Winner of the Gatehouse Books Prize 2010

The winner of the Gatehouse Books Prize 2010 is Victoria Lavrinovic, a trainee teacher at Edge Hill University. 

"Whilst on teaching placement, Victoria has taught ESOL for Manchester Adult Education Service. In this role she has taught a wide range of ethnically diverse learners, which include asylum seekers. In her pedagogy she has moved from a deficit model whereby learners are deemed as lacking and instead embraced a socially situated model. This has facilitated learners' histories and everyday practices being effectively embedded into the lesson and importantly celebrated. So, for example in teaching language skills, the learners looked at literacy skills they wanted to develop in their lives and this was linked with the content of the lesson. Shopping skills, writing letters, filling in application forms, going to the doctors and dentists, contacting emergency services - all these everyday skills were developed. This move from an instrumental model was a real success. The learners really enjoyed the lessons because it not only developed their skills but also helped them to engage in their community in ways they previously found difficult. For instance they felt more confident talking to their child's classroom teacher, shopping and using the telephone to contact emergency services. Their success and progress was celebrated. Victoria held great respect for the group and provided a holistic, student centred approach which promoted learners to reach their potential. The success and achievement was 100%."