Building on the company’s strong presence in the Greek market, City & Guilds hosted a series of Teacher Development Seminars. The Language Certification team received a very warm welcome from ELT professionals throughout Greece, as more than 750 teachers and language school owners attended the seminars across seven cities in Greece. Visitors had the opportunity to meet the members of PeopleCert’s Language Certification Department and to exchange views on ELT issues. The first presentation was delivered by Dr Yiannis Papargyris. Yiannis discussed the structure, content and assessment of the City & Guilds English Language examinations and presented ways in which teachers can prepare their students effectively by helping them develop the necessary language skills as well as valuable exam-taking strategies.
George Vassilakis, Language Certification Director, considered the types of tasks included in the writing section of the City & Guilds ISESOL exam; looked at the basic requirements in terms of productive skills; reviewed activities that can help students develop the necessary writing and speaking skills; and analysed the criteria whereby the students are marked. Finally, samples of students’ written and spoken performance were examined and marked in what turned out to be an intellectually stimulating and challenging workshop. All attendees received a City & Guilds bag containing educational material. The tour commenced in Larissa on the 13th of September and was completed one month later in Athens. If you missed this opportunity to attend a City & Guilds seminar, please do not despair! The PeopleCert team will be soon announcing more exciting events for 2014.