Expectations of trainer and trainee commitments
The fundamental objective of the Via Lingua program is to ensure that trainees take responsibility for their own learning. The trainers and mentors are available at all times to provide a supportive environment and a range of learning opportunities in order to facilitate growth and development. All activities and support strategies are designed to encourage the trainee to reflect on his / her needs and performance in relation to the benchmarks identified in the FPPS.
The course provides the following learning opportunities for trainees:
LearningOpportunities |
Trainer / Mentor input |
Trainee input |
Negotiation of individualizedprogram |
– Counsels, guides and advises | – Reflects on personal experience and needs and decides on program. |
Workshops, seminars and tutorials |
– Counsels, guides and advises | – Reflects on personal experience and needs and decides on program. |
Workshops, seminars and tutorials |
– Provides information.- Instigates activities and opportunities for reflection.
– Challenges perceptions. – Provides feedback. – Models behavior. – Identifies sources of further information. – Assigns tasks and assignments. |
– Reflects on information provided.- Draws conclusions.
– Contributes to discussions. – Engages in tasks and activities. – Listens to the comments of others – Observes others. |
Privatestudyopportunities |
– Counsels, guides, supports and advises. | – Plans and manages work schedule, in line with individual needs and responsibilities.- Prepares for future workshop sessions.
– Undertakes further reading. – Reflects on information provided. – Engages in action research activities. |
Observation of experiencedteachers |
-Provides opportunities for observations to take place.-Guides trainees in relation to the focus of the observation.
-Manages the post-observation discussion. |
– Engages in focused observation.-Reflects on what has been observed.
-Engages in post-observation discussion. |
Guidedlessonpreparation time |
-Counsels, guides, supports and advises.-Directs trainee towards appropriate materials.
-Identifies the indicators which will be used to evaluate the quality of the teaching performance. -Monitors progress. |
-Prepares lessons, in the light of insights gained from the workshop sessions and the input of the trainer / mentor. |
Observed and graded teaching practice |
– Observes and evaluates, according to an agreed schedule.- Identifies successful and less successful aspects of the lesson. | -Teachestheclass. |
Post teachingpracticediscussion |
-Facilitates a discussion and encourages the trainee to reflect on the extent to which objectives were met.-Guides trainee into a consideration of what went well and why, and what went less well and why. | -Engages in discussion.- Reflects on what went well and why, and what went less well and why. |
Weeklymeetingswith mentor |
– Facilitates a discussion on the progress being made by the trainee (based on the portfolio)- Counsels, guides, supports and advises.
– Guides the trainee in relation to the «next steps». – Warns the trainee in situations where there are serious concerns about performance, attendance, behavior etc. |
– Engages in discussion on personal progress (based on the portfolio)- Reflects on the advice of the mentor and negotiates «next steps». |
Thegrouptask |
– Provides guidance and support.- Monitors progress and intervenes, if necessary. | – Works collaboratively with peers.- Completes assigned tasks. |
The maintenance of a professional portfolio |
– Provides guidance, advice and support.- Discusses the content of the portfolio on a weekly basis | – Maintains the portfolio on a regular basis, ensuring that it provides evidence of progress and achievement. |
Written and practical assignment activities |
– Provides activities and offers guidance, advice and support.- Provides feed-back to the trainees. | – Completes assignments on time.- Engages in reflective discussion with the mentor. |