I recently spent two weeks in the fascinating city of Vukovar, in eastern Croatia by the River
Danube, doing two back to back one week courses. The first was about applying a learner
centred approach to language teaching and the second a fundamental communication and
leadership course. As a language teacher I felt that both courses were of great value to my day
to day working life, giving me new ideas as to how I teach and how I lead.
The trainers, Andrea in the first week, and Bero in the second were funny, imaginative and full
of original ideas that succeeded in keeping us fully engaged for what was a demanding two week
course.
The first week’s course, entitled ‘Application of a Learner Centred Approach’ was focused on the
philosophy that a student learns more effectively when his or her needs are at the centre of the
learning experience, rather than lessons simply being a situation where information is
transmitted from teacher to student. Andrea shared original ideas with us, showing us different
ways of engaging with students using the Learner Centred Approach, with the teacher in the role
of facilitator, partner and counsellor rather than simply an instructor and resource of
information. I gained many ideas, some of which I’ve already put into practice with my students.
The second week’s course, entitled ‘Fundamentals of Communication and New Leadership’,
introduced how methods of self evaluation, realising your own inner strengths and self
understanding lead to effective communication and leadership. Bero introduced us to, among
other things, the work of famous author Virginia Satir, on whose five freedoms I based my
presentation at the end of the week. This, plus her personality ‘Iceberg’, which clarified for me,
what you show to other people is result of what is happening inside you, were valuable lessons
which will help make me a better leader and communicator.
I should also mention my classmates, a diverse group of different ages, nationalities and
personalities, but with a common thread of warmth, openness and cooperation running through
them. They were a truly inspirational bunch and I learnt so much from them also and hopefully
will be able to meet and cooperate with some of them again in the future.
When I heard I was going to Croatia for this course, my first thought was that it would be by
the sea. My initial disappointment when I found out that it was actually nowhere near the sea
soon gave way to curiosity about this small town of Vukovar by the Danube near the border with
Serbia. I knew I had heard the name before and I soon remembered that it was often in the
news for all the wrong reasons during the homeland wars. This was of course evident
everywhere we looked, and the memorials and museums, including the iconic water tower were
fascinating but heartbreaking reminders of these events, but Vukovar and the surrounding area
were about so much more than that. Swimming on the island in the Danube (Mala Ada Otok) and
the lake (Jezero Banja) in Vinkovci meant we didn’t miss the sea at all, and there are so many
things to do and places to visit both in the town and the surrounding area that meant not only did
we easily fill all our free time but we are considering going back again for another visit. The local
food alone is enough to tempt you back. So another thing this course did was introduce us to a
place and area that we never would have otherwise visited and turned it into a potential holiday
destination.
To finish, this course gave my career a much needed boost, which will directly and positively
affect both my business and the learning experience of my students and I am very grateful for
having been given the chance to participate.
Martin