The Teacher, an award-winning BBC Learning English series

The Teacher, a quirky online video series from BBC Learning English, has won an award for innovation from the English Speaking Union. An award ceremony is to be held at Buckingham Palace later this month. Jackie Dalton reports.

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The producer of the series Neil Edgeller says the Teacher character is based on a composite character of people he met while an English teacher himself.

The Teacher is aimed at upper-intermediate English learners, although is intended to be interesting and funny in its own right. There are nine videos available online now with another six to follow.

Prince Philip, President of the English Speaking Union, will present the award at Buckingham Palace later this month. The Teacher will attend, resulting in a special edition episode, ‘The Teacher Goes to Buckingham Palace’.

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innovation
the introduction of new ideas and ways of doing things

madcap
crazy and often funny

eye-catching
unusual or attractive in a way that makes you notice it

quirky
unusual in an interesting or funny way

memorable
enjoyable, worth remembering

composite character
person made up of a mixture of parts of

intended to be
meant to be

in its own right
on its own (in the case, for everyone - not just English learners)

resulting in
leading to

special edition episode
a unique programme in the series created to honour a special event

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