Blended Learning in English Language Teaching: Course Design and Implementation
Blended Learning in English Language Teaching: Course Design and Implementation
Blended Learning in English Language Teaching: Course Design and Implementation
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A military blend<br />
Claire Whittaker<br />
Introduction<br />
This case study will describe a blend used to provide <strong>English</strong> language tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to<br />
military personnel <strong>in</strong> the armed forces of Bosnia <strong>and</strong> Herzegov<strong>in</strong>a (AFBiH). It will<br />
consider what the blend is comprised of, the materials <strong>and</strong> software used, how<br />
the modes complement each other, the timetable arrangement, design<strong>in</strong>g for a<br />
suite of courses (elementary to upper-<strong>in</strong>termediate), <strong>and</strong> the teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
methodology. It will also highlight the rationale for the decisions that were taken <strong>in</strong><br />
relation to the design of the blend, detail the ma<strong>in</strong> lesson learned dur<strong>in</strong>g the design<br />
process <strong>and</strong> offer advice to would-be blended learn<strong>in</strong>g course designers. Lastly, it<br />
will critically reflect on the blend <strong>and</strong> suggest areas <strong>in</strong> which it could be enhanced.<br />
<strong>Course</strong> overview<br />
The <strong>English</strong> courses described <strong>in</strong> this study were developed <strong>and</strong> managed by the<br />
British Council’s Military <strong>English</strong> Support Project (MESP) that formed part of the wider<br />
Peacekeep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>English</strong> Project. The courses provided <strong>English</strong> language tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to<br />
military personnel (ma<strong>in</strong>ly officers) <strong>in</strong> the AFBiH primarily to enable them to partake<br />
<strong>in</strong> peace support operations. I was the Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Systems Manager on the Project<br />
<strong>and</strong> responsible for oversee<strong>in</strong>g the evolution of the blend over a three-year period.<br />
The courses ranged <strong>in</strong> level from elementary to upper-<strong>in</strong>termediate <strong>and</strong> were taught<br />
<strong>in</strong> 13 centres across the country to accommodate the geographical spread of the<br />
AFBiH personnel. The low-level courses (elementary <strong>and</strong> pre-<strong>in</strong>termediate) were<br />
taught by unqualified officer <strong>in</strong>structors, who received extensive pre-service <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>-service tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g from MESP, <strong>and</strong> the higher level courses (<strong>in</strong>termediate <strong>and</strong> upper<strong>in</strong>termediate)<br />
by qualified <strong>English</strong> language teachers employed by MESP. I am unsure<br />
what the rationale for this split was as it was <strong>in</strong> place when I took up my post, but I<br />
assume it was to do with the differ<strong>in</strong>g levels of l<strong>in</strong>guistic competence <strong>and</strong> pedagogic<br />
ability between the officer <strong>in</strong>structors <strong>and</strong> teachers. All the courses were <strong>in</strong>tensive,<br />
23 hours per week, <strong>and</strong> ran for 12 weeks, totall<strong>in</strong>g 276 hours per level. The number<br />
of learners on each course ranged from 12 to 16, with an annual turnover of 600<br />
learners per annum.<br />
Why the blend was <strong>in</strong>troduced<br />
A version of the blend was <strong>in</strong> place when I took up post <strong>and</strong> it is my underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
that this approach was primarily adopted to support the unqualified officer<br />
<strong>in</strong>structors with their teach<strong>in</strong>g. The reason for employ<strong>in</strong>g a blended approach as<br />
opposed to a purely computer-led course is unknown to me, although I would<br />
A military blend | 175