Deeper Learning: focusing on what matters

Our school is in a heavily exam-centered setting, but we identify ourselves as a language learning school and not an exam prep center. This has surprisingly been welcomed with commercial success and educational prestige. To reinforce this image of an educational institution, focusing on educational and pedagogical values instead of exam prep classes, we use a series of innovative tools, piloting one each year (formative assessment instruments, honor codes to promote ethics etc.). In 2018 we launched our new language program called Deeper Learning. Drawn from the Intermediate Plateau literature, CLIL, Critical Pedagogy and Philosophy, and after analyzing the data on constantly lower ages of students at B2 level, we designed a program that breaks all rules in the language teaching “industry”.

Deeper Learning is a program for B2 and above levels and its main tool is philosophical inquiry. In DL we do not use any ELT books or any practice test materials. Content teaching becomes central: from poetry to comics and AI to myths, the program explores age-appropriate content in English.

In DL, we explore content areas such AI, Comics, Visual Arts, Fairy Tales, Dystopias, Questions about Life, Animals Masks, Empathy, Human Rights, Identities and Labels, Gender. We look at the world around us, the world inside of us. DL brings Knowledge into the foreground along with formal logic and art, its main premise being Uncertainty. In DL, we teach language through the exploration of big questions, which possibly have no answer!

The structure of DL is as follows: We offer a variety of topic/content/ question-based areas at the beginning of the academic year. Students can choose up to 3 different topics that correspond to 1.5 teaching ‘slots’ each. In each slot, they explore a topic throughout the school year. By April they have to submit a mini research paper (1200 words) addressing a research question related to one of the 3 chosen topics. Students also give an academic presentation related to their paper at our Youth Conference, organized annually in March (see here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt_LPgrJEz4 (and here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY0pePwPAgs.

Finally, students take part in our Youth Creativity Day, presenting a creative project (video installations, oral poetry, dance or music performances, Art exhibits, fiction, comics etc.),taking place in June as an open gallery.

Students embraced DL and kept attending English classes even 2 years after passing a C2 exam (watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2gVNalZK64&feature=youtu.be )

Below are the main principles of Deeper Learning as outlined in its mission statement:
1. DL is a democratic framework, within which the voice of the students in not only important but central. In fact, in DL students are emancipated, given a voice and this voice is heard.
2. Teachers do not censor ideas. All contributions are welcome for discussion.
3. DL is about unlearning and relearning. Nothing is taken for granted.
4. DL lessons are multimodal: videos, photos, pictures, Art, cinema, series, books, texts and the physical environment are necessary tools for a lesson.
5. DL lessons are not exam-prep. They are language and thought lessons.
6. DL lessons are student-centered and student-led.
7. Students should be encouraged to produce multimodally: not just written texts but also, oral presentations, videos, mini movies, art and all products of literacy and visual literacy are welcome.
8. DL is a language lesson, where language is the vehicle to approach and explore a topic, a content-area or a big question but it also the end.
9. DL lessons are content and vocabulary rich. Grammar teaching is not part of the lesson because students are constantly exposed to authentic texts and are required to produce texts (oral and written) of high standard. Grammar correction though is part of the feedback given to students’ written works.
10. DL lesson should be a pleasant experience for the learner and the teacher.
11. In DL lessons, formative assessment is central. Summative assessment is done in non-threatening ways. As the classroom is a democratic space, of equality, trust and respect, assessment is used to promote learning and involvement and not to make students feel uncomfortable or judged. Alternative testing (take-home exams, collaborative testing, honor codes etc. should be used).
12. The role of the teacher in a DL class is that of a fellow-traveler and explorer.
13. DL is an innovative approach to teaching language and therefore, should be enriched with webtools, the use of students’ own tech resources (cell phones, tablets etc).

DL is both about humanistic and technological innovation
In DL, we do not prepare students for exams. In DL, we explore questions like who am I?, Is the body necessary for consciousness?, If your brain is copied and duplicated exactly as it is, do you think that the robot which now has your brain also has your feelings?, Can robots feel pain?, Do animals feel the same type of pain as humans?, Is the trolley problem a meaningful thought experiment and, if so, how should we program self-driving cars?,How do social media shape who I am?,How does racism impact my community?, What happened to Cinderella after she married the prince?”, Was the prince really a foot-fetishist?,Who is really the Little Red Riding Hood?, Is the theory of evolution merely a hypothesis and if not, why is called a theory?, How can I understand your Otherness?, Why do we dream? Do we dream in words or images?,Could you imagine what it is to be a bird, navigating through the magnetic pole?, Is falling in love with a robot a possible sexuality expression?, Am I already a cyborg?,Does my smartphone count as an extension of my hand?, Do we have free-will?, How accurate is memory?

We ask all the questions the normal educational system shuts up.

Not surprisingly, DL students pass C2 tests (CPE &ECPE) with great results, taking away not a mere language certificate but a whole learning culture.

Deeper Learning is our educational innovation, with 31 schools around Greece and Cyprus adopting it and making waves in education, hacking the system and re-inventing ourselves and the terms of the game!

Deeper Learning is conceptualized, designed and coordinated by Angelos Evangelidis. It is put together practically by Angelos Evangelidis and Maria Davou.

It is dedicated to the memory of Professor Ares Arageorgis, who passed away in 2018 and was our professor of Philosophy of Science. He taught us Uncertainty.

https://medium.com/@mariadavou/deeper-learning-focusing-on-what-matters-bd6bcee15e92

love wall

Denise Theodossi

Attending the CertTesol course at Qualify was a really enjoyable experience!

The course assignments are designed in such a way that are educational, helpful and insightful for even the most experienced teacher. Our tutors were approachable and always available to answer our questions.

I was looking forward to the days of the course to learn with friends in a fun way!

I feel lucky that Mary and Mark shared their expertise with us! They are two remarkable and inspiring professionals, but above all caring people!

I definitely recommend the course to any teacher who is interested in improving their skills whether experienced or not!

Marianna Antonopoulou

The CertTESOL course was by far the most rewarding teacher training experience I had ever received. It was a demanding course, but the guidance and support offered by the highly professional course tutors enabled me and the other course members to achieve our goals. We received consistent and frequent feedback on our performance, which meant that we were always aware of our progress and any necessary changes we needed to make. The tutors provided us with a whole range of useful ideas, tools and materials to teach effectively. Members of the course bonded closely and contributed to the supportive atmosphere. I can honestly say that Glossomatheia Lab was a perfect place to have undertaken this course.

Efthychia Vrouva

CertTESOL is one of the best courses a teacher could do. It changes everything you know and if not then it adds More to it. It is hard but it’s worth doing it and every single step you make you gain something without any question. All the tutors in the course are excellent and always there for you at anytime and that was one of the reasons I chose to do this particular course.

Yorgos Garefalakis

Glossomatheia gave me more than the ability to communicate in English. It gave me the Inspiration to do so.

Haris Stamos

I joined the Glossomatheia team at the age of 21. My initial thought was to take the Proficiency and have higher chances to get employed. What a wrong mindset!!!!! Mary and her team helped me in many other ways than just improving my English. This team helped me to broaden my horizons, expand my network and make life – time friendships. Today I am working for a multinational company in London and I know that Glossomatheia experience played a key role for my progress. YES, I PASSED THE PROFICIENCY!

Harris Kampouris

My experience in Glossomatheia?

Studying and learning foreign languages in a liberal environment that lets you explore and develop your own interests, while providing enjoyable methods of teaching!

Andreas Alexiou

Glossomatheia was the best school. I not only learned to speak two languages, but it also helped me become an open-minded person, with love, tolerance and desire to become better. I hope my kids have the same privilege when they go to school.

Spiros Chavlis

I enrolled in "Glossomatheia" to learn foreign languages, however I ended up gaining more than I have imagined. Different way of teaching & learning, equality, freedom, creativity... are among the values that "Glossomatheia" entails...

Nikos Koukelis

Having started lessons in Glossomatheia since I was 8 years old, I must say that studying there has been a totally exciting experience! All teachers have high-level teaching skills and knowledge and they know exactly what a student needs to succeed. But the best point for me is that the teachers and the staff in general are incredibly friendly with no strict and old methods of teaching but with inspiring and motivating ones! Still now my good friend and best teacher ever, Mary Davou helps me in my important steps of my life after graduating from my university and she stands by my side as the perfect advisor. She is so helpful in everything that even 17 years after, I recommend Glossomatheia for 2 reasons: knowledge and fun! Try it, it’s really worth it! Totally a very nice experience!

Χάρης Πολυμίλης

What I learned in Glossomatheia?

It's easier to serve your "musts" when you put some of your "wants" inside them

Vasso Lazoglou

“I MUST go to school today‘’

That’s a sentence I never used as a student at Glossomatheia. It didn’t feel like an obligation. This school taught me that education can be fun and it’s only after that that your journey to knowledge can begin.

Sofia Nefeli Spilioti

Apart from my Proficiency Degrees in English and French, If I had to say a few words about what I learnt at Glossomatheia, these would be: Love for Knowledge, Life, Passion, Be inspirational, Respect and Love for people, work with the procedure of brainstorming, enjoying , having wonderful conversations with my teacher and definitely learn how to develop a strong will to be a better person!!
Thank you for all the amazing moments we shared together and for the unforgettable homemade chocolate and apple cakes that always accompanied our lessons ?

Vasilis Sjögren Tzanetopoulos

What makes Glossomatheia so unique in its way is the encouragement of critical thinking. You don’t just get to learn another language; that is only but a tool at your disposal. The essential part is that you understand its importance. The significance of communication. To share ideas and values through dialogue. That is what I learned in Glossomatheia during our long talks with classmates and teachers. I learned to communicate, to coexist.

Theodosios E. Moschopoulos

English, German, French: 3 languages Glossomatheia helped me master with ease and integrity. Moreover, through its unique learning process it helped me master the "language" of my own self and that is something one appreciates for a lifetime

26 June 2020