Opportunities for group work strengthened the practical communication skills of these teachers from Hebron.

With their students dismissed for the summer break, 180 dedicated Palestinian teachers headed to AMIDEAST’s centers in El-Bireh/Ramallah, Gaza City, Hebron, and Nablus for a special training program designed to make them more effective teachers of English.

Drawn from underserved schools in the West Bank and Gaza supported by UNRWA and the Palestinian Ministry of Education, these teachers were eager to improve their command of the English language in order to  better model the language for their students as they learn to speak, understand, and write correct English.

Funded by the General Electric Company’s philanthropic arm, the GE Foundation, the summer program involved 90 hours of in-class instruction in general English teaching skills, conversation, and writing, as well as practical, everyday English  and workshops to upgrade participants’ written English communication skills.

In addition to working on language mechanics, the program had a second objective: to encourage a student-centered approach to classroom instruction — something often missing in Palestinian classrooms.   By emphasizing presentation skills and new teaching methodologies, trainers engaged the teachers in a fruitful exchange of ideas over best practices for classroom results.  These discussions were supplemented by the expertise and insights of two internationally recognized English teaching experts from the University of Oregon, Kay Westerfield and Janet Orr.

Helen Mtair, who teaches English in an UNRWA school in Gaza, called the program a “really amazing experience that reactivates, enhances, and improves our English language.” She was also pleased that it provided an opportunity to use or speak English with fellow teachers, which she feels is badly needed.

Other participants praised the emphasis on a learner-centered approach to teaching and the integration of, as one participant noted, “extra material besides the book.”

“Finally! A comprehensive English program to help rehabilitate, improve, and sharpen school teachers' English skills as well as teaching skills,” said trainer Refaat Al-Areer. “Engaging in training highly enthusiastic teachers is an experience both illuminating and rewarding to me as a trainer. I am sure the impacts will be reflected soon on their performance in classrooms at schools.”

Falesteen, an elementary school teacher in Ramallah, has already observed improvements in her classroom. “I see changes in the way my students are understanding and coming to love the English language. Overall the students have improved in grammar, reading, writing, and conversation. I am happy to be part of this program as I know that it will be beneficial for this generation, but also for the generations that will come after.”