Business English is perhaps the most widely diverse and fastest growing area of ELT. BE is exciting and rewarding, and at the same time very challenging so BESIG is here to support both experienced and new trainers stay on top of the field by sharing new methodologies, materials and most importantly, ways to network. Our national events always offer workshops and presentations from the top names in our field and regular newsletters will keep you updated on regional events as well. So whether you teach BE as a freelancer, or in the Swiss school system, there's something for everyone in the ETAS BESIG.
 Cindy Hauert, SIG Coordinator
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I started my TEFL career in 1983 in Paris, where I gave in-company courses and tutored future English teachers at the Sorbonne. Shortly after moving to Switzerland in 1987 (when I joined ETAS), I went freelance, and have given BE training in many Swiss companies. I also teach BE at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Having a foot in both "camps" is very enriching and helps me to have a good understanding of what the ETAS BESIG should be offering to its members. |
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The importance of intercultural communication today cannot be overly stressed as markets continue to converge and act as one, driven by new communication technologies that allow teams all over the world to work on projects and share information without leaving their desks. At the same time the workplace is increasingly diversified as immigrants from abroad arrive in Europe and the US while more and more expatriates are being posted abroad to the Middle and Far East. Such cultural diversity affects how business messages are conceived, sent, received and interpreted in the workplace.
This SIG will provide interested teachers with a platform to develop intercultural awareness and sensitivity and if desired, undertake further training so that they can better support their learners in situations of potential conflict ranging from international meetings, presentations, negotiations, sales or international teambuilding.
 Christina Kwok, SIG Coordinator
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Christina's website: www.cross-culturalsynergies.com
A Malaysian-born Chinese from Kuala Lumpur, I completed tertiary studies in the US and worked for Exxon Oil, Malaysia as a geologist for 9 years before leaving for Switzerland. Other corporate experience includes working for Zurich Insurance in London and Holcim in Switzerland.
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Adult as well as younger learners enjoy the kinaesthetic aspect of drama and the fact that all the senses are involved in tackling a piece of fiction or non-fiction through drama - with the result of enhanced skills in speaking and writing. The drama and literature SIG is a forum for drama teachers in Switzerland to swap new ideas and brush up old ones. It also offers newcomers to drama the opportunity to become familiar with this teaching method through workshops. Everybody is welcome, and if you would like to have more information, please contact one of the SIG Coordinators.
Bianca Müller and Ian Sowers, SIG Coordinators
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Globalisation is not the most elegant term, but to young lawyers setting out on their careers in big city law firms, doctors sharing their expertise across national and linguistic boundaries, engineers working on inter-continental projects or bankers at home in the financial capitals of the world its a reality, and one which can open many doors. But there's little doubt that a good command of English is the key to unlocking those doors. As ESP teachers our task is to help our students meet that challenge. As an ESP SIG our aim is to provide a forum for ESP teachers, to share what we have in common, swap what we don't, and to provide support and encouragement to all those setting out on the ESP road.
 Alison Wiebalck, SIG Coordinator
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Alison was born in the UK but lived in many different countries before arriving in Switzerland with a growing family. Shortly thereafter she started to teach general English at home before branching out into teaching business English in-company. In 2004 she began to specialise in legal English and has since given workshops and legal English teacher training sessions in Germany and Switzerland. Alison teaches legal English freelance and at a college of further education in Zurich.
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Examinations, Testing & Assessment SIG |
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The examinations and testing SIG aims to develop interest in ideas and approaches in two principal directions. For many teachers mainstream EFL examinations, such as the Cambridge suite, are a major concern, and the SIG offers the opportunity to discuss problems in this area, through email contact and through branch workshops and presentations. The second main area of interest is for those teachers who have to produce their own test and assessment instruments, on either an institutional or individual class level. Again, contacts and workshops can be organised in response to demand.
 Neil Bullock, SIG Coordinator
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Neil Bullock is originally from Newcastle in the north-east of England where he worked in Air Traffic Control and Airside Operations for 20 years. He has lived in Switzerland since January 2005 and lives in Concise on the shores of Lake Neuchatel with his partner Béatrice. A trained teacher since 2003, and an ETAS member for 6 years, Neil also works as an examiner testing pilots and Air Traffic Controllers English language proficiency for Skyguide and the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation. Since 2008 Neil has been the test development team and regional co-ordinator for higher level testing for these exams for FOCA and as such, examinations and testing play a pivotal role in his work. He is also about to start a new Masters in Applied Linguistics in September 2012. |
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This SIG will give interested teachers the opportunity to learn more as well as share and collaborate on their immersion/CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) experiences.
 Eveline Reichel, SIG Coordinator
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Eveline Reichel, born in Switzerland, grew up bilingually in India and Persia before graduating in English and French at the University of Zürich.
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For L-Tech to be both an effective and efficient method of learning, learning agencies today must face the challenge of how to bridge the gap between personal interaction, cognitive understanding and computer literacy. The goal of the L-Tech SIG will be able to assist both teachers and institutions in achieving a greater understanding of how people learn and how this knowledge can be applied in creating effective CALL programmes.
 Illya Arnet-Clark, SIG Coordinator
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I was born in America and came to Switzerland as an exchange student. Now, over 20 years later, I have a family with 3 boys and 2 cats.
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The Research SIG goals are to promote and support research in English language teaching, including but not limited to: the nature of research in ELT, the processes of doing research, processes of disseminating research, evaluating research, as well as the role and relevance research on ELT teaching practice and material design.
 JoAnn Salvisberg, SIG Coordinator
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Born in Texas, JoAnn has lived abroad since the early 1980s, first in Israel for four years before making Switzerland her home. She has been actively involved in ETAS since joining in 1996, serving from 1998-2006 as Bern-Neuchâtel Regional Coordinator, from 2006 as Research SIG Coordinator, as well as 3 years on the ETAS Committee as Teacher Development Chair.
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Areas of interest:
- recruiting and retaining staff
- marketing
- academic management
- managing a school's finances
- quality assurance
- delegating responsibilities
- etc, etc
There are currently more than 60 members working in different capacities (principal, DOS, HR manager etc) for schools of different sizes ranging from one-man (or woman) shows to large national players. SIG workshops are run by members and the emphasis is on exchanging practical management ideas which work in the Swiss market.
SIG Coordinator position vacant
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Teaching is a demanding job and even the best of us feel down-hearted and stale sometimes. The TD SIG offers support for EFL teachers and would like to help and try out new paths and new ideas so that we can constantly approach the job from refreshing and exciting angles. You are invited to participate - take on more responsibility for your own professional growth.
 Michelle Di Pietro, SIG Coordinator
Why not join the TD Special Interest Group? It couldn't be easier, just
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Michelle DiPietro is an American who has lived in Ireland and England, and now resides in Basel. She teaches at academia Luzern and academia Basel, where she completed her CELTA training in 2011. She also works with kindergarteners at Ahead with English school in Therwil. Michelle is a passionate hobby medievalist and writer, and has coordinated regional events for National Novel Writing Month in two countries. She has taught English at all levels for over a year.
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EFL and ESL teachers are among the world's most avid learners. Their openness to new methods and approaches leads them to constantly explore the nature of learning, the back alleyways of the mind and the interpersonal dimensions of the teacher-learner relationship. This SIG aims to quantify and qualify existing avenues of teacher training and assess potential areas of related training.
 Gigi Saurer, SIG Coordinator
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Gigi Saurer grew up in the UK where she decided to do the Dip. TEFLA (as it was then called) after graduating from university. Her first full-time TEFL post was at St Giles College in Brighton in '87, where she also became interested in teacher training. Since moving to Switzerland in '92, she has worked for a number of language schools in Bern, Winterthur, Basel, Olten and is currently working for the Federation of Migros Cooperatives, at the Coordination Office of the Club Schools in Zürich. She has also been an oral examiner for Cambridge ESOL for over 10 years and has more recently become a team leader. Her continuous interest in maintaining and improving standards in language teaching has been fuelled by her eagerness to develop and share knowledge with others. |
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The Special Interest Group for teenage learners brings together teachers from both the state and private sector. The fact that English is part of their compulsory school curriculum clearly sets apart the learners in this group from other SIGs. If you are interested in issues dealing with motivation, mixed-ability, and methodology, Teen SIG offers you practical classroom ideas. Teaching teenagers also involves a broad range of interests typically covered by other SIGs thus making it the most extensive SIG. This variety in its approach will benefit your own professional development. So why not join Teen SIG and share your views and experiences with colleagues from all over Switzerland?
 Urs Kalberer, SIG Coordinator
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‘If you can teach teenagers you can teach anyone‘.
Urs grew up in Switzerland and learnt English at the Gymnasium. As a secondary school teacher he teaches German, French, History and English at state schools.
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Teaching children English is a topic the newspapers are full of these days. This SIG aims to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the area of TEYL and to provide opportunities for circulating ideas and materials best suited to this age bracket through workshops, presentations and swap-shops.
 LeAnn Barnes, SIG Coordinator
LeAnn comes from the southern state of Arkansas in the United States. She received a BA in science and math and taught in Arkansas, Illinois and North Carolina in the US before moving to Switzerland in 2001 due to her husband’s job. After realizing that her 2-3 year stay in Switzerland was becoming permanent, she decided to embark in a new career path, teaching English to young learners. At the moment she spends half of her working hours teaching English mother-tongue children who attend local schools. The other half is teaching English to the local children. It is a new area for LeAnn, but she has enjoyed it immensely and has enjoyed attending ETAS sponsored events as well as meeting so many wonderful people in the ELT community.
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