Sorbonne Confidential

Free government sponsored English classes during February vacation

France launched free English classes for middle and high school students last year. They are supposed to be open to all students during school vacation.  How widespread is this program ? Let us know... 

Are classes offered at your child's school? How many hours a day? Who is teaching them?

Here is the French government's official description of the program: 

Un dispositif est proposé pour renforcer les compétences des collégiens et lycéens en langues vivantes dans un contexte de construction européenne et de mondialisation. Le renforcement des compétences orales en anglais, langue étudiée par 97 % des élèves du second degré, a été décidé. Les élèves volontaires peuvent suivre des ateliers dans le cadre de l’accompagnement éducatif au collège, et des stages gratuits pendant les vacances au lycée. L'objectif d'amélioration de l’expression orale s'appuie sur le Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues

via www.education.gouv.fr

Are Teacher Unions Bad for Students?

Interesting article and discussion from Teacher Magazine : Are Teacher Unions Bad for Students?.

See article on French unions planning strike BEFORE school even started .

Unions call for strike against teacher training reform in France

The awfulness of teacher training in France is widely recognized.

The Teacher Training Institutes (IUFM) have been condemned by left, right and center for pedagogical incompetence and ideological brain-washing.

However unions persist in opposing any change. Next strike action:  Tuesday December 15th.

To get the flavor of the call to protest, see the below articles.

http://newspress.fr/Communique_FR_223069_2605.aspx

http://www.sauvonslarecherche.fr/spip.php?article3001

http://www.ouest-france.fr/ofdernmin_-Mobilisation-mardi-pour-une-reforme-de-la-formation-des-enseignants_-1190246_actu.Htm

http://www.leprogres.fr/fr/region/la-loire/loire/article/2465320,182/Mobilisation-demain-contre-la-reforme-de-la-formation-des-enseignants.html

http://www.profencampagne.over-blog.com/article-mardi-15-journee-importante-pour-l-avenir-de-l-ecole--41130339.html

All I wanted to do was to teach English !

I am delighted to share with you this beautifully orchestrated radio interview with Carey Shenkman on UCLA radio.


Episode One: "All I wanted to do was to teach English"

Episode Two: "English might not be a bad thing."

Here's more about The Diplomat program.

Praise for Sorbonne Confidential

LE POINT – "Her tragi-comic story explains how France produces the worst English teachers in the world" 

THE TIMES - “Laurel Zuckerman has split the academic world with a book that relates her experience at the heart of the archaic French teacher-training system.”

L’EXPRESS - "Absurd, ill-adapted, discriminatory. And dramatically funny…The French university system seen through the half naïve, half incredulous eyes of an American. The reader laughs a lot and concludes that reform is urgent.”

 EDUCATION REVIEW - "Sorbonne Confidential...has messages for an American audience as well... By taking on an institution that began before the American Revolution, the book demonstrates how systems can develop around programs, allowing them to self-perpetuate without regard for their impact on schools and society...an argument for the power and importance of teacher education".

Now an e-book  on  ipad, Nook, Kindle UK and Kindle USA)