British Council announces English teacher award winner

The British Council revealed the winner of the 2018 English is GREAT Teacher Award this Wednesday. The prize, presented to Hong Mei from Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, is a four-week study trip to the UK.

The Teacher Award campaign, which was officially launched this April and lasted for seven months, is the first major project of the English is GREAT campaign, organized by the British Council in China this year. The campaign welcomed applications from all non-native English teachers of Chinese nationality to submit short videos illustrating their teaching methods for spoken English in the classroom.

An expert panel organized by the British Council chooses the best one each month. The overall winner of the year is chosen among seven monthly award winners.

Hong Mei was the winner of the October award, and won the final award with her teaching method, the "Literature Circle". It is a highly engaging classroom activity in which students share information as well as opinions with the same reading material by being assigned different roles. Through this activity students are encouraged to talk and their participation, their initiative and enthusiasm in the classroom are enhanced.

"I'd like to express my gratitude for this program as it not only encourages individual teachers like me to explore more possibilities for solutions in the classroom, but also creates a huge platform for us to inspire and to learn from each other," Hong said. "A more attentive, creative and effective classroom is what we are all striving for."

The contest, which attracted hundreds of teachers from 22 provinces, established a teaching method sharing platform, provided teachers with new ideas for teaching methods while celebrating and honoring those outstanding and innovative teachers who dedicate themselves to English teaching in China.

"The English language delivers a positive impact for millions of people throughout the world, creating opportunities for people across all walks of life," said Carma Elliot, director of the British Council in China. "And the English is GREAT Teacher Award campaign has focused on promoting proficiency in spoken English to enhance learners' communicative competencies."

The English is GREAT activity is a new UK initiative for 2018. Announced in January with the presence of UK Prime Minister Theresa May during her official visit to China, English is GREAT is shining a spotlight on the English language as a key enabler for China to interact with the wider world. Angelababy, a Chinese actress, and Jessie J, a British singer, are ambassadors for the campaign from their respective countries.

Learn more about the Teacher Award 2018.