Concept Checking Questions

Concept Checking Questions

Concept checking questions can prove elusive and they are a little challenging to start with.  It does take a bit of getting used to and some preparation but with some practice they can be achievable.  We use them mainly for language lessons and prove key for grammar and vocabulary based teaching.  ...

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Did you rest?

Did you rest?

Hello there and welcome to 2025

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End of year review!

End of year review!

I am very seriously thinking of hibernating!!  These colder and very much darker months do not really suit me at all!  However, I've been busy online creating designs and my lunch breaks are dog walks so I have been keeping out of mischief and getting some daylight at least!   

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Learning tips for Canva - similar to kite flying!

Learning tips for Canva - similar to kite flying!

Always read the instructions first. Well this is true of Canva and in my Canva for ELT Professionals course I can also support you with learning more general aspects of the platform.  It takes time to learn something new and we need to dedicate the time for this if we are teaching ourselves the ...

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Lesson planning ideas

Lesson planning ideas

You may be a newly qualified ELT teacher or someone who has been teaching for a while. We often ask ourselves where to start when planning a lesson from scratch, what ideas to gather together to make it as effective as possible. Some organisations have ready made curriculums to follow or use ...

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Looking in the mirror #1

Looking in the mirror #1

Teacher reflective practice is encouraged and quoted in most articles, journals and on courses but it may be an aspect that is sometimes challenging to manage or complete - especially if it is new to the teacher.  We know the importance of reflecting on our teaching and lessons we deliver, but the ...

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Looking in the mirror  #2

Looking in the mirror #2

In my Part 1 blog post we defined teacher reflection. My new blog post continues with this them by listing some ideas for how ELT teachers can reflect.

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Teacher talk

Teacher talk

I wanted to explore this theme a bit more after focusing on it more in a recent trainer training course.  It was a great reminder about it because it is something we all do from our very first lesson!

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Using authentic materials in ELT class

Using authentic materials in ELT class

Using authentic material is incredibly rewarding and stimulating for both teacher and students, says Sam Shepherd in his article and I would argue it is good practice for us to perhaps avoid over use of coursebooks, forget how to plan in detail or allow our lessons to lack the personal touch for ...

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Volunteering benefits organisations and the volunteer

Volunteering benefits organisations and the volunteer

I am now volunteering for three different organisations and I must say it is incredibly rewarding and definitely feeds the soul. 

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Want to be a freelance ELT teacher?

Want to be a freelance ELT teacher?

If you have completed your training, passed assignments and received your certificates, what are your plans for your next steps?  You could apply to jobs and join an organisation or you could freelance from right this minute!  Here's the top 5 things to do first.

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My Canva Journey

My Canva Journey

I was introduced to Canva in summer 2019 when I supported American students on their student abroad package here in Scotland. It was particularly useful to make event posters and schedules with engaging event visuals and Scottish pictures plus they were easy to make and share or collaborate with ...

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