Introduction to the method

Definition of CTN

CTN - Conversations Tailored to your Needs is a method based on rhetorical questions according to maieutics (used by Socrates to reveal the knowledge of his pupils) and helps communicating to students at beginner levels a concept they know of already in their native language.
At more advanced levels, it is reminiscent of the teacher playing Sherlock Holmes or of a journalist suggesting more or less controversial interpretations in order to obtain an anticipated reaction from their interlocutor.
'Conversations Tailored to your Needs' is similar to many other methods, firstly in the use of questions (e.g. concept checking questions - aka CCQ in CELTA), and thus is complementary to more traditional ones. What happens to these questions later (thanks to the use of SCB) is the strength of our offer.

SCB - Stimulating Conversation Book is a set of customised templates where layout emphasises instant visual access to information necessary for both teachers and students (wide margins on both sides for jotting down notes, numbering of sentences, 1 page = approx.1 teaching hour, etc).
The suffix of an SCB refers to its contents and level, e.g. SCB/S2 stands for Stanag level 2 (Standardised NATO agreements on language skills), SCB/CE5 - Conversational English at upper intermediate level.
Each SCB is therefore the result of a teacher's preparation for individual needs at fairly advanced levels with articles from the press, or, more usually, the written record of conversations with students during the lessons thanks to the use of a laptop.

Presentation Techniques under the Eye of the Camera follows up linguistic & communication skills praised by the CTN & SCB formula; the 15-hr long course helps identifying misleading signals & linguistic lacks and encourages positive communication habits.
Focus is placed on a more efficient use of the language, and not necessarily on some direct improvement of it; better communication is achieved thanks to various narrative styles that demonstrate communication skills may be enhanced without an advanced understanding of the language.
Assessment of a candidate's needs become corporeal by the analysis of his/her presentation on video, while progress & anticipated professional constraints are evidenced by the analysis of a second presentation on video.

A prime element of CTN lessons is the pertinent use of available human resources; SCB is a set of templates which allows users, whether specialists of public tenders, insurance packages, or teachers keen on music and cinema, to share their knowledge to the benefit of all in a reusable manner.
The SCB format allows the use of virtually any company brochure, leaflet or promotional material by breaking down the contents and using synonyms adapted to the levels of students. In short, even a pre-intermediate, English-speaking employer can learn how to describe his company fairly accurately.
Generally speaking, CTN is a method resulting in the tangible output of an SCB (public institution or company-oriented hardcopy of conversation lessons) complementing conventional course books.
The tourism & language project Be My Guest was initially designed for EU Leonardo funding; it illustrates some potential implementations of CTN and SCB to satisfy little viable language market niches on an international scale.
CTN - and more particularly PTEC prepares for briefings, business presentations, lectures, and Public Relations-oriented tasks. Taking for granted that learning English, for example, is to communicate with people of a different background, experience shows that the language is actually less important than the ability to paragraph thoughts.