Training for Distance Teaching through Distance Learning

Abstract

English language teacher education throughout the world has seen a dramatic increase in the number of programmes being offered through distance mode. This article describes part of the preparation for introducing a mixed-mode BA in English Language Teaching at the Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Mexico: a course offered to trainers to help them with the writing of appropriate distance materials. A key feature of the course was to give the participants the experience of being distance students, with the aim of raising their awareness of aspects to be considered in the planning of a partially distance-taught programme, and to introduce them to the characteristics of good print-based distance materials. The article begins with an introduction to the context and background of the course at the university in Puebla, followed by a justification, description, and evaluation of the course itself.