Migrants and Refugees in Education: A toolkit for teachers

I thought that the course was very good - full of really valuable ideas, information and resources. It has greatly enhanced my knowledge of relevant issues and introduced me to some really interesting concepts and approaches to migrant and refugee education.

I would offer the following constructive feedback. Personally, the suggested time guidelines are not realistic. To have some understanding of, for instance, the work of Freire or some of the issues raised in English Across The Fracture Lines would take far longer than the time suggested. Similarly I would worry about introducing quite sophisticated concepts with a very basic outline which may lead to assumptions which may be misplaced and strategies which are erroneous - projection and transference for instance. I think that sometimes the video does not quite make the point suggested in the text and introductions, or in other cases align well with the argument being proposed. Was the theatre group at The Jungle in Calais providing a space for the safe exploration of emotion or rather providing a welcome distraction from the grinding conditions endured by the migrant community? And finally I think that the text could do with proofreading again.

I would reiterate that I gained a great deal from this course and intend to enroll on Future Learn courses again at some point. My understanding of relevant issues has been enhanced and my horizons broadened. Much appreciated.

Im really enjoying and appreciate that in week two there are more videos and examples of the applications of the teaching in real world setting across the globe. At the moment I am torn as to whether to comment that 3hrs for a lesson is too long. I would assume many people are doing this part-time and if they are like me they prefer to sit and do this in one session but trying to find three straight hours in a day is quiet difficult and you can feel you start to struggle towards the last 45 min of the lesson. Yes I could totally pause and come back to it but I wonder if making the course longer in weeks and shorter to 2 hours per week may be a little kinder? I have done a few courses through future learn and find the ones that I enjoy the most are ones that sit at 2hrs each week. Just my personal opinion - Im glad that its a topic that I am passionate about so it makes it easier for me to focus and push on. Hoping to hear that you guys offer a online certified course of some type - didnt realise British Council look into this area but it makes sense. Now I am interested to see if British Council in Kigali are working with the refugees from Burundi and DRC with such programmes that I may be able to support. Thanks again. Looking forward to the rest of the programme.

Although I am not teaching a whole class at the moment and work mainly with individuals, I want to develop confidence and skills to work in a wider range of settings with refugees and migrants. Your course has already helped me become more confident and has given me inspiration and ideas. It has really expanded my range of approaches and has helped me to set a higher standard for myself as, when one works in isolation, with no supervision, one has little measure of one's standard. Your course is acting as a kind of supervision for me. I particularly liked the link to the teacher's diary with headings on how to reflect on one's own lessons. Also how to adapt and differentiate lessons. The boy I work with is non-verbal due to cerebral palsy but is a fantastic non-verbal communicator and understands everything in his own language. My challenge is to adapt materials to make learning accessible to him - and also to get ideas to give teachers when this boy eventually gets into a school. I am loving the course and it feels a privilege to be in touch with such interesting and gifted people.