Status: Current
English in Action is a ground-breaking, technology enhanced development programme aiming to transform the English language communication abilities of 25 million adults and children across Bangladesh by 2017.
The programme directly tackles the need for improved English language teaching across the country, where children typically have little opportunity to practise English in the classroom. Funded by UKaid from the Department for International Development and working closely with the Government of Bangladesh, English in Action is being delivered by a network of international and in-country partners.
Together we are transforming the teaching and learning of English, in schools across Bangladesh. Using teaching materials created in collaboration with Bangladeshi teacher educators, the OU’s expertise in practice-based teacher professional development changes how teachers teach English, through introducing new classroom activities. Low cost mobile phones, preloaded with multi-media resources and teaching guidance, enrich and build upon the national curriculum and textbooks. Teachers use these materials to bring target language into their classrooms, using a small, portable speaker attached to the phone, and benefit from on-going support provided to the teachers within the classroom and beyond.
The programme is on target to reach over 90,000 teachers by 2017, most of whom serve disadvantaged rural communities. Independent research and evaluation show EIA has been very effective at:
- changing classroom practice
- creating opportunities for children to communicate in English
- improving the English competence of teachers and students
To find out more about the programme, visit the English in Action website.
