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Using AI to Create Custom Listening Materials

All teachers are materials writers. We all make worksheets, think up activities, select texts, and create writing assignments. There is, however, one type of material that is extremely challenging for us to make ourselves. Audio.  Matching the quality of audio from coursebooks is extremely difficult. Coursebook recordings usually include a… All categories, AI

How to Support SEN – Understanding Sensory Needs

In our ‘Inclusive Teaching for Learners with SEN’ series, we’ve explored communication needs, cognition and learning, and now we’re looking at sensory needs. These are invisible struggles that shape how children experience your classroom every single day. Understanding them is the key to creating spaces where all learners can succeed. … All categories, Learners with SEN, Inclusive Teaching

How to Support SEN – Cognition and Learning Differences

You’ve noticed a learner struggling to keep up, but you’re not sure why. Is it the pace? Is it the way you’re teaching? Is it something else entirely? In our ‘Inclusive Teaching for Learners with SEN’ series, we’re exploring how to build truly inclusive classrooms. This post focuses on cognition and learning needs – how to spot them, understand… All categories, Inclusive Teaching, Learners with SEN

How to Support SEN – Communication and Interaction Needs

In our ‘Inclusive Teaching for Learners with SEN’ series, we’re exploring how to build truly inclusive classrooms, and more importantly, how to spot what learners actually need and give it to them.  This post focuses on communication and interaction needs, how to identify learners who may need support, and the practical strategies that work… All categories, Learners with SEN, Inclusive Teaching

Identifying and Supporting SEN in the Classroom

In our ‘Inclusive Teaching for Learners with SEN’ series, we are exploring how to support our diverse communities of learners, how to build an inclusive classroom, and how to identify potential needs. Most importantly, we are equipping ourselves with practical and tangible strategies to cater for those needs.   This second post will look at… All categories, Learners with SEN, Inclusive Teaching

AI-Generated Songs and Music in the English Classroom

A few weeks ago, I saw a strange news story on the BBC about an artist called Sienna Rose who was doing extremely well on Spotify. Her songs had thousands of streams and were getting a lot of attention online, but fans started to notice something odd – there were no live performances, no music videos, and only a few photos. Eventually, people… All categories, AI, Drama, Young Learners

Introduction to Inclusive Education for Learners with SEN

In our ‘Inclusive Teaching for Learners with SEN’ series, we will be exploring how to support our diverse communities of learners, how to build an inclusive classroom, and how to identify potential needs. Most importantly, we will be equipping ourselves with practical and tangible strategies to cater for those needs.   This first post will… All categories, Inclusive Teaching, Learners with SEN

How to use AI to Generate Student Feedback

In 2022, Education Week published an article about how teachers spend their time. They listed over a dozen activities done by teachers on a weekly basis. The number one most time-consuming task? Giving students written feedback. What’s more, the authors noted how teachers spend their time fuels the ever-falling job satisfaction in the profession.… Teaching skills, All categories

Giving Children Control Over Your Lessons

Think for a moment about how much control you have over your life. You decide who you socialize with, who you marry, where you work, what clothes you wear, how much TV you watch and where you live. Now think about how it feels when you lose control over a part of your life. Losing your job might make you feel angry. If you couldn’t leave your… All categories

12 'Get to know you' activities for ESL students

David Ausubel (1968) wrote that “the most important single factor influencing learning is what the learner already knows. Ascertain this and teach them accordingly.” But how can English language teachers learn what their students already know about English? And how can teachers learn what students already know about the world? In this blog post we… All categories

PPP Vs ESA: Staging Models for TEFL Teachers

One of the most confusing points for new teachers undertaking initial teacher training courses are the similarities and differences between staging models. In particular, the difference between Donn Byrne’s Present, Practice, Produce (PPP) and Jeremy Harmer’s Engage, Study, Activate (ESA) is something I have often found myself answering questions… All categories

Asking effective questions in your ESL classes

In this blog, we cover best practices for TESOL teachers to choose the right questions to ask in your ESL classes. Different questions have different qualities. These qualities influence student participation and involvement. Questions can be either:  Open or closed. Open questions have many possible answers. Closed answers have a limited… All categories, Teaching skills, How to...