PIC NUMBER:

Transcription

1 PIC NUMBER: The Montessori Method with Children in Language Training for teachers at kindergartens and primary schools The course can be fully funded by ERASMUS + - KA1 My vision of the future is of the individual passing from one stage of independence to a higher, by means of their own activity, through their own effort of will, which constitutes the inner evolution of the individual. Maria Montessori, 1996 [1948]

2 Background: Maria Montessori ( ) is an Italian educator famous all over the world. Città di Castello (Italy) has a close connection with this Italian educationist and her revolutionary studies, because in Città di Castello she established her first primary schools and piloted the method. In Città di Castello she held her first training course for teachers and in Città di Castello she printed her first book : Corso di Pedagogia Scientifica. Montessori s name is synonymous with high quality education and Lingua Più, a few years ago, started to apply the Montessori principles to foreign language teaching, with the aim of improving the quality of its educational programmes, both with children and adults. The application of MM in language training is actually a very new methodology: researches in 9 EU countries have demonstrated that such a structured application does not exist anywhere else. The participation to EU projects improved the methodology and resulted in two Manuals written by Lingua Più. Target group: Language teachers for toddlers and children in kindergartens, primary schools and private institutes Teacher trainers Students of foreign languages Staff in the field of education (teaching and non-teaching): principals and vice principals, management, heads of departments, coordinators, student guidance counselors and institutes for foreign languages Preparation: On-line enrolment. Participants are required to: fill in an enrolment form and send it back to Lingua Più, together with a CV fill in the questionnaire on the course expectation and professional experiences prepare a short essay on what each participant knows about Montessori Method bring their own laptop. If not possible, please inform Lingua Più at enrolment stage Language of the course: English or Italian

3 Objectives: Montessori language teaching can be defined as an informal, task-based, real-life postcommunicative approach, fostering autonomy and the quintessence of problem-solving learning. We all know that learning takes place when the information passes from the short-term memory to the long-term memory. The amount of time necessary for this process changes individually and this is evident in children. The full application of Montessori s principles enables autonomous language learning among young students by fostering the use of communication in the target language, communication that will become familiar with young students who will acquire the necessary confidence with new sounds. In fact a language is made of communicative acts and not of single words. As stated by Dr. Montessori, after observation of children followed by scientific research, those communicative acts should be adapted to the child s age, personal capability and pace. Tests are not appropriate and are replaced by repetition, which is structured in a functional way. As sub-objectives, teachers and trainers will: acquire a common teaching/training method, to facilitate mobility and transnational exchanges improve their professionalism, increasing their career opportunities on international level get effective tools for raising the motivation on foreign language learning, thanks to the use of an easily accessible, adaptable and flexible method

4 Methodology: One-week course (7days) integrated with workshops and practical activities. Theory of Montessori Method Theoretical and practical study and application of MML - Montessori Method for Languages How children learn a foreign language Application of the 12 Montessori principles adaptable to language learning suggested activities How to be prepared for each child s requirements and personality How to fully apply MML in children language training- videos and posters How to set up a Montessori class for children in language training How to use MML to teach a foreign language with multimedia and technology without betraying Montessori s principles Extra activity: Guided tour of Città di Castello and neighbouring touristic villages and towns (not included in the price) Course place: Città di Castello (Italy) The gorgeous Città di Castello is situated on the northern fringes of Umbria, in the shadow of the Apennine Mountains. It sits in the fertile green valley of the River Tiber and is surrounded by verdant hills covered with olive groves, vineyards and pockets of wild untamed woodlands. It is one of the main towns in the Umbria region with its 45,000 inhabitants. The town centre, with its architecture from the Renaissance period, is still surrounded by the old medieval walls and its narrow cobbled streets echo to the sounds of locals as they go about their business. There is such a lot to see in and around Città di Castello, famous for the contemporary artist Alberto Burri and its collection of Renaissance paintings in the Vitelli family home, strikingly decorated by Giorgio Vasari, which now operates as the town s museum and art gallery, the Pinacoteca Comunale. Città di Castello is a tranquil, peaceful place to stay with easy access to Perugia and Assisi to the south and Rome only a two hour drive away. The Rimini coastline is just 70 Km east and Florence is an hour and a half north of this fabulously interesting tourist destination.

5 Trainers The course is coordinated by Roberta Marsili expert linguist and director of the language center for over 15 years. Mrs Marsili, after achieving several proficiency certificates in English, received a certificate for Linguistics Teaching of Italian as a foreign language at the University for Foreigners of Perugia, and the certificate of Director of Language Institute issued by British Institutes. She participated in many national and international conferences about modern methodologies in language teaching, as well as in seminars on "The Metacognition" organized by CEPU. She wrote two manuals on the application of Montessori Method for Adults: Free Style Montessori on the Job Learning Frojol and Montessori Method on Language Training MMLT. She has been teaching English to children for over 15 years, both at Lingua Più and at public kindergartens. The course will be held by: Mrs. Laura Gastaldi, teacher of English as L2 and teacher of Italian for foreigners with over 10 years of experience. Mrs. Gastaldi wrote two manuals on the application of Montessori Method for Adults: Free Style Montessori on the Job Learning Frojol and Montessori Method on Language Training MMLT She has been teaching English to children for over 15 years, both at Lingua Più and at public kindergartens. Mr. Leonardo Pierini, teacher of English and French as L2 and teacher of Italian for foreigners with 5 years of experience. Mr. Pierini is also a translator, interpreter and examiner for CILS and CELI certifications. Mr. Pierini has been trained as a Montessori Teacher for Language Training. He has been teaching English to children for over 5 years, both at Lingua Più and at public kindergartens. Follow-up: Lingua Più sets up a dedicated group on Facebook, active for 4 weeks after the end of the course, for a faster and easier contact among all participants and Lingua Più. Course fees: 490,00 (full reimbursement through Erasmus +, ask for more information) Accommodation: a large range of hotels, apartments, agriturismo, homestay is available

6 Registration and Cancellation terms: are required at enrolment, as a deposit. Balance is due 30 days before the beginning of the course. In case of cancellation within 31 days prior the beginning of the course, the payment is fully reimbursed For cancellation 30 days before the beginning of the course no reimbursement will be given. Deposit is not refundable. All possible reimbursements will be made deducted all bank fees. Type of Certification of Attendance awarded Certificate of attendance including description of training content and duration Notes: Min 3 - max 25 participants per session Sessions for less than 3 participants are available, please ask for info Participants with special needs are welcome Training Sessions: 1st Session: 2 nd /8 th May nd Session: 11 th /17 th July rd Session: 22 th /28 th August 2016 Sessions on demand are available For further information and registration: [email protected].

7 PROGRAMME OF THE TRAINING ACTIVITIES (DAY BY DAY) 1^ day Participants enrolment, presentation of Lingua Più, of the trainers and the program The use of the Diary during the course to experiment some Montessori principles Maria Montessori s biography: the woman and the scientist The Montessori method: theoretical basis Brainstorming on participants teaching methodology 2^ day Montessori s main principles and main features Analysis of the traditional application Analysis of the application in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools Workshop and team work 3^ day The 12 Montessori Principles applied to foreign language training - the theory The six Montessori characteristics, selected by the Dutch Montessori Association and perfectly applicable to children in foreign language training How a child learns a new language: the 6 Montessori learning stages Foster children s independency in foreign language learning: why and how Reflection on each child s abilities to encourage foreign language learning - different tasks for different children Brainstorming Workshop 4^ day Peculiarity of Montessori teaching for children language training: practical application of the 12 principles and the 6 characteristics The importance of the Environment : class and seating arrangement in a Montessorian classroom Are materials important in MML? A look at the traditional Montessori materials 5^ day Examples of Montessori language lessons. Variations in accordance to children s age How to develop teaching activities and materials from real life Workshop and team work

8 6^ day The 3 Montessori Maxims. How to apply them to children Montessori teaching is... the new teacher s role Some examples of holistic approaches in children language teaching Analysis of progressive education Do you accept teaching like this? Let s see if the participants are already following the 3 Montessori Maxims - Survey Team work - prepare your Montessori lesson and material 7^ day Discussion and brainstorming on participants Montessori lessons and comparison Collection of feedback (Diary) and conclusions Delivery of Attendance Certificate Late Morning: visit of the Montessori class Museum