A welcome from Dr Charles Boyle, Programme Director
A very warm welcome to the OTA Masterclass for English language teachers. We invite you to join ELT colleagues from across the globe in what is a truly vibrant, international learning community.
We're delighted to be holding the OTA Masterclass in the stunning and historic Oxford University setting of Christ Church. We look forward to welcoming you to Oxford this summer where a professionally enriching and memorable learning experience awaits.
Masterclass workshops
Each morning you will participate in two 90-minute workshop sessions of your choice. You choose one workshop per week.
The workshop options for 2023 are:
Workshops week 1:
Workshops week 2:
Afternoon lecture series
After lunch we invite you to join us for a stimulating and informative plenary lecture or seminar:
Schedule
Monday - Friday
09:15 - 10:45 Workshop
10:45 - 11:15 Tea break
11:15 - 12:45 Workshop
13:00 - 13:45 Lunch
14:15 - 15:15 Lecture
The programme provides 37 hours of tuition, comprising:
- 30 hours of workshop meetings
- 7 lectures
Please note that the exact timings of the sessions may change.
After class you can relax in Christ Church's tranquil grounds, or immediately step into the bustle of the busy city streets beyond the college walls and explore one of Britain’s most beautiful cities. During your stay, a rich and varied social programme will help you to make the most of your time in Oxford.
Social programme
We've carefully tailored your social programme to allow you plenty of free time to explore and enjoy Oxford. You will also benefit from the services of two programme assistants who will be available to offer information on social activities in Oxford. We've arranged a number of optional social activities (all at no extra cost) during your course which may include the following:
- Guided walking tour of Oxford
- Oxford scavenger hunt
- Canal walk
- Punting on the River Cherwell
- Oxford botanical garden
- Pub visit with tutors
Meals and refreshments
We invite you to join us for an opening drinks reception and dinner on the evening of Sunday 9 July, and for a gala four-course dinner on Friday 14 in the Dining Hall. On your final evening in Oxford, we'll meet for a farewell open-air drinks reception in the Master's Garden and gala four-course formal dinner.
Breakfast
You have the choice of a full English cooked breakfast or a continental breakfast in the college Dining Hall.
Refreshments
Tea, coffee and refreshments are served during the morning break.
Lunch
A buffet lunch is served in the college Dining Hall. You can choose from a number of hot main course options or help yourself to the salad bar.
Dinner
A three-course dinner is served in the Dining Hall.
Weekend Meals
Please note that only breakfast is served on Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 17.
The venue
Christ Church, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, is ideally situated with the busy city centre on one side, and the peaceful, green spaces of Christ Church Meadow on the other. It was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, and is one of the larger colleges of the University of Oxford. It is home to Oxford's cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and Christ Church Picture Gallery which houses an important collection of Old Masters paintings and drawings.
Christ Church has a number of architectually significant buildings including Tom Tower, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, Tom Quad (the largest quadrangle in Oxford) and the Great Dining Hall, which was also the seat of the parliament assembled by King Charles I during the English Civil War. The buidings have featured in films such as Harry Potter and The Golden Compass.
Your tutors
Shaun Wilden - Tutor for Escape the Classroom! & ELT Mangement
Mr Shaun Wilden is an educational technologist, teacher trainer, and teacher of English with more than 30 years of classroom experience. He holds an MA in technology and education. Having spent two decades teaching abroad, Shaun now lives in Oxford but continues to travel to give talks and workshops about the use of technology and language teaching. He has published a number of books and articles on the use of technology in education. He now lectures and tutors on information technology and online education on a number of programmes for international students and teachers for the University’s Department for Continuing Education.
Jon Hird - Tutor for Teaching Teenagers & Dyslexia and Learning English
Jon Hird is a teacher, teacher trainer and ELT materials writer based in Oxford. He teaches at the University of Oxford and frequently gives teacher-training talks and workshops in the UK and overseas. He has written and contributed to many ELT publications for a number of publishers. His most recent publications include Oxford Learner’s Pocket Verbs and Tenses and components of the Language Hub, Roadmap, Navigate, Keynote, Oxford EAP and Life course book series. He has also written and adapted a range of materials for learners with dyslexia.
Hanna Kryszewska - Tutor for Global Skills & Bilingual Education
Hanna Kryszewska is a teacher, teacher trainer, trainer of trainers and mentors, author of resource books and course books and senior lecturer at the University of Gdańsk, Poland. She co-wrote: “Options for English” - PWSiP, 1991, “Learner-based Teaching” (OUP, 1992), “Reading on Your Own’ (PWN, 1995), “Towards Teaching”, (Heinemann, 1995), “Stand-by Book”, S. Lindstromberg, Ed. (CUP, 1996), “Observing English Lessons”- A Video Teacher Training Course, and “The Company Words Keep” (DELTA, 2012).Since February 2006, she has been the editor of website magazine ‘Humanising Language Teaching.’
Charlotte Rance - Tutor for Mentoring Skills & Teaching Teenagers
Charlotte Rance is a teacher trainer, author and educational consultant. She has worked in the English language teaching industry for almost two decades, and specialises in working with young learners and teenagers. Charlotte has worked in numerous countries around the world, and has spoken at a wide range of institutions and international conferences. Her priority as a trainer is to provide practical advice and suggest a range of effective strategies that teachers can successfully adapt and implement in their own teaching contexts.
Ushapa Fortescue - Tutor for Well-being & Teaching Young Learners
Ushapa is a Graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University, has a CELTA, a Teacher Training certificate for the Post 16 sector and is a certified trainer for the Oxford Teacher’s Academy courses. With over 19 years of varied teaching experience both in the UK and abroad. She has worked and provided teacher training in numerous countries in Europe, Africa and Asia which has included leading teacher training workshops, presentations, speaking at conferences and presenting short courses. With a focus on Pre-primary, primary, teenagers and adults, she has a wide range of experience and expertise. She is also a certified and experienced deliverer of the Oxford Teacher’s Academy courses. Ushapa is a trained mediation and mindfulness teacher and has delivered courses and trainings around the world. Ushapa loves engaging and encouraging teachers so they can pass on a love of language learning to their students.
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