Shaping the Way We Teach English

This is a video-based training program made for English teachers in the US. All materials are free of charge and time-convenient (no longer than 15 minutes each). The training is divided into 14 parts, or modules, all with videos and viewing guides. The topics covered in its modules are the (same old) ones we currently discuss in teachers's training and refreshment courses: Integrating Skills, Critical & Creative Thinking Skills, Authentic Materials and so on; but they are worth watching due its very high professional-quality videos.

Click here to see Shaping the Way We Teach English.

Webinars

Webinars are a new trend in teacher development and can be also applied in learner development. It is basically a webbased conference that can be tranferred over the internet.

The video can be done in a basic software (any with a webcam) then uploaded on Youtube and its link can be shared through e-mails or blogs: super easy and catchy.

Interested in  learning how to do your own webnimar? Go to the website of British Council and watch some of the great stuff they have got over there.

Grammar Power Point Presentations

In spite of many researchers have published since the beginning of the Communicative Approach, some students just can't put grammar-focused classes aside. In order to make those classes more interesting (at least, for the eyes), try using Power Point Presentations. 

PPT's aren't exactly what we would call a "fresh idea", however they still work their magic in the classroom. Also, you can find many good ready-to-use PPT's available on-line (very little work to be done...). Enjoy!

 http://www.authorstream.com/

M-Learning

When computer technology meets e-learning, we've got M-learning or Mobile-learning. M-learning is the latest high-tech solution that helps students practice anytime / anywhere. M-learning enables students to have learning tools transfered into their smart phones, MP3 players, tablets and IPods.. There are many language dictionaries that already use this technology and they can be accessed from a cell phone or tablet. Also, there are many podcasts (i-Tunes...), e-workbooks, grammar exercises and e-books available on-line. Students can also use their devices to record whatever they think is interesting for later studies. Mobile technology supports the learning process we are all looking for nowadays: a collaborative, accessible, interactive and dynamic one. 

Distance Learning: Anytime, Anywhere

Earlier this month, I was in Equatorial Guinea, in Middle Africa, working on a distance learning project. The students work and live in Africa and the classes are taught from Brazil. This is a very innovative language project which is 100% webbased and uses on-line plataforms for interface between teachers and students.

Crazy English

Li Yang, a language teacher in crowded China, has come up with an original approach: Crazy English. What can be seen by some as some kind of witchcraft, as students kind of get into a trance and shout in English as loud and as long as they can,  is actually an approach based on repetition and recitation (does it ring any bells?). Students are supposed to go up to rooftops and places like that and shout at the top of their lungs words and chunks in English. Yang has been called “China’s Elvis of English” because of his success among the youth. A teacher can never be blamed for trying crazy things to get students 100% involved in the learning process. Who dares take him on?

“Conquer English to Make China Stronger!” 

What Students Can Learn From Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is good at many things, for sure. But as for students of English, he is very, very good at one specific skill: Public Speaking.  Jobs has aced all presentations he's ever made. He has just the right intonation, rhythm and makes the best choice of words that make the audience go nuts.

If your students don't exactly have Jobs' talent for Public Speaking, making a presentation in English can be a problem, for sure. If you are teaching Business English or preping your pupils for oral exams, there are some websites that provide excellent vocabulary exercises that can help with Public Speaking Skills:

Effective Public Speaking Skills offers free vocabulary lessons that will work magic as homework assignments as it each exercise has a different focus (how to start up, ask for clarifications, etc) and it gives instant feedback. They are all web-based and don't require any kind of subscription.

SlideShare has many ready-to-use powerpoint presentations on how to make presentations, including short ones with hot tips. Those can be quite useful warm-ups or a follow-up for a discussion on the topic.

Finally, on YouTube there are many videos of memorable presentations that can be used in many possible ways for classroom purposes, such as illustrating a topic or as a listening activity. Steve Jobs and Barack Obama always give great and enthusiastic speeches, but there are others who are not as famous as them that are also worth planning a class on.