To the Editor
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Happy Teacher’s Day Anon
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Upcoming free webinars from Modern English Teacher Join us for free at the MET Spotlight Series
“It’s time to level up!” Chris Roland
At first, teaching teenagers can feel a little overwhelming. After an initial period, most teachers settle down and either adapt to an ‘I can survive this’ sort of state, discover they can get better in slow increments, or realise they have taken to teaching the age range quite well and embrace it. The questions we shall focus on in this interactive webinar are: How can we get better after that initial period of two, five or even ten years of teaching teens? What is advanced methodology for teens teaching, if even there such a thing? By the end of the session, participants will have a clear set of directions in which to take their own teens teaching should they choose to do so, or options to suggest to their teachers, if they occupy a supporting role such as co-ordinator, senior teacher, director of studies or school owner. Suitable for all language teachers of teenagers, including those who teach languages other than English, and all experience levels, including new teachers and seasoned veterans. Not able to join us on the day? If you are signed up, you will also receive the recording of the webinar! Are you missing out on a subscription to Modern English Teacher?
Written for teachers, by teachers, MET brings methodology, practical ideas and topical discussions to classrooms across the world. The aim is to support professional development, promote best practice, and encourage research and discussions. We have just launched a brand new website, which means now is the perfect time to see if a subscription to MET is right for you or your school! |
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Here's a weird question for you all that I'm interested in. When you have used a course book with - say - 12 units or 15 units etc, how many of you have managed to complete the last unit? I'm about to write a final unit in a course book and I was thinking to myself - I wonder if any class will reach this one? The obvious thinking with any course book is that it's better to offer more than people need, rather than too little. But I really like what I'm writing in the final unit and it would be a pity to think no one used it!!?? John Hughes Some answers can be found here |
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Marie Delaney Director at Taruma Responsive Education This might be of interest to some . My interview on Educational Psychotherapy and its applications in school
Marie Delaney https://shows.acast.com/62503b5a999830001460a748/episodes/635baa92bfec520012c706f5? |
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Interesting???? Shared by Grzegorz Spiewak dnoSserpot3a4aet:3tm28c1c 099u0l807 e40m Plmr12mi72Mi3abu 6 5e3227m4939D, · By mapping the meanings of the words used to communicate emotions across more than one-third of the planet’s spoken languages, a study in Science found that there is significant variation in how emotions are expressed across cultures. #ScienceMagArchives https://scim.ag/3ZJS6i6
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I tried out something else new this week- I did a sketching class! This was my first attempt. I realise it's a bit wonky, but I'm quite pleased with how it came out.
Before the class, I would have said that I definitely couldn't draw so I was amazed with how a few simple techniques and a patient teacher could get me a result way beyond my expectations. There's a lesson in there somewhere! OK- let's move along. What do I have for you this week? Something old A great speaking task I thought I'd start with a nice practical activity. This is:
Now you're interested, aren't you?! All of the instructions are in this short video. I hope you have fun with it. Something new A bit of a love song CELTA has its haters. People say it's too expensive or too stressful or too prescriptive. There are even CELTA tutors who argue about what's included in the course and what isn't or whether it's still fit for purpose. BUT … for a very short course (120 hours) my personal opinion is that it punches well above its weight in terms of the results it gets and the progress people make. So this week, my new video is basically a love song to CELTA. After 25 years of being a tutor, why I still believe in it…. Want to know why? Watch here! Something borrowed Two Freebies, discounts and free money I've got a couple of freebies for you today- and they're very different from each other. The first is very theoretical, the second completely practical…. My first heads up is time sensitive: it's free and downloadable but only until October 2nd (that's this Thursday). It's a book called Language Teacher Emotions by Song and Miller. It aims to give an overview of research on language teacher emotions as well as practices and reflective questions that might be useful in a teacher education context. It's not bedtime reading, I warn you, but if this is an area you're interested in, it's great to be able to access research without the paywalls. The second thing I have for you is much more 'take it to the classroom'. I think you're going to like it. It's a resource on creating your own chants from Jane Maria at Enriching English Language Teaching. I love chants (even for adults, done in the right way) and although Jane Maria's focus is on EAL learners, I can see this being applicable in a much wider context. You can watch her video on Making Irregular Verb Chants Memorable for EAL Learners and then make your own, with a handout to help you. This is usually sold for the price of a coffee but if you use the coupon code: nocoffee you can get it for FREE. Finally, don't forget, if you like my courses and want 10% off for your friends/ colleagues/ trainees and 10% cashback for you, check out my affiliate programme. Go to the website and click on 'Get Rewarded' in the bottom right hand corner. OK, that's it from me for today. Have a great week and I'll see you next Sunday, Best
PS. You can view all my resources for CELTA here and for teachers here. |
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There is a LOT to say about learning and motivation, but we often tend to forget that it all starts with learners feeling SAFE in the learning context. There is a LOT to say about learning and motivation, but we often tend to forget that it all starts with learners feeling SAFE in the learning context. No matter what age your learners are, motivation does NOT start with fun activities or a sense of agency. It start with US making them feel safe enough in their minds and bodies in the classroom context to be able to engage. Thanks Oxford University Press, for letting me share my thoughts on this important topic and thanks to all those teachers who attended! Anna Hasper Learning & Development Specialist
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Our commitment to research is at the heart of our assessments, enabling us to deliver fair and reliable tests that are trusted by teachers, learners and institutions worldwide. We collaborate on research with leaders in the English language assessment field, as well as commissioning independent research. Below you will find papers illustrating some of the key principles behind our tests, including how they are piloted, developed and updated. We will be adding to this over time so keep checking for updates! Our latest research
Aligning the Oxford Test of English to the CEFR (Speaking and Writing) NEW
Aligning the Oxford Test of English to the CEFR (Reading and Listening) NEW
Oxford Test of English Advanced Pilot Report NEW
Oxford Test of English marking criteria revision Forthcoming
The Oxford Placement Test: The Meaning of Oxford Placement Test Scores
"A sound assessment of general English language proficiency", Ecctis 2021. In their independent evaluation of the Oxford Test of English, Ecctis reports that the adaptive nature of the test ensures "a fair test of the candidate's competency". The Listening and Reading modules both use adaptive technology, meaning the questions adjust according to the test taker's responses – resulting in a shorter test and more precise results. Read the report summary to find out more! Explore Key Issues in Assessment Our Research colleagues regularly post articles on LinkedIn – reflecting on key language testing issues such as reliability, security, validity and the impact of technology. Catch up on the latest articles here:
Talks and webinars Our Research and Recognition teams regularly deliver presentations about key issues in Assessment and about our suite of tests. Catch up on the recordings here:
Externally published research Our Research colleagues also publish papers in academic journals and conference proceedings. Catch up on the latest publications: Meet the Oxford English Assessment Research team The Research team brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to the design and validation of our tests, ensuring that they measure reliably and accurately.
Colin Finnerty (MSc)
Dr. Nathaniel Owen (PhD)
Ananda Senel (MA)
Oliver Bigland (MA) Talk to us about recognizing the Oxford Test of English Our Recognition team are here to help you make an informed decision about recognizing the Oxford Test of English Become an Approved Test Centre We are always looking to expand our network of Approved Test Centres for the Oxford Test of English. Trial our test questions Interested in trialling our test questions with your students for free? Become a pretesting research partner
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