Quality at the top of the Cactus agenda
Friday, 15th January 2010
Between October and December 2009, Cactus received over 550 feedback forms from its evening class customers, and 89% were either happy or very happy with the courses and teachers.
More than half of the teachers working on the Cactus foreign language evening courses were observed by the Cactus Academic Standards team during November and early December 2009. Of 146 teachers observed, 79% received a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ rating on their observation report, the remaining 21% being deemed of a satisfactory standard. This is a sign that quality of academic provision is something language learners can now expect from Cactus.
In my first year as Academic Director, I am very pleased to see that the new academic department, consisting of Rod Mitchell, the UK Director of Studies and Augusta Nicol, the US Director of Studies and myself, have been able to maintain and improve the quality of our teaching.
A principle contributing factor to this improvement has been the emphasis put on teacher development.
The Cactus development programme has two parts: observation and seminars. Observations are carried out for the most part either by experienced teachers and teacher trainers within our partner schools, or by a member of the Cactus academic team. I recently enjoyed being reminded of basic grammar in a Spanish beginner class and I also learnt quite a bit from an Italian beginner class, both in the London Liverpool Street location. I was pleased to see the students were engaged, interested, having fun and learning a lot. I am looking forward to doing a few more observations in London and Brighton in 2010.
Cactus will be going through its final quality audit in February before hopefully attaining the ISO 9001 quality standard. Quality assurance is therefore a large part of the brief of the Cactus Academic Department and the teachers are crucial in this. To ensure customers get value for money, additional quality control mechanisms in place in Cactus consist of checks on all teachers’ qualifications and their language teaching experience to ensure that they conform to the teaching criteria we have established and expect teachers to fulfil.
Cactus Teaching Quality Standards Charter
1. Cactus teachers are selected on the basis of their qualifications, their experience and their suitability for the special nature of Cactus language courses.
2. Cactus teachers are part of a teaching team consisting of hundreds of language teaching professionals, supported by an Academic Director and two Directors of Studies.
3. Cactus teachers have access to guidance, resources and administrative back up in their virtual Teachers Zone.
4. Cactus teaching standards are high and courses are designed to lead to effective learning.
5. Cactus teaching methods and techniques are appropriate and effective for the course participants.
6. Cactus teachers are expected to be punctual, presentable and professional at all times.
7. Classroom rapport between teacher and students is dynamic, respectful and facilitative.
8. Learning aims of lessons and the courses are clear, communicative, relevant and shared with students.
9. Cactus courses are structured into standardised levels which can be identified according to the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning.
10. Over the course there will be a balanced syllabus of work, covering different skills and content, which will be aimed at achieving the course learning aims at all times.
11. Course materials are chosen on the basis of their suitability for the communicative needs of the participants and the objectives of the classes.
12. Activities are designed to be challenging, varied, interactive and participative whenever possible and appropriate. They introduce and practise language that can be applied meaningfully and independently by students.
13. Students are encouraged to participate actively in their own learning process, both in and out of the classroom.
14. Lessons are managed to ensure all students are involved, levels of interest are high and students are aware of their progress.
15. Any issues with regard to level and ability will be dealt with quickly and appropriately.
16. Students will be clear about what they have learnt in each lesson and how it links to other language they have encountered before or will encounter later.
17. Course participants are invited to give feedback on their course experience twice during the course, and are welcome to contact Cactus with questions and concerns at any time
18. Course participants receive a certificate of attendance at the end of each course if required.
19. Cactus teachers are observed teaching regularly and receive feedback to assist their development as language teachers
20. Cactus teachers will seek and be open to feedback, and are able to make adjustments to course design and delivery as appropriate.
Tags: english, spanish, french, german, learning, italian, evening class, language, cactus, course, london, language course, brighton, language learning
Posted by Jenny Johnson under Passion for language,
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