Saudi Arabian educators learn English instructional methods in Republic

The Republic School District recently received a visit from some international English teachers. Twenty-eight educators from Saudi Arabia came to the district on Monday, Sept. 17, to study English teaching methods used in the United States. The instruction was led by Dr. Debbie Yonke, the district’s director of curriculum, instruction and assessment in the Republic Board of Education room.

Josey McPhail, director of communications for the Republic School District, said Yonke provided an overview of effective teaching practices, and also provided them with resources they could use to research teaching methods on their own.
“Dr. Kim Finch, MSU Professor requested an overview of Research-based instructional strategies to help prepare these teachers to begin their internships within the schools they will be working with in Springfield,” McPhail said. “Dr. Yonke shared information from leading educational researchers … regarding best practices in instruction and the top nine research-based instructional strategies identified in the book, Classroom Instruction That Works. She also shared online and additional print resources that the teachers could explore on their own to learn more about this topic.”
McPhail also said working with the Saudi teachers was a very enjoyable experience.
“They were a very professional group, and we enjoyed this time of partnering with them and will be excited to see how this partnership works during this first year and how we might continue to support this collaborative project,” McPhail said.
The Springfield News-Leader reported in early March that the teachers are in Springfield for a year-long immersion program to improve their English skills and learn teaching methods.