Interview with Gail Ellis
Gail talks about how teachers’ views of children influence their teaching and teaching training. She shares her research and thoughts on the use of the United Nation declaration of the rights of the child and value based teaching.
- Teachers’ views of children in the ELT context vary from “objects”, to “subjects” or “social actors” and influence their teaching (e.g. prescribed program to get predefined outcomes) and teaching training.
- Gail’s research findings on teachers’ perceptions mostly classified the children as “becoming an adult” and saw them as “object”. Yet, others showed greater awareness of them as independent children who were able to make their own choices, be responsible for their learning and give their opinions about it.
- Her thoughts on the use of the UN convention of the rights of children to participate and have their views listened to, and acted upon, need to be adopted in pre-service and in-service teacher training.
- Value based teaching lessons to young learners, such as resilience, accountability, respect, acceptance, through picture-books and story-telling, should be included in PRESETT and INSETT.
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