Go over what we cover in our online workshops in your own time.
James had to do what many of you have needed to do, adapt to a new situation, with little knowledge, and fast.
What James realised quickly, as an experienced English teacher, was that teaching is teaching, regardless of the tools and technology. In his diaries, he shares his experience as he transitioned from being an "old-school" teacher, about to freak out, to a becoming a teacher confidently working online.
Then Emma challenged him to join her in presenting the workshops for other English language teachers. These are the results.
Into your inbox...
FREE PREVIEWThe Teacher in Lock-down Diaries Part 1: Covid-19 The Day Everything Turned Upside-down.
The Teacher in Lock-down Diaries Part 2: From No Internet at Home to First Steps in Preparation.
The Teacher in Lock-down Diaries Part 3: Hello World!
The Teacher in Lock-down Diaries Part 4: First Classes Online and First Hiccups.
The Teacher in Lock-down Diaries Part 5: Some Silver Lining to Teaching English from Home Under Lockdown.
English Teacher in Lock-Down Diaries Part 6: First Feedback, Gaining Confidence and Thoughts on Applying Teaching Practice to an Online Context
Copy of Teaching English Lessons Online: How to set up an online classroom
April 1, 2020: Introductory webinar on online teaching
April 11, 2020: Workshop 1: Giving instructions in our online classes
April 20, 2020: Workshop 2: Activities to Try in the Online Classroom - Part I
April 20, 2020: Workshop 2: Activities to Try in the Online Classroom - Part II
Calendar of Scheduled Online Workshops.
How to register for the next workshop
Reflect
Giving Instructions I
Giving Instructions II
Further notes on giving instructions online
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the screen sharing buttons
The video is jumpy, no one can watch it when I play it.
Set up tips: Using two screens
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the screen sharing buttons
The mute tool is essential but quite difficult to manage
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the screen sharing buttons
Some parents and siblings are milling around in the background, it can be distracting.
I'm just following the coursebook
Getting Ss to stand up and move around can be quite difficult
I'm sitting down giving a lot of lessons in a row..ouch my back!
A lot of students aren't "turning up" to class.
It isn't clear when students have finished an exercise.
It isn't clear when students have finished an exercise.
Eek! My audio doesn’t work on videos!
Resources
Children: Online Class Demo: Nancy Taylor from VIPKids shows us what teaching kids online looks and sounds like.
Children: Young Learner expert David Valente's tips for avoiding "Edutainment" while keeping it fun online.
Children: Activities to do with young learners online
Lesson Planning: Ceri Jone's Advice on Structuring Online Lessons Part 1
Lesson Planning: Ceri Jone's Advice on Structuring Online Lessons Part 2
Pronunciation: Active Language: Integrating Phonology into Online Learning
Testing: Using Google Forms and Microsoft Forms for Quizzes
Testing: Donald Clark's Tips for Designing Tests. Not a read for the faint-hearted.
Tools: Setting up with Zoom
Tools: Zoom's Tips for Managing Break Out Rooms
Tools: A Beginner's Guide to Using Edmodo for Your Classroom
We look at best approaches for teaching English online and coaching students. We cover set up, tools, materials aproaches and technical tips.
You're considering English language teaching, or are about to apply for a course. Be prepared: learn about key ideas, teaching methods and concepts. Refresh your grammar and increase your language awareness. 6 courses + bonus material. (17 + hours)
On the ground, in the English language classroom
Emma’s specialism is looking at creative solutions to classroom practice and learning, working with all age groups. She has a background in museum and visual arts education and English language teaching, as well as communications, marketing, video, audio, design and coding. She has also worked in teacher management working with the business side of running language schools and working with agents. She is a visual artist with an active, recognised career spanning 20 + years (emmapratt.com). She is also a parent and company director.
In learning, her area of interest is in artmaking as a physical, intellectual and emotional response to the world. She investigates ways in which it can be used in English language contexts to engage children’s brains, challenge their visual schema and give voice to non-verbal forms of communication. She has contributed to publications and blogs on this subject.
Emma has given workshops at IATEFL and The Image Conference on drawing in the classroom as well as being the 2018 Artist in Residence at IATEFL. She is interested in the role of illustration in storytelling and how to exploit that in the classroom. Emma has been involved in an artists in schools programme and in artist residency projects where she has looked at storytelling. Online, she has given drawing and language workshops for children.
Emma has been designing online learning courses since 2013 and was, with Jamie King, a finalist in the ELTons 2014 for Innovation in Teaching Resources.
Qualifications
