(Jan 09) How Teachers Can Best Utilise MEAs 

On 29th January 2009 approximately 40 teachers and support staff gathered at the Blackburn English Language School to discuss how they could best utilise the MEAs employed at the Blackburn English language School.

Here are some of the points teachers hoped to gain from the session:
      Strategies to better utilise MEAs time
      Increasing student independence
      Better understanding of roles and boundaries
      Gaining an understanding of what MEAs find challenging
      Planning for better collaboration with MEAs
      Understanding  the training needs of MEAs?
      Develop strategies to encourage student independence and decrease student reliance on MEAs

There was a great deal of lively discussion from all participants as there were clearly many issues which teachers wished to clarify.

Some of the points covered during the session include:

·         Roles of MEAs
·         Roles of Interpreters
·         Roles and boundaries. What is included in the Job Description of an MEA at BELS?
·         Social and Cultural Issues when working with MEAs
·         Who are the MEAs at this school?

It was encouraging to see everyone engaged in lively discussions in their groups - despite the 43° degree heat.  Many questions were raised including:

      If MEAs are our colleagues, why is the title for today’s inservice: “How teachers can best “utilise” an MEA”  rather than “How teachers can best work with an MEA”.
   
      Few if any MEAs have been educated in the Victorian Education System or indeed any other Australian Education System. How does this affect their understanding of the roles of their colleagues, the school, etc?
   
      How do MEA’s educational experiences overseas influence their expectations of the Victorian Education System and its fundamental teaching philosophies?  Does this impede/assist them in their roles?
   
      Are our expectations of MEAs realistic?

As a result of the discussions, several suggestions were made as to how teachers could improve their working relations with MEAs including:
   
      Joint planning time with the teacher and MEA.  This would allow a team approach, where appropriate.  Both parties are then involved in the educational process and this allows both to contribute positively using their skills towards achieving the best possible learning outcomes for pupils and the school community.
   
      Getting to know the MEAs, their personal educational backgrounds (one MEA had completed a PhD in their home country!) will assist working relations and help teachers identify the MEAs skills, strengths, and areas of expertise.  It will also assist the MEA in identifying areas requiring further training and assist in their ongoing professional development.

For further information on this session or on any training issues, please contact

Maria Maggio De Leo
HR Manager, Contractors
E: recruitment [at ] allgraduates.com.au
Ph: (03) 9605 3000
Ph: 1300 134 746 (local call cost)

Contact us if you would like to know more about our Training Solutions