Description
Alternative Ways (To Learn A Language) is a new language method for language trainers of low-literate newcomers and migrants, developed in a European Erasmus+ project. The fun in learning, increasing self-confidence and developing (digital) skills are central.
Because Alternative Ways also appears to work very well with higher and higher educated people and most exercises can also be used online, training courses have been developed that are interesting for NT2 teachers and non-formal language trainers.
The Alternative Ways method ensures that non-native newcomers enjoy learning, gain self-confidence and develop communicative (digital) skills, which includes guidance towards work.
The Alternative Ways project, which started in 2019, has produced a toolkit that can be used by anyone and is available digitally at www.alternativeways.eu. To really learn how to use the exercises in that toolkit properly, but also to learn more about the background, training sessions are being organised by the partners who were involved in the development.
A next in-depth training is planned in February 2025 at Broedplaats De Vlugt in Amsterdam. This training will be in English and Dutch and offered to professionals in second language education and social work from The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Norway.
The training is provided by Storytelling Centre and taught by Els Streefkerk and Arjen Barel.
European Dimension
For a united Europe, it is important to understand each other. But some groups of newcomers and other migrants are struggling with learning a new, second language. Often because the formal language learning methods do not fit them. The Alternative Ways approach want to include everybody.
Tentative Program & Schedule
Programme
The training will take place every day between 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. There will be a one-hour lunch break and at least one coffee break of at least 15 minutes each in the morning and afternoon sessions.
The training is as interactive as possible, i.e. participants will do a lot of work themselves in order to master the method in a practical way.
Day 1
This day is dedicated to getting acquainted with and introduced to the Alternative Ways method. The educational and neuro-scientific principles on which the method is based will be discussed. Extra attention is also paid to storytelling: what is storytelling, how to use it and why. Storytelling exercises are done that can contribute to students' personal growth, in combination with language acquisition. We also do different activities/exercises together that can be found in the toolkit.
10.00 - 10.30 Walk-in with coffee, tea and biscuits
10.30 - 11.00 Introduction and getting to know trainers and group
11.00 - 13.00 Introduction Alternative Ways method
13.00 - 14.00 LUNCH BREAK
14.00 - 16.30 Storytelling
Day 2
On the second day, we delve deeper into the various components of the method, such as the different building blocks. Each of these will be highlighted in detail and different activities/exercises described within those building blocks will be carried out together. There is also a focus on the digital deployment of the exercises, at the time of online teaching.
10.00 - 10.30 Walk-in with coffee, tea and biscuits
10.30 - 13.00 Alternative Ways
13.00 - 14.00 LUNCH BREAK
14.00 - 16.30 Alternative Ways
Day 3
Day 3 is all about creating your own lessons using the toolkit and presenting them to each other. Based on all the information from the previous two days, participants will work in small groups to prepare a lesson or lesson series. Here, they can keep their own students in mind. By thoroughly discussing the developed lessons, and perhaps doing parts of them with each other, participants will learn in practice how to use the Alternative Ways method. There is, of course, plenty of room for their own input of ideas and exercises. There is also room for new input and insights in the (extensive) evaluation at the end of this day.
10.00 - 10.30 Walk-in with coffee, tea and biscuits
10.30 - 13.00 Making your own Alternative Ways lessons/lesson series
13.00 - 14.00 LUNCH BREAK
14.00 - 16.00 Creating and presenting own lesson programmes
16.00 - 17.00 DRINKS
Expected Outcome
After following the training, participants should:
- be able to design a lessen or serie of lessons based on the Alternative Ways toolkit
- have a proper insight in the needs of people with low language learning skills
- be aware of some neuro-educational principles that will help them in designing powerful lessens for newcomers and other migrants
Certification
all participants will receive a certificate of attendance
Venue address
Burgemeester De Vlugtlaan 125
1063 BJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
How to Apply
Express your interest by sending a mail to info@storytelling-cnetre.nl. We will soon get back to you with more information.
Minimum Number Of Participants
20
Participation Fee
€ 270
Course Website
www.alternativeways.eu
Storytelling Centre
Address
Meer en vaart 290, 1068 L:E Amsterdam
Website URL
http://www.storytelling-centre.nl
Contact persons
Arjen Barel, arjen@storytelling-centre.nl
Jasmijn Snoijink, jasmijn@storytelling-centre.nl
