"Teacher of the Year 2016" - the best organized contest I have ever taken part in!

Dear Readers! 

I am back from the regional contest "Teacher of the Year 2016" and want to share my impressions of the event with you! 

           The regional level of the contest was held in Uzhhorod on the 10-11th of February. 

The teachers who got into the top 5 came to the town fully equipped with knowledge, teaching materials and, above all, the desire to win. We were welcomed to a beautiful big hall, where the opening ceremony took place. The friendly atmosphere, the encouraging words of Tetyana Paljko, the head of the INSET Institute,  together with the professionally organized event gave us, contestants, the secure feeling of being highly valued as teachers.

       During the opening ceremony we took part in the lottery that defined which pupils we were going to teach the next day. Then, we set off for the school and got acquainted with our future students.

      

     I would like to express my gratitude to the administration of the Gymnasium and to all the teachers for their warm attitude and, especially, for the perfectly organized working conditions! 

     In the afternoon the first part of the contest started. We had to write an essay, do a project and conduct a Masterclass that showed our professional approach to teaching EFL. All the teachers came up with great teaching ideas and I am happy to say that this was a really useful part of the contest. I hope I was also able to contribute to my colleagues` experience. And another thing to mention is that we are all thankful to Maryana Trifan, the Head Methodologist of the INSET Institute, for such a professional, but, at the same time, warm environment she and the jury, headed by Lesya Rohach, one of the best professionals in the field, have created! Besides, we were happy to find out that international members of jury were also invited. All this positively affected our mood, thus we were able to successfully go through that tiring, however pleasant day. 

      The Big Day came early in the morning after just a couple of hours of sleep! As teachers, we all understand that the crucial thing in teaching is the lesson itself. I am deeply convinced that the knowledge of teaching techniques is really essential, but, first of all, a teacher should be able to share his or her knowledge with students, create a positive learning environment and make everything possible (and sometimes impossible!) to maintain the students` interest in learning English. Well, I believe I did well at the lesson. I could feel that myself and see that in my students` eyes. By the way, these were great boys and girls who were not at all afraid to express their opinions, which I value most!

   

 Finally, the time of the closing ceremony arrived. And again a beautiful festive hall, smiling faces and encouraging words! It was time to announce the results. I  could feel my heart beating with excitement and knees trembling. Of course, I wanted to hear my name among the first, and ..... I did hear it! Victory! Wow! What a breakthrough! Well, I did not keep it a secret that I was insistently developing my teaching skills and looking for ways to improve my language. It is because I want to keep working as a teacher and plan to be a good one!

    In a word, to say I liked to take part in the "Teacher of the Year 2016" contest, is to say nothing at all! It was amazing!!! I made good friends with many people and got this unforgettable feeling of being appreciated as a teacher!  Thanks for this!

English and Ukrainian should go hand in hand!

           The President`s Decree                                №641/2015

                             According to this decree, 2016 was declared the Year of the English Language in Ukraine. 
          The reason behind it is to promote our population`s integration into the world`s economic, social, educational and cultural space. The President set clear goals for the Ministry of Education to be followed. Among the main priorities are:

- to develop and adopt a set of measures for 2016 and beyond to enhance the nation`s  learning of this important language in order to provide better opportunities to use it in education, science, culture, economy and other fields;

- to attract international financial and technical assistance to implement the measures outlined;

- to ensure the development and implementation of appropriate regional action plans aimed at promoting learning the English language.

You can find out more about the decree following this link

http://mon.gov.ua/activity/education/zagalna-serednya/2016-%E2%80%93-rik-anglijskoyi-movi-v-ukrayini/

The long-awaited Christmas is almost here!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Enjoy the warmth of  your family and the magic of  the Holiday!                                               Best wishes, 

 Violetta

         

            Before the school breaks up for winter holidays, we, English teachers always teach our students Christmas vocabulary and make X-mas wishes. We discuss customs, traditions, meals, write letters to Santa and what not! I was also planning to follow this teaching tradition and introduce some subject for debate. However, I was wondering which available presentation or video to use, but could not come up with any new idea. And imagine what happened? I came across a cute 2015 British commercial about Christmas.

Well, it is a great thing to use to teach my students Christmas safety tips and teach them appreciate kindness and readiness to help! And it is just so funny!!!

Seems like Christmas magic is really here!!!

 Enjoy it and use it to create a positive learning atmosphere! 

Got tired of them? But there are things they will not get, if you are not there!

Teachers Change Lives

It is not an exaggeration to say that a great teacher can change a student’s life. There are an endless amount of stories that attest to the benefits of a strong relationship between an educator and pupil.

Teachers are responsible for more than just academic enrichment. If you want to be a great educator, you must connect with your pupils and reach them on multiple levels, because the best teachers are committed to their students’ well-being both inside and outside the classroom. By forging strong relationships, educators are able to affect virtually every aspect of their students’ lives, teaching them the important life lessons that will help them succeed beyond term papers and standardized tests.

While you will spend your entire career learning the different ways you can change your students’ lives, here are three aspects that are directly affected by great teachers:

1. EDUCATION

A great teacher makes learning fun, as stimulating, engaging lessons are the key to a  student’s academic success. Students learn best when they are both challenged and interested. Motivating students may not always be easy, but it will benefit students immeasurably in the long run.

2. INSPIRATION

Have you ever had a teacher who inspired you to work harder or pursue a particular goal? Were you inspired to become an educator by one of your own great teachers?

Inspiring students is integral to ensuring their success and encouraging them to fulfil their potential. Students who are inspired by their teachers can accomplish amazing things, and that motivation almost always stays with them. Years after graduation, many working professionals will still cite a particular teacher as the one who fostered their love of what they currently do and attribute their accomplishments to that educator.

3. GUIDANCE

Teachers can also be a trusted source of advice for students weighing important life decisions. Educators can help their pupils pursue higher education, explore career opportunities and compete in events they might otherwise have not thought themselves able to. Students often look to their teachers as mentors with experience and knowledge, and, as an educator, you will almost definitely be asked for advice at some point during your career.