Reading Challenge

Trainers Workshop

APPLICATION FORM
BRITISH COUNCIL READING CHALLENGE
TRAINERS WORKSHOP
Saturday 24 September 2016

Advice for completing application form for British Council Reading Challenge Trainers
Workshop
Please read this section carefully before completing the application form. If needed do make
photocopies of the form. Please send your applications to Megha Roy, Executive LIS, British
Council, 16 Camac Street, L&T Chambers, 1st Floor, Kolkata 700017 or email them to
megha.roy@britishcouncil.org by Tuesday 13 September 2016.
British Council invites applications for a trainers workshop on the Reading Challenge to be held in
Kolkata on Saturday 24 September 2016 at the British Council from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
The purpose of the workshop is to build a resource pool of trainers to conduct Reading Challenge
workshops on behalf of the British Council at various schools in Kolkata and other parts of East India.
This will also be an opportunity for teachers to develop themselves personally and professionally.
These teachers may be required to deliver workshops for the British Council with prior permission from
their school authorities as and when necessary .For conducting these workshops the teachers will be
remunerated as per British Council policies. Teachers are expected to deliver workshops aimed at
encouraging children to talk about books and authors, develop creative thinking and writing abilities
among children in the age group of 5 - 13 years through interactive methodologies.
British Council reserves the right to offer future Reading Challenge engagements to the participants who
attend this trainers workshop.

About the Reading Challenge

Launched in 1999, the Reading Challenge is a massive international reader development programme
conceptualised by the Reading Agency UK in collaboration with the Arts Council England and the
BBC. In the Reading Challenge, children are challenged to read a range of books and are encouraged
to complete the challenge with an exciting range of incentives and activities. Around 780,000 children
took part in last years programme borrowing an amazing 18 million books from the libraries. To know
more, please visit www.readingagency.org.uk

The aim of the challenge is to get children to read a wide variety of books by contemporary British
authors from the specially selected list on different themes. The challenge inspires children to read for
fun, pleasure and personal achievement. They enjoy the freedom to choose whatever they want to
read from the wealth of books that is on offer for them.

Essential Criteria for Selection of Applicants

Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- have a good command of the English language
- have a strong interest in developing the reading and language skills in children
- be able to design and execute speaking/reading/writing activities for young learners
- have worked with children in the age group of 5 to 13 years
- be willing to travel and conduct workshops on behalf of British Council in schools in East India

Additional Criteria:
- Do you have a connection with UK? (education/ living/ exchange programme/ others)
- If you are associated with a school, does it have a UK connection? (ISA/ Connecting
classrooms/ British Council School Drama, Debating Matters, others)
- Are you willing to travel to schools in East India to conduct workshops?

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity. 1
 Reading Challenge
Trainers Workshop

As we expect a high number of applications and places are limited to 12, only successful candidates
will be notified following the selection process which will be completed by 19 September 2016.
Outstation candidates are requested to send their applications early to help us go through them and
confirm their participation early, if selected to attend.

Registration fees

Selected applicants will be asked to subsequently register for the workshop with a non-refundable fee
of INR1250 (One thousand two hundred and fifty only).The applications will be considered and
selections made by the British Council. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all who are
eligible on the basis of ability and qualifications.

Last date for submitting applications is Tuesday, 13 September 2016

1 - Hear about event

How and where did you first hear about this event?
Personal recommendation
British Council office Email from British Council
Your organisation
Other

2 - Personal details
Please enter your details below
Family name Saheli Gupta
Other names
Title Ms.

3 - Contact Address
Contact address:
Permanent Address:
52/D/5 Babu Bagan Lane. Dhakuria. Kolkata 700 031.

Postal Address:
C/O B. Jena. Shubhojyoti Apartments
23/71 Babu Bagan Lane. 16, Bank Colony.
Dhakuria. Kolkata 700 031

4 - Contact Numbers
Contact Numbers:
Telephone: +91 9051872497
Fax:
Mobile no: +91 9051872497
E-mail: Saheli1412@gmail.com

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 Reading Challenge
Trainers Workshop

5 - Job Title
Current Occupation
English Language Teacher (Senior School IGCSE
and A levels)

6 - Organisation
Employer/organisation - including web address. If in educational institution, please provide
name and contact details of Head of the Institution.
Calcutta International School. http://www.calcuttais.edu.in/
Senior Principal: Dr. Munmun Nath.
724, Anandapur, East Kolkata Township, Kolkata, West Bengal 700107
Phone: +91 9836652141

7 - Career Details
Please provide below brief details of your professional/educational career to date

TEACHING Senior School English Teacher, Calcutta International School, Kolkata, August 2016 -
EXPERIENCE India Present
:
Teaching English Language and Literature (IGCSE curriculum)
Teaching IGCSE level, AS and A Level English Language, and
Literature.
Weekly 20 hours direct contact teaching

CELTA: Teaching British Council Kolkata Students, Kolkata, India July 2016
Taught pre- and upper-intermediate multilingual classes of 5-22 students
in English as a Second Language. (8 hours contact)
Tailored lessons according to research and analysis of student needs
Employed original and authentic texts; created activities targeting
receptive and productive skills and language systems
Used and adapted materials from American Inside Out, English File 2,
Reward Resource Pack, and Learning Teaching
June 2012 July
Language Instructor, Quantum Business Advisory UK Ltd., Kolkata 2016
India
Currently working as a language trainer and language instructor. The
main job responsibility includes teaching English to speakers of other
languages. I have all adult learners. (30+ hours per week contact)

EDUCATION/ University of Cambridge ESOL Certificate in English Language Teaching to 2016

HONORS: Adults (CELTA), (Provisional GradePass), Kolkata, India

English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, India.

Masters of Arts 2012
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 Concentration: English (Linguistics); GPA: 7.78/10.0

University of Calcutta 2010

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
Concentration: English

IELTS Band Score

IELTS Band Score: 7 2012

8 - Please state how you meet the essential criteria for applicants as stated at the top of the
application form
I have completed my University of Cambridge ESOL Certificate in English Language
Teaching to Adults (CELTA), on 22nd July 2016 (British Council, Kolkata centre). I am
presently teaching English Language in Calcutta International School (IGCSE level and A
levels) and working with a diverse group of students aged between 12 20.

The CELTA Course has equipped me with knowledge and techniques for becoming a
successful English Language Trainer. Rigorous courses in Applied Linguistics and ELT during
my Post Graduate programme in English and Foreign Languages University (Hyderabad) has
motivated me to work more on the field of English Language Teaching (ELT).

The CELTA course was a unique experience of its specific focus on the teaching learning
context in the classroom. The courses precise focus on choice of proper language resources
has taught me to identify proper language teaching learning materials and has honed my ELT
skills.

Under the critique of CELTA tutors, I have designed lessons for two diverse groups of
students, targeting receptive and productive skills, a variety of language systems, and
pronunciation. In addition to adapted course book materials, I employed authentic texts to
target student needs.

Teaching mixed ability group learners has equipped me with the skills of addressing different
kinds of learners. As stated above, I am also working in an international organization that has
a UK connection. I am also ready to travel for conducting workshops.

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity. 4
 Reading Challenge
Trainers Workshop

9 - Suggest three ideas/ activities that schools can adopt to develop a reader development
programme for the students.

1. Students can be asked to read a book and enact a drama based on that book. This
can be done as a competition so that the students remain motivated by the prize they
will be awarded.
2. A class library can be set up where students get to choose their own books.
3. Children these days love technology. Students can create small e books based on the
books they have read.

10 - Please submit an interesting lesson plan for a one hour activity on any of the following
components of language, aimed at either 5 to 8 year olds or 9 to 13 year olds:

1. Listening Skills
2. Speaking Skills
3. Reading Skills
4. Creative Writing

11 - Special requirements
Please state any special requirements you may have (e.g. dietary, religious, access) or other
special needs or special considerations to enable you to attend the workshop?
No

Data Protection
Data Protection 1998 Notice: The British Council will use the information you have given on
this form together with other information provided on feedback questionnaires to administer
and evaluate the success of this event. Your information will be shared with individuals
administering the event. Where you have provided information relating to any special needs
we will only use this to ensure the equality of services provided and your safety. By returning
this form to us you consent to our processing sensitive personal data about you where this is
necessary, for the purpose above. By signing below you agree that we may pass your
information to our offices overseas where this is necessary for the above purposes. Your
records will continue to be handled in accordance with our data protection policy.

Contact - no
We may contact you to inform you of other Council activities, events and services that may be
of interest to you. If you DO NOT wish to be contacted for this purpose please tick the box.
Please remember that if you tick the box we will be unable to provide you with information
about our events and promotional activities.
No future contact

Terms and Conditions

1. I understand that the decision of British Council is final.

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity. 5
2. I understand that if selected, I will attend the workshop in full and pay a non-refundable fee of
INR1250
3. I understand that British Council will not be responsible in any way for my health and general
insurance.
4. I understand that British Council will not be liable in any way if the workshop is cancelled due to
unavoidable circumstances

Reading Challenge
Trainers Workshop

Declaration
By typing your name below you certify that the information you have given is accurate and
complete, and you understand that the British Council reserves the right to cancel the event
without notice and without further liability.

Name
Saheli Gupta

Date
09.09.2016

Thank you for completing the application form As we expect a high number of applications and
places are limited for the event; only successful candidates will be notified following the selection
process which will be completed by 19 September 2016 . Selected applicants will be asked to
subsequently register with a subsidised fee of INR1250. The applications will be considered and
selections made by the British Council.

Please send your filled up applications to Megha Roy, Executive LIS, British Council, 16
Camac Street, L&T Chambers, 1st Floor, Kolkata 700017 or email them to
megha.roy@britishcouncil.org

The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity. 6