To whom it may concern...

If you are an English language trainer, you can express your opinion in regard to different issues relevant to teaching methods.

The following are opinions expressed in the questionnaire of the First Seminar for English Language Trainers organized on july 9th 2010 in Tunis. Many English language trainers from different Tunisian vocational training centres expressed a variety of opinions to the question:

"What are the initiatives you have taken that make your experience quite distinct and could be shared with other English trainers? (enhancing trainees’ motivation, trade-focused lessons, use of Information Technology, …)"

- A trainee focused approach - Pair-work - Group work - Making research on internet in topics relevant to the course at home and presenting them in class (time allotted to discussions and comments after the presentation). - Focus on trainees creativities through drawing activities commented in English either in their field of specialty or in topics related to the official programme. - Continuous evaluation of trainee’s performances (oral tests, speaking activities ...) - Listening activities

Achouak Rouissi VTC Megrine

It is really hard to enhance trainee’s motivation in vocational centres since their interest is focussed mainly on practice and they avoid any language learning. Nevertheless we have to keep trying different language aspects and approaches such as: - Learning through songs - Using drawings or graphs of specific models, tools or machines related to their fields of studies (leather goods and footwear manufacture) to label, describe and express their opinions about them).

Jalila Nasri VTC Megrine

- The use of IT - The use of video projector - Fashion and design course, example: fashion artistic drawing, techniques to portfolio presentation by Sandra Burke + basic technical, English by teremy comfort, Steve Hick and Allan Savage.

Thameur Aguir VTC Bembla

Frankly, the trainees were not interested at all. They do hate English, so I made up my mind to make them love English. I took some initiatives which makes my students more interested and motivated. I use a cassette a recorder and visuals. Sometimes I bring pictures and printable worksheets.

Zoubeida Farhaoui VTC Sbitla

- Encouraging trainees to communicate and exchange information. - Familiarizing trainees with the tools and equipments in English. - Teaching trainees safety measures in the workshop, marketing strategies.

Nedra Mansour VTC Monastir

I tried to make my English lessons more specific and more related with their field of specialization. The thing that makes English goes hand in hand with their training specialty.

Ines Sehli VTC Sakiet Ezzit. Sfax

First of all, in order to motivate the trainees, we should develop the communication skills between them and the will to speak English. So, we must choose subjects related to car speciality (car mechanics or car building and training, then the language should be taught with the simplest way and the more appropriate vocabulary.

Sarra Trad VTC Ariana

- Choose the subject related to the specialty which I teach - Develop oral communication and skill strategies - Provide lessons guide for trainers

Amel Farza VTC Ariana

Dealing with the field of tourism, this reinforces my experience at the vocational training centre of Hammam Sousse. The emphasis throughout the course is to prepare the trainees for typical situation in which they have to understand and respond in English to different customers as the main language of communication. My experience could help them in giving more job-related English.

Afef Mani VTC Hammam Sousse

Use of the three Ps stage (pre-while-post) - special focus on productive skills ( speaking-writing) - group work-discussion are given special importance = communicative aspect of language - special focus is given to technical terms /technical English.

Mohamed Kamel VTC Tataouine

Use of the three Ps stage (pre-while-post) - Skills and sub-skills ( speaking-writing) - Communication (interactive-group work-discussion) - Use of technical terms /technical English (English for specific purpose

Farhat Bousbia VTC Tataouine

Personally I have focused more on trade focused lessons and technical terms related to their field of studies which make them more motivated and more interested.

Moufida Chemi VTC in Agriculture Machinery

- trade focused lessons - focus on technical terms and documentation related to the field of specialization.

Olfa Naimi VTC in Agriculture Machinery

I chose courses that go hand in hand with the trainees need for instance business English, technical English ..

Imen Fitati VTC Mghira

- I have learned how to deal with low achievers and develop their learning capacities through: pair work and group work (work with high level trainees) - Encouraging trainees to participate and involve them in free discussions and role-playing tasks - Assigning extra work that copes with trainees different levels.

Tayeb Chebbi VTC Sidi Bouzid

- To encourage learning (for CAP levels) by positive reinforcement i.e giving awards to each trainee who is interested in the lesson or answered the questions correctly. - Have some fun from time to time.

Imen Dhifallah VTC Tazarka

I personally, encourage my trainees by choosing some pair activities and learning in groups not only that but also, having fun from time to time. I generally encourage them by giving some awards, in order to strengthen and reinforce their confidence.

Imen Bahroun VTC Tazarka

Since 2001, I’ve started employing the information Technology (computer, data show, internet, web cam) to enhance trainees motivation.

Mohamed Mehdaoui VTC Mahdia

Choice of up to date topics which could help trainees to adapt their knowledge and skills to face up technical changes in their fields of work. Themes such as work; safety; teamwork; quality management etc... without ignoring some grammar rules.

Khalil Kammoun VTC Mohamed Ali – Sfax

- Trade-focused lessons - Trainer-trainee communication - Trainee-trainee communication - Interactive ways

Hela Ayadi Charfi VTC Mohamed Ali – Sfax

I have tried as far as I could to make my lesson waver between general English and technical English gathering all the time information from trade processed books and making my trainees learn and play.

Jamel Chaouali VTC Jandouba

- Membership in the ESP Resources centre, University of Sfax. - Experience in providing technical and business English Training to companies. - Experience in preparing for the international language Exams (BEC- TOEIC- TOEFL – IELTS)

Adel Ali VTC Bach Hamba - Sfax

The most important thing is that the trainer should ensure a good relationship with the trainees and should create an adequate atmosphere to catch their attentions… Trainers should also use simple and clear words, and try to provide the trainees with documentations based on information technology to improve their skills.

Kalthoum Tlili VTC Bach Hamba - Sfax

I usually make trainees present a topic of their choice in front of their classmates to give them the opportunity to use English and also to enhance their motivation and self-confidence.

Mohamed Amen Hazami VTC Den Den

Enhancing trainee’s motivation should be the first and the most important point. Whenever they get interested in the subject, the trainees will respond to their trainer.

Wafa Mahjoub VTC Sousse

I have taught English for 5 years in private schools and attended many English teaching conferences that help me to have good experience in teaching : “Teaching is acting”.

Khaled Lamouri VTC Grombalia