Purpose of the sample teaching units
These sample teaching units have a dual purpose: firstly, they are intended to enable practitioners to understand some of the ways in which key learning objectives from across the four Supporting Multilingual Classroom modules can be addressed. They can therefore be used for initial or continuous professional development as a way of challenging teachers’ preconceptions by providing a stimulus for reflection on the classroom activities themselves. Teachers are asked to consider how these activities might contribute to the achievement of desired learning objectives. Secondly, they also provide a small number of examples of activities that can be used directly with learners in the classroom in order to help them work towards these learning objectives.
Though valuable in their own right, these samples, however, are just a taste. Most of the objectives entail a shift in mindset that can best be stimulated by interaction, debate and reflection. We hope that you find the activities contained here engaging and relevant and that you seek out further opportunities to explore the issues, either by studying and trying out the many free materials on the ECML website, by getting together with colleagues to discuss the issues and develop your practice, or by attending one of our workshops yourselves.