“In the end it is important to remember that we cannot become what we want to be by remaining where we are”

Context and Challenges

Learning and Language Context

Teachers and training

Excellence in teacher education

A strategic model for ELT

The lessons of success

Services and Language

Nokia support services in Kuala Lumpur

California state e-tutors in Kerala (US wide, 20,000 children served)

Standard Chartered Bank HR support in Mumbai

The outsourcing revenues (mainly call centres) of the Philippines will rise 52 percent to reach $3.8B in 2006 and $12.4B by 2010.

Global services are price sensitive and very mobile

Service expansion is a driver for language expansion.

Technology Trends

The rise of homo zapiens

The wi-fi generation

Developing countries jumping to broadband and mobile

Mobile phones are the future of convergence technology

Anytime, anywhere learning beyond the classroom

World governments are struggling to keep control of information distribution systems

The Language of the InternetEnglish is still the most widely used language on the Internet (32% in 2005) but it is declining fast (51.3% in 2000)

8-15% of Internet use is by non-native speakers

Chinese and lesser used languages are growing quickly in use

Spanish, Arabic, Russian and French are also growing

Three global languages – English, Mandarin and Spanish

Other language trends

Second language speakers are becoming more important than native speakers in deciding “World Language” status

Currently 80% of communication in English in Asia is with other Asian speakers of English.

Non-native speakers are changing the language and making it their own=> English as an Asian Language?

The future will demand tri-lingualism

Educational Transitions

Changed from imparting knowledge to developing flexibility, creativity, innovation and management skills

English being taught at lower and lower grade levels

Now seen as a basic skill

Integration of content classes and English language classes

Educational Issues

A Clash between old and new orders

Massive and rapid teacher training needed

Different speeds of uptake of new methods

Classrooms becoming more diverse

Other languages likely to be introduced (Mandarin)

Policy Implications

Decreasing

native speaker as a model

“native” accents

EFL

Studying abroad

Traditional approaches

Increasing

Competent bilingual speakers of English

Local accents

EYL , ELF, EIL

Studying in-country or in neighbouring countries

Blended learning

Managing change in ELT• Teacher Education in ELT- preserve of Higher Education and concerned with established norms

• Dynamic and rapidly changing education landscape - reform is a continual process

• Dysfunction between needs and expectation: parents and students - schools and business within ELT sector

• Higher Education undergoing major change and its role as the core provider challenged

• Changing expectations of teachers and providers

• Evidence from the PISA study

Teacher Supply and Demand Issues

• Quality versus Quantity - move to smaller groups and therefore more teachers required

• Demand led initiatives from government

• Changing strategic priorities determine future skill sets

• High skill sets demanded but incentives variable

• Teacher morale remains an issue

The European Experience in ELT

• 419,600 teachers an increase of 2.3%

• Vacancy rate 2.2% but huge variations by country

• High level of turnover and retention rates weak

• Workforce reform modelling and its impact

Observations

• ELT Teacher supply is already problematic with global mobility a factor

• Teacher supply for specialist/niche areas in ELT already critical – ie ELT and ICT

• Supply and demand is not in balance - absence of incentives

• Diversification of delivery models for teacher training

• Flexible approach to future delivery

Observations SE Asia

Not immune from the high skills globalisation agenda and distributed learning

Flexible models of ELT teacher training and delivery will be required

Building new capacity for teacher supply and high skills requires re-engineering

Characteristics of effective teaching are changing but is the curriculum still relevant

Risk - we prepare the future generation for the world that has already gone

Excellence in ELT Teacher Education

Flexible models of delivery to meet supply/demand and quality issues

Professional development and re-skilling is critical

Higher Education can be the lead innovator and provider

Higher Education as a quality assurance agent and not monopoly source

Joint HE and government approach to managing quality and supply

Professional Development in ELT

•Teacher who will lead the education reforms are already in the classroom

• Re-skilling is a core agenda - IT, creative education and the new pedagogy of learning

• Entitlement led approach to professional development

• Higher Education and schools in a strategic alliance for delivery

Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts

Learning from Change to build a World Class ELT teaching force

1. Constant focus upon quality, skills,training and partnerships for learning

2. Flexibility of delivery models-ability to respond to change

3. Controlled targeted experimentation -testing new models

4. Strategic alliances for sustainability in delivery

5. Empowered, skilled teachers stakeholders in the vision

6. High performing training teams - up to date knowledge

7. Targeted funding for impact

8. High performing educational leadership and communications

1. The Strategic Architecture of ELT Teacher Education

Relationships

Strategy

Creativity

Delivery

Pedagogy

Stakeholder relationships Staff relationships Decision-making processes Organisational structures Networks & Alliances

The Strategic Architecture of ELT Teacher Education

Human resourcesFinance UniversitiesSchoolsOn-line

Shared beliefs Value & normsAssumptionsLeadership stylesManagement styles

Conceptual frameworkCurriculum designCurriculum delivery systemCurriculum monitoringCurriculum evaluation

Divergent thinkingFutures perspectiveNew configurationsStrategic leap

Creativity in ELT Teacher Education

Strategy

Culture

& Values

Relationship

& Structures

Pedago

gy & Learning ELT

Delivery

LEADERSHIP

VISION

2. Develop and implement a series of strategic process activities to align ELT teacher education to new strategic goals

Culture & Values & strategy

Re-culturing Beliefs into values & action Communication programme Coaching New strategic direction

Creativity

Preparation Information Incubation Illumination

Delivery

Core competency development ICT strategy and implementation Recruitment and reward ~ system development Schools and universities Blended learning

Learning Processes & Systems

Learning processes redefined Differentiation improved Benchmarking Assessment for learning not of learning ICT strategy and management

Relationships & Structures

Re-design & restructuring Outsourcing Strategic alliances Team building Managing politics

Nine factors for effective ELT teacher education

1. Professional leadership Up to date and relevantA participative approachThe leading professionals

2. Shared vision and goals Unity of purposeConsistency of practiceCollegiality and

collaboration3. A learning environment Continue development

Shared knowledge4. Concentration on teaching & Maximisation of learning time learning Academic emphasis

Focus on achievement5. Purposeful teaching Efficient organisation

Clarity of purposeStructured lessonsAdaptive practice

6. High expectations Communicating expectationsProviding intellectual challenge

7. Positive reinforcement FeedbackFinancial/professional rewards r

8. Monitoring progress Monitoring teacher performanceEvaluating school performanceHE delivery review

9. A learning organisation School-based staff developmentHE staff development

Conclusion

• Changing landscape of ELT provision - public and private providers

• Higher Education has a core role to play in ELT but needs to engage flexibly

• Diversification and inclusion are key levers for change

• Quality assurance for success

• Planning for the future and not the past