GECO Mission & Goals
The following statement, goals, and objectives are a revised version of the originals created by the GECO founders in 2012. A meeting with all GECO teachers was called to review the originals and revisions, and confirm their agreement.
GECO Mission Statement
The
mission of GECO is to empower participants through integration into the Spokane
community by means of developing and using culturally sensitive survival
skills, cultural competence, and improved English language abilities.
GECO Goals & Objectives
Awareness
- Students will be able to identify their strengths and
weaknesses and develop personal learning goals by:
- Identifying personal strengths and weaknesses about grammar,
reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Self-assessing through in-class activities and reflection in times of small talk.
Attitude
- Students will develop cultural sensitivity by:
- Sharing personal experiences about their culture through small talk and in-class activities.
- Students will develop a positive attitude toward learning
English by:
- Learning skills and knowledge that are useful to them.
- Having fun through educational games and competitions.
- Getting to know each other.
Skills
- Students will improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills for a
variety of practical purposes by:
- Practicing for social and work situations that the students
identify in their needs assessment.
- Reading, writing about, and discussing authentic texts
(newspapers, magazines, songs, etc.).
- Practicing impromptu conversations.
- Producing a variety of writing samples i.e. emails, texts,
taking messages, filling out job applications, medical forms, etc.
Teachers
- Throughout the course, teams will develop greater
understanding of student needs and make adjustments in order to ensure that
student needs are met by:
- Adjusting the pace of the class and their level of
involvement consistent with the needs of the students.
- Reviewing students’ work on an ongoing basis, adjusting
lessons as required by students’ needs, and clearly communicate discoveries
with colleagues.
- Throughout the course, teams will clearly communicate
with fellow teaching teams in order to ensure continuity of instruction for
students and GECO colleagues by:
- Tracking attendance daily.
- Submitting weekly reports that will be observed by fellow
GECO colleagues.
- Posting their week’s lesson, reflection, and class report on
GU SharePoint after each class.
- Holding weekly check-ins.