During 5 years the Winter Schools of Professional Skills have become traditional for the teachers of the Department of English Philology of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University within the framework of the joint project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the British Council in Ukraine « New Generation School Teacher». In the period from 16 – 21 January 2019 the Winter School of Professional Skills was held in Lviv on the theme: «Trainer Development». The participants of the Winter School have been teachers of the Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine, who are helding piloting of experimental program on «Teaching Methodologies of English language» and teachers of those Higher Education Institutions, which are aimed at introducing similar programs at the faculties of foreign languages.
Our university was represented by associate professor Igor Romanyshyn, who was a trainer for the participants of the Winter School, associate professors: Olga Bilyk, Nataliya Pyliachyk, Olga Trotsenko; teachers: Ella Mintsys, Nataliya Ivanotchak, Iryna Bilyanska. The participants of the School received a new invaluable professional experience and improved their skills in conducting trainings for English language teachers in Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine. The teachers of the Department demonstrated the acquired skills and abilities during mini-trainings among the participants of the Winter School.
At the final plenary session of the Winter School, the teacher of the Department of English Philology Ella Mintsys presented her own creative respond about the new experience and the significance of the project for improving the professional skills of the participants:
TO TRAIN OR NOT TO TRAIN
The Trainers’-to-be expectations
Were to carry out their numerous aspirations
To be able to create participants’ profiles
To choose the appropriate learning styles.
To make the trainings learner centered
To be flexible unlike a spotted leopard.
A Trainer is not only an entertainer
But is full of skills and roles container.
He should never be a criticizer
But constant improvizer and all the negative liquidizer.
The Trainer’s feedback should be constructive
Motivating, encouraging, evaluative but never destructive.
Our seminar wound up with micro trainings
That will remain in our minds like bright engravings.
The BC winter school was absolutely successful
And owing to our Trainers and Trainees never stressful.
All the Trainers have been helpful from the very start
And we are grateful to everybody with our big heart.
We wish you all health, success and great luck.
May all your immense efforts be rewarded with love and megabuck.
©Ella Mintsys
