NILE sends consultants and trainers all over the world to help with practical advice and training in the field of English language education. We have sent advisors and trainers to work with ministries of education, the British Council, universities and other institutions in over 30 countries.

Consultancies usually consist of an appropriate combination of research, needs analysis, proposal presentation, course or service delivery, evaluation, and follow up.

Research:

Providing the best possible advice and service depends on knowing of best practice in ELT around the world. The combined experience of the NILE consultancy team allows us to research the best possible practical solutions for each situation.

Needs Analysis

Finding solutions involves knowing what the real needs of the stakeholders are. As a consequence of the research we carry out, and our independence, we are able to take an objective view of the needs of all parties involved and deliver a sustainable ELT solution.

Proposal presentation

Before the implementation of any change, everybody involved needs to know how they will be affected. We pride ourselves both on the clarity of our proposed solutions and on our ability to communicate effectively with everyone involved in the changes.

Delivery

NILE has a reputation for quality of delivery. We can prepare and present sessions or courses for individuals or groups of any size, either in country or in the UK.

Evaluation

An important part of every consultancy is to look at how well it is working. We believe that it is important to consider how to measure success as part of the overall planning. So, evaluation is built in from the outset.

Follow Up

ELT solutions are rarely achievable through a single change event. Most involve a gradual process of change. At NILE we recognise this and we offer a follow-up service to complement the other parts of the package.

We regard complete involvement and agreement as being the best possible way of achieving results. We therefore see every part of the process as negotiable with those involved. We don’t offer solutions from outside. We talk to the people involved and work out the answers with them.

Two examples of cases we have dealt with recently:

The small language school: A school in Italy was on the verge of a big contract teaching specialist English in a local university. They needed a training course to convert their general English teachers into subject specialists, teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP). NILE talked about the needs, designed a short materials development and methodology course.

We delivered the course in Italy and also trained one of the local, senior members of staff to deliver the course in future. The school was able to demonstrate to the university that it had a team of trained certificated ESP teachers and got the contract. Because of the trainer training and NILE quality assurance, the school was also able to deliver the course itself in subsequent years with NILE certification.

The National Ministry:A North African ministry of education wanted to review the teaching of English in secondary schools. NILE was awarded the contract, reviewed the situation and presented a solution. This involved a far-reaching revision of the secondary ELT system, initially over three years, but later extending to six. It started with the examinations. Local staff were trained to write examinations designed to encourage more communicative learning and teaching. Then a second team studied the writing of materials and rewrote the national textbooks for all levels. Then NILE consultants delivered training seminars to large numbers of teachers on a regional basis.

The whole operation was a rich combination of discussion, in-country courses, UK residential courses and counterpart trainer training. As an example of how NILE believes in complete solutions, the teachers’ seminars were initially delivered by NILE consultants, but, as the consultancy progressed, more of this responsibility was taken by local staff working in tandem, until finally they felt comfortable in assuming complete responsibility.