Presentation given in Porto Alegre, Brasil, September 2014

1. Remotely Speaking: English Language
Teaching through Video Conferencing

2. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
The British Council • The British Council works in 6 continents
and 110 countries, with the aim of bringing
high quality English materials to every
learner or teacher who wants them.
• We have 2,400 staff teaching English
directly to more than 350,000 students and
trainee teachers a year in over 80 centres,
partnership branches and on English
projects around the world.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/about

3. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Plan Ceibal • Plan Ceibal is a Uruguayan project, developed
by MEC, the Uruguayan Ministry of Education
and Culture; the National
Telecommunications company ANTEL,
(Administración Nacional de
Telecomunicaciones); the Board of Public
Education, ANEP (Administración Nacional de
Educación Pública); and LATU (Laboratorio
Tecnológico del Uruguay).
http://www.ceibal.edu.uy

4. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Plan Ceibal • Started 2007 with distribution of XO-1 laptops
(ceibalitas)
• By 2009 Uruguay became first country in world to have
given one laptop to every primary school student
• By 2009, 350,000 children & 16,000 teachers had
received ceibalitas
• No cost wireless Internet connection in all state schools
• Fiber optic connections progressively replacing these
• Video conferencing equipment being installed in all
schools
http://www.ceibal.edu.uy

5. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Plan Ceibal
2013 Review • 570,000 laptops distributed by 2012 (to all
students & teachers)
• 4-year TCO (Total cost of ownership) $100 per
year per child including laptops, internet costs,
administrative costs, fiber optic costs, robotics,
planned VC facilities, portal and LMS platform as
well as digital resources for many subjects, initial
training for teachers.
• Focus on quality implementation
• Recommended focus on core priorities: increasing
high school graduation rates; Mathematics;
Literacy (Spanish & English)
http://www.ceibal.org.uy/docs/FULLAN-Ceibal-English.pdf

6. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Ceibal English • In 2012 the British Council was selected by Plan Ceibal to project
manage Ceibal en Inglés (Ceibal English), delivering remote teaching
via video conferencing in Uruguayan primary schools.
• Goal = provide access to English language learning to primary
students (grades 4-6) and their teachers all over Uruguay.
• Because of a lack of trained/qualified English teachers, Ceibal English
uses remote teachers (RTs) via video conferencing
• Additionally, classroom teachers (CTs) are taught English via
moderator-supported English course (LearnEnglish Pathways)
http://uruguay.britishcouncil.org/en/ceibal-en-ingles

7. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Project Plan
• Proof of concept pilot phase 2012 - 20
primary schools; 1,000 Year 4 learners
(aged 10-11)
• March 2013 expansion: 500 classes; 96
schools; Years 4,5 & 6
• July 2013 expansion: 1,000 classes
• March 2014 expansion: 2,100 classes
• By June 2015: Total of 4,000 classes (c.
100,000+ learners)
http://uruguay.britishcouncil.org/en/ceibal-en-ingles

8. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
English Classes
3 x 45 minutes per wk.
Lesson A – RT via VC
Lessons B & C – CT
Detailed scripted lesson
plans for A, B & C
Team Teaching
RT & CT have weekly
coordination in Spanish

9. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Remote Teachers (RTs)
Remote Teaching (RT) providers in:
•Uruguay
•Argentina
•UK
•Philippines
•Conduct Class A remotely
•Experienced/Qualified ELTs
•Online self-access course for RTs
•Quality mangers

10. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Class Teachers (CTs)
Classroom Teachers (CTs) :
•Conduct Classes B & C
•Volunteer to be part of the programme
•Small payment for participation
•2 days Orientation Course
•Self-access online training course
•Technical support
•Pedagogic support (Mentors)
•Most have CEFR A0 level English
•Learning English through self-access course
(LearnEnglish Pathways) with moderator
support

11. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Strengths
•Unique whole solution
•Underlying infrastructure rolled out
•VC technology already tried and tested
•No shortage of CT volunteers
•Positive reaction
(children, teachers, society)
•General support
(government, parents, society)

12. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Challenges
• Establishing methodology
(Classes A, B & C)
• Correcting written work
• Ongoing quality control
• Expansion to all primary schools
• Long term sustainability

13. English Language Teaching through Video Conferencing
Thank you!
graham.stanley@britishcouncil.org