Teaching the Teachers
A young boy peers into the classroom in Camp 27 where Voice of America provides training for local English teachers.
In March 2019, Voice of America's Learning English Service was invited to Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to train 100 English teachers using a range of multimedia materials. The training program included follow-up virtual classroom sessions, as well as VOA Learning English content accessible at the camp’s learning centers and though mobile devices.
In February 2020, the VOA team returned to provide an additional week of intensive training on teaching techniques and methods, followed by a graduation ceremony.
These photos document those workshops as well as the participants putting their knowledge to use in their own classrooms.
Camp 27
Voice of America Learning English's Anna Matteo and Caty Weaver (far left) present English-language teaching techniques to a group of teachers in Camp 27, February 13, 2020.
The teachers participate in classroom activities that they can then bring to their own classrooms.
VOA's Caty Weaver demonstrates a technique for perfecting English pronounciation.
Teachers also take turns leading the exercises they just learned.
VOA's Caty Weaver (left) and Anna Matteo (right) demonstrate using movement and performance to engage students.
Putting it All to Work
After the trainings, we visited the classrooms to see the teachers in action.
Children run between buildings at the Redrose Learning Centre. Kutapalog Camp, Bangladesh.
Rahma Rashid Toki was one of the teachers selected to participate in the program. Despite a reluctant start, she embraced the techniques and has applied them to her own classrooms with great success.
Toki said she especially enjoys teaching her students English phrases through songs and games.
Toki guides one of her students to where she needs to be.
