A NEW WAY TO STAY IN TOP FORM AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER
English for English Teachers: A peer-to-peer
discussion group moderated by a native speaker
"English for English Teachers" offers a lively all-English environment for working school teachers to find fun, inspiration, and regular real-world engagement with the language.
The challenge...
Knowing a second language in all its many dimensions – and teaching it successfully to others – requires life-long learning and continual practice.
It’s like sports – you don’t become “fit” and then stop exercising.
Working successfully in your subject involves continual discovery of new opportunities to be active in English.
The best teachers find ways to continue to practice and expand their strengths and skills.
A basic requirement...
So to stay in top form as an English teacher, you need continual, lively exposure to the language that you’re teaching.
Of course, taking trips to the UK or some other English-speaking country can provide such exposure – but that can only happen occasionally, if you’re lucky.
With Netflix and other streaming resources, you get great contact to the language. But you remain in a passive, consuming role – not speaking, not thinking and exchanging creatively, not using the skills that you want to develop and foster in your pupils.
So, how can you get the practice and engagement with English that you want and need?
Start by working with what's at hand ...
The aim is to create a situation in which English predominates – where you can regularly discover new aspects of the language, share your concerns as a teacher, and recharge your language batteries.
Just like in sports training, a simple solution that is easy to put into place provides the most efficient and effective results.
"English for English Teachers" is designed to give you exactly that.
By meeting regularly with a small group of other English teachers – and speaking only English in this gathering guided by a native speaker – you get easy, ongoing access to a situation where you can flex (and grow) your English language muscles.
The added ingredient: A native speaker to guide the group
Of course, you and your colleagues are experts in English. But having a native speaker to guide the group adds another dimension.
It changes the dynamic of how you communicate and exchange ideas.
You gain immediate access to perspectives beyond the German context.
It's like having a personal trainer.
So, what happens in the sessions?
The agenda is shaped by the group – by what participants bring to the table. The exchange will naturally be centered around:
Participants' teaching work
New ideas and perspectives from the English-speaking language world
Questions of language usage and best practice
Classroom tips and practical insights
Feedback on new ideas or lesson plans
The meetings aim to be friendly, focused, collegial, and fun.
Scheduling & organisation:
This is a new offering; the first group is currently being set up.
Length: 60 minutes per session.
Location: Optionally in Kassel (in person) oder via Zoom/Teams (virtual).
Frequency: Flexible (ideally once a week).
Costs: 75 EUR per session, divided among participants (max. 5 persons).
Who am I?
My name is Garth Pritchard. For more than 25 years, I have been working as an English editor, translator, teacher and communication coach with German professionals active in many different fields.
I bring an Ivy League education in the humanities (Cornell and Columbia universities) to my work and a strong record of finding effective communication solutions with many different groups and individuals
With “English for English Teachers”, I see my role not as a classic teacher but rather as a catalyst to help in developing deeper insights and clarity in using English and sharing it with others.
How about an exploratory chat?
In a free video call, I can quickly tell you more about the group, and you can ask questions to see if it might be the right thing for you.
→ Let's talk!
Or send an email...
Write to me at garth.pritchard@e-l-s.com, and I'll be happy to get back to you!