If you’re looking for a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) course, the EBC Trinity CertPT in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is a great option for practising teachers. Read about one of our course graduates, Hiroki.
If you’re looking for a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) course, the EBC Trinity CertPT in CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is a great option for practising teachers. Read about one of our course graduates, Hiroki.
CPD course for CLIL: Hiroki’s background
I’m Japanese, I’m 36 years old, and now I’m a full-time English teacher at a private junior and senior high school in Japan.
CPD course for CLIL: Why did you decide to take the CertPT course?
Before I started taking your course, I already had seven years of teaching experience at the same school where I’m currently working. Before I took your course, I did an online CELTA…in 2019, I went to the UK–Scotland to get a TEFL diploma at the University of Edinburgh. But unfortunately, in March, 2020, you know, the Covid 19 pandemic happened, and I had to come back to Japan.
After that, I was kind of waiting to going back to the UK again to do a master’s program. But you know, the situation was not really looking bright back then, so I was still on a leave of absence from my work. And I was just looking for something I could do to improve not just my English skills, but my professional career.
I came across, this (CPD) CertPT course. And one of the reasons why I wanted to do (a CPD course in) CLIL was that in Japan now, it is drawing much attention. I was really interested in, how I could implement this approach into my own teaching career.
And so I did some research, on where I could learn about this and one of the choices was your course. As I read through the descriptions and the time schedule your course was the best option for me. So that’s why I chose to do it. Right.
CPD course for CLIL: How is the TEFL scene in Japan?
We have a long history of (using the) exam-oriented way of teaching–like based on grammar and the translation method. But teachers want to make English education more communicative, and more authentic in a sense. And CLIL is one of the approaches that many teachers are kind of exploring. And recently there, (was a foundation that was started). I forgot the formal name, but back in 2020, they didn’t have a teacher training course or anything.
But now I think this year, (or last), they started doing this teacher training courses as well. And I think from now on, some teachers will definitely go, to pursue the certificate here. But back then, like I said, we didn’t have that choice.
CPD course for CLIL: How was your course experience?
Izabella, the tutor, was very supportive. We would have really intensive discussions whenever I had sessions with her. And she (would) read my papers and she (would) point out some parts that even I wasn’t really aware of. That was really helpful for me. And it’s not just about writing a paper, you know, it’s more about how you gain a new perspective on how you teach. Points that you have to be aware of when you’re teaching or designing your lessons. It is not just about learning the theory and putting it into practice. It’s more about how I can integrate the approach into my own context. That was really tough for me, but I think it was, one (important) thing that I learned
CPD course for CLIL: How was the schedule of the classes?
I think it was really adjustable. I was just doing part-time teaching back then, and the schedule was flexible. I could talk with the tutor and we could arrange the time that worked best for both of us.
Tutoring was once a week, if I remember correctly, and that was not too much or too little.
CPD course for CLIL: What was the most rewarding aspect of the course?
Through the process, I had to, in a sense justify why I think (my approach or topic is good or not). There was a very good discussion with the tutor about how I could make it more suitable for my particular students. That negotiation-like process with the tutor. The brainstorming sessions. and, uh, especially after I wrote,
There were (also) four papers. Three or four. And localizing the methodology into my own context was something I wasn’t really trained in before. I hadn’t been trained before. I think that was the most rewarding part for me, and the most challenging part.
CPD course for CLIL: How did the CertPT in CLIL change the way you teach?
Unfortunately, in a sense, I haven’t been able to really (incorporate) the CLIL approach into my (current) teaching context because my school is really conservative. Plus, the students’ expectations are more toward the traditional methodology of, the exam-oriented approach. But through the course, I gained a new perspective on how I can take even that kind of grammar translation methodology (and turn it) into something more communicative and authentic.
I think I’m more aware of what kind of topics I can bring into my classroom and how I can make it into (some) kind of text. That way, I can prompt the students’ curiosity. I think now, I have a much better antenna in a sense–for (that kind of) sensitivity or perspective. Or how I can make some real material or (come up with) a real topic and incorporate it into classroom usage.
CPD course for CLIL: Did you always want to be an educator?
Yes, as long as I can remember. I always pictured myself as an English teacher or some kind of teacher at a school. And I became an English teacher, mainly because I met a lot of great English teachers throughout my life.
When it comes to learning English myself, I think it really helped me to connect myself with a much wider community than Japan. I met a lot of great people through English, and I learned a lot more. I can learn a lot more about people or events or history through English and I just wanted to share that kind of feeling with my students.
I really want to be, in a sense, a model. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I would love to show teachers and also English learners themselves, not just language skills. But (wanting to grow) as a person. That’s one of the reasons why, I wanted to get certified. Like, it doesn’t really matter for me (in a sense) because I already have this job and my school doesn’t pay extra for that kind of certification or extra education.
But I thought, you know, always keep learning. It might help my students to see their own possibilities of, you know, exploring new fields or something they already have been doing at a new level. So this course really helped me to grow as a professional teacher and that was really an encouragement. I think I learned how to, make progress myself as an English teacher into another level.
CPD course for CLIL: Would you recommend this course to practicing teachers?
Yes. Not just because I’ve done it, but like I said, I think a lot of English teachers, you know those who already have even a CELTA. Even (if) you have been teaching like for five years or six years, you might not have the opportunity to learn (these kinds of things). The things that I’ve already mentioned, like, the localization of the internationally acclaimed methodology or approach. Like myself even though I have many years of teaching experience.
Even though I am not still sure, but you know, I asked myself “What can I do better? What can I do to further improve my classes? And I think doing this course helps not only to encourage you to learn more. But it actually helps teachers. It’s more like a future investment in your career development.
CPD course for CLIL: A fun fact about Hiroki
Well, I love taking photos. I love photography. I’m not a professional or anything, but I love taking photos, especially when I was teaching before, like I always took photos of my students (for school events) and I always made, you know, that kind of movie presentation for the parents.
And at every teacher-parent conferences, I show them the 15 to 20 minute collage of pictures and videos. And I think that’s something I’m really proud of myself for. Parents love the pictures and they always tell me that they can’t wait to see the next video collage.
So I always think “Okay, I have to prepare the next video for the next parent-teacher conference. So yeah, it’s fun.
Get certified with EBC today. The Trinity CertPT certificate is accepted and recognised by the British Council, which works in over 100 countries around the world. Furthermore, if you want to teach English in Japan, you can check out the JET programme. EBC is proud to have so many graduates who have gone on to live out their dreams teaching English in countries like Japan, South Korea, Spain, and so many more places.
