TWO: Riding the Waves of Autonomy: Language Counsellors’ Reflections at Masaryk University Language Centre by Barbora Chovancová, Joe Lennon, Anjuli Pandavar, Eva Rudolfová, Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová, and Lenka Zouhar Ludvíková
Na vlnách autonomie: Sdílení dobré praxe mezi jazykovými poradci v Centru jazykového vzdělávání na Masarykově univerzitě
Barbora Chovancová, Joe Lennon, Anjuli Pandavar, Eva Rudolfová, Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová, and Lenka Zouhar Ludvíková
Abstract
This paper, inspired by the questions in David Little’s introduction, was written by a team of six teachers who work as language advisors, or “counsellors,” in the English Autonomously course at the Language Centre at Masaryk University (MU), Brno, Czech Republic. The text emerged from informal conversations among the team members about our counselling work: how we do it; what it means to our students and us; and how we might do it better. Over the course of several months, we turned these discussions into a more formal conversation. We agreed on six questions as an axis for the discussion. Each section of the conversation below begins with one of these questions. After each question, there is a short reflective task for you, the reader, which is modelled on the exercises we suggest to students before and after their counselling sessions (here we’ve adapted the language of these tasks so that they are aimed more at teachers and advisors). Then, we offer our responses to the initial question, and our responses to each other’s answers. At the end of each section, there is a summary of the most important points raised. Finally, at the end of the article, there is another list of questions, this time looking forward to where we might take the conversation next – not only among ourselves, but with our readers too.
About the Contributors
Barbora Chovancová pracuje jako odborná asistentka na Centru jazykového vzdělávání Masarykovy univerzity v Brně. Podporuje autonomii při práci se studenty právnické angličtiny a věnuje se individuálnímu jazykovému poradenství.
Barbora Chovancová is an Assistant Professor at Masaryk University Language Centre in Brno. She encourages autonomy with her Legal English students and she is passionate about language counselling.
Joe Lennon pracuje jako odborný asistent na Centru jazykového vzdělávání Masarykovy univerzity v Brně.
Joe Lennon is an Assistant Professor at Masaryk University Language Centre, Brno, Czechia.
Anjuli Pandavar is a recent British immigrant to Czechia., Coordinator for Internationalisation and an Assistant Professor at the Masaryk University Language Centre. She has been innovating in transformative education in several countries for the last ten years.
Eva Rudolfová je lektorkou angličtiny pro akademické účely a pro specifické účely na Masarykově Univerzitě.
Eva Rudolfová teaches ESP and EAP classes at the Language Centre of Masaryk University, Czechia. She is also a passionate member of English Autonomously, a Counsellor and an ardent ambassador of life and transferable skills. Her key concept in her professional career is authenticity.
Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová je lektorkou anglického jazyka na Centru jazykového vzdělávání Masarykovy univerzity a už 7 let se v rámci projektu Angličtina autonomně věnuje individuálním konzultacím a vede různé moduly.
Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová is an English Language Lecturer at the Masaryk University Language Centre, Czechia and she has been involved in the English Autonomously project for 7 years, providing counselling sessions and leading various modules.
Lenka Zouhar Ludvíková je lektorkou angličtiny pro akademické účely a pro specifické účely na Masarykově Univerzitě a na Mendelově Univerzitě v Brně.
Lenka Zouhar Ludvíková is a Lecturer of EAP and ESP courses at Masaryk University and Mendel University in Brno, Czechia.
Citation
Chovancová, B., Lennon, J., & Pandavar, A. et al. (2020). Riding the waves of autonomy: Language counsellors’ reflections at Masaryk university language centre. In C. Ludwig, M. G. Tassinari, J. Mynard (Eds.), Navigating foreign language learner autonomy (pp. 38-103). Candlin & Mynard.
Barbora Chovancová, Joe Lennon, Anjuli Pandavar, Eva Rudolfová, Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová, and Lenka Zouhar Ludvíková
Abstract
This paper, inspired by the questions in David Little’s introduction, was written by a team of six teachers who work as language advisors, or “counsellors,” in the English Autonomously course at the Language Centre at Masaryk University (MU), Brno, Czech Republic. The text emerged from informal conversations among the team members about our counselling work: how we do it; what it means to our students and us; and how we might do it better. Over the course of several months, we turned these discussions into a more formal conversation. We agreed on six questions as an axis for the discussion. Each section of the conversation below begins with one of these questions. After each question, there is a short reflective task for you, the reader, which is modelled on the exercises we suggest to students before and after their counselling sessions (here we’ve adapted the language of these tasks so that they are aimed more at teachers and advisors). Then, we offer our responses to the initial question, and our responses to each other’s answers. At the end of each section, there is a summary of the most important points raised. Finally, at the end of the article, there is another list of questions, this time looking forward to where we might take the conversation next – not only among ourselves, but with our readers too.
About the Contributors
Barbora Chovancová pracuje jako odborná asistentka na Centru jazykového vzdělávání Masarykovy univerzity v Brně. Podporuje autonomii při práci se studenty právnické angličtiny a věnuje se individuálnímu jazykovému poradenství.
Barbora Chovancová is an Assistant Professor at Masaryk University Language Centre in Brno. She encourages autonomy with her Legal English students and she is passionate about language counselling.
Joe Lennon pracuje jako odborný asistent na Centru jazykového vzdělávání Masarykovy univerzity v Brně.
Joe Lennon is an Assistant Professor at Masaryk University Language Centre, Brno, Czechia.
Anjuli Pandavar is a recent British immigrant to Czechia., Coordinator for Internationalisation and an Assistant Professor at the Masaryk University Language Centre. She has been innovating in transformative education in several countries for the last ten years.
Eva Rudolfová je lektorkou angličtiny pro akademické účely a pro specifické účely na Masarykově Univerzitě.
Eva Rudolfová teaches ESP and EAP classes at the Language Centre of Masaryk University, Czechia. She is also a passionate member of English Autonomously, a Counsellor and an ardent ambassador of life and transferable skills. Her key concept in her professional career is authenticity.
Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová je lektorkou anglického jazyka na Centru jazykového vzdělávání Masarykovy univerzity a už 7 let se v rámci projektu Angličtina autonomně věnuje individuálním konzultacím a vede různé moduly.
Martina Šindelářová Skupeňová is an English Language Lecturer at the Masaryk University Language Centre, Czechia and she has been involved in the English Autonomously project for 7 years, providing counselling sessions and leading various modules.
Lenka Zouhar Ludvíková je lektorkou angličtiny pro akademické účely a pro specifické účely na Masarykově Univerzitě a na Mendelově Univerzitě v Brně.
Lenka Zouhar Ludvíková is a Lecturer of EAP and ESP courses at Masaryk University and Mendel University in Brno, Czechia.
Citation
Chovancová, B., Lennon, J., & Pandavar, A. et al. (2020). Riding the waves of autonomy: Language counsellors’ reflections at Masaryk university language centre. In C. Ludwig, M. G. Tassinari, J. Mynard (Eds.), Navigating foreign language learner autonomy (pp. 38-103). Candlin & Mynard.
Information About the Book
Title: Navigating Foreign Language Learner Autonomy
Editors: Christian Ludwig, Maria Giovanna Tassinari, and Jo Mynard
Publication date: May 2020
Read more...
Title: Navigating Foreign Language Learner Autonomy
Editors: Christian Ludwig, Maria Giovanna Tassinari, and Jo Mynard
Publication date: May 2020
Read more...