Steve Hirschhorn (MA, PGCE, FHE) is the Principal of Eckersley Oxford, the well known British language school. He has spent many years teacher training and lecturing at Post-Graduate level. He has published a number of articles on teaching-related topics and has run worshops and seminars in many parts of the world, most recently in Mexico, Peru and Chile. Steve has trained in both Silent Way and Suggestopedia.
During the last week of February, Steve visited Chile and we held meetings with the Director of the Chilean Education Ministry's English Open Doors Programme, University Deans and Heads of the English departments in Santiago and Viña del Mar.
On 29th February 2008 he also conducted a workshop called: Brain Function in Language Learning at Hotel San Martin in Viña del Mar.
Teachers enjoyed this session which offered a model on which we can base our work as teachers and he pointed out that though the brain is the centre of our learning we often tend to ignore the way it works.
Steve took the opportunity to introduce Eckersley Oxford's English and teacher training programmes, the school facilities, and the attraction of studying in Oxford. He also spoke about the unique 'Flying Squad' system which the school offers – this involves teachers from the UK teaching and training in the students' country rather than the students travelling to the UK!
If you are one of the few who didn't meet him in person or you still want to go on learning from him you can join people from around the world , clicking this link to his new forumTeaching/learning Forum.
The forum is still being built but can be used right now. It is designed for teachers, trainers, translators and students of language from anywhere in the world to get together and chat. We hope to see you there!