TeachingEnglish newsletter 18 March 2020

TeachingEnglish newsletter 18 March 2020 Welcome to the latest edition of the TeachingEnglish newsletter! The British Council is committed to supporting the use of technology for the continuation of education in a crisis, so this week we bring you news of a series of webinars related to teaching online. We also include a blog post on using digital tools to promote learning outside the classroom. We also have three lesson plans that could be adapted and used via online teaching, and a publication of case studies on the theme of special needs. We hope you find these resources useful. The TeachingEnglish team Teaching online – using your coursebook and ideas for breakout rooms The British Council is committed to supporting the use of technology for the continuation of education in a crisis. This is the first in a series of three webinars which offers guidance in key areas. This webinar focuses on ways of using your coursebook with online classes and ideas for using breakout rooms. Each presentation will last for approximately 20 minutes, followed by an extended Q&A clinic. Join us on 20 March 2020 at 15.00 UK time. Family and friends In this primary lesson, children practise language for family and friends, with online games, a song and a story. They speak in pairs, make posters and write about their family or friends. Why not extend the lesson to focus on the children's mothers to mark Mothering Sunday on 22 March? Read more. YouTubing on the road This lesson plan for teenagers at CEF level B1 and above looks at the theme of vlogging and travel. In this integrated skills lesson, students will have the chance to watch an interview with Trent and Allie, two successful YouTubers who have been travelling through Latin America in a camper van for two years. The two film their travel experiences and post their vlogs on YouTube. They make enough money to live from this. Read more. Creating an inclusive learning experience for English language learners with specific needs This collection of case studies aims to share some experiences in promoting positive attitudes and thinking around specific needs. It also aims to describe teaching and classroom management strategies to create an inclusive learning environment and positive experience for English language learners with specific needs. Read more. Using digital tools to help promote learning outside the classroom The question of whether Skype, Zoom and other platforms are equal to or at least as good as real live face-to-face sessions is fast becoming purely academic. Many teachers now use distance learning on a daily basis. Read this blog post for lots of ideas on how you can maintain contact with learners and promote learning outside the classroom. Read more. The life cycle of a flowering plant In this primary lesson, learners watch a short video about the life cycle of a flowering plant and complete an accompanying worksheet. They label a diagram, then draw and colour their own flower to complete the worksheet. After watching the video and completing the worksheet, extend the topic using activities from the LearnEnglish Kids website. Read more. ‌ British Council teacher community on Facebook Join the British Council teacher community on Facebook to share ideas, resources and learning opportunities. ‌ Visit our website STAY CONNECTED ‌ ‌

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TeachingEnglish newsletter 04 March 2020

TeachingEnglish newsletter 04 March 2020 Welcome to this special edition of the TeachingEnglish newsletter! In addition to two special lesson plans to mark the first day of spring and International Women's Day, news of our new blog topics and format, and lessons to mark St Patrick's Day, we also feature resources of particular relevance to the Middle East and North Africa. And if you are interested in becoming part of a teacher network in this region, you can find a list of associations and networks here. We hope you find these resources useful. The TeachingEnglish team Blog topics March 2020 – a new format! After a short break from the blog, during which time the TeachingEnglish website has been updated, we are back with a new format and a new list of topics. Until recently, there were four topics available every two months. From April 2020, there will be three topics every three months, which will focus on an aspect of classroom practice and teacher development. The topics for the next few months are: Feedback, Quiet students, Inclusive learning, and Motivating teachers (teacher educator topic). Read more. How language affects refugees' abilities to access education, training and employment In 2016, as part of the response to the Syrian refugee crisis, the British Council commissioned research on the role of language in enhancing the resilience of Syrian refugees and host communities. As an insight into this research, five blog pieces were produced and published. This first piece, by Chris Sowton, focuses on the importance of language in schools, training centres and workplaces in refugee communities, and discusses how important this is, especially given that so often these find themselves economically, socially and politically marginalised. Links to other pieces can also be found on this page.  Signs of spring Celebrate the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere on 20 March with this lesson for primary learners. Children identify the objects on their worksheet together and then go outside or look at pictures inside the classroom to see what they can find. As spring progresses, more and more of the animals on the worksheet appear, so your students may enjoy doing the activity at the beginning, middle and end of the season. Perspectives on English in the Middle East and North Africa This is a collection of papers written by both UK and Arabic academics on the theme of how the growing knowledge and use of English is affecting the region. The researchers have tackled a broad range of topics: interfaith dialogue, the influence of English on individuals’ life chances, social inclusion and English in the workplace. You can download this book as a PDF file here. Unsung heroes This lesson for older teen learners and adults, devised for International Women’s Day on 8 March, will help to raise awareness of some not very famous, but nonetheless important, women. Students think of well-known people that they consider to be heroes. It is likely that many of these will be men, so the students then go on to learn about five remarkable women in a jigsaw reading activity. They discuss these women’s achievements, and learn some useful vocabulary for talking about social issues.   Intercultural learning These two articles deal with the topic of intercultural awareness and learning. The first sets out the methodological background to the topic and looks at what we understand by 'culture', communicative competence, the role of the teacher and when to introduce this. The second article offers practical suggestions for the classroom and looks at perspectives on communication and ways to develop intercultural communicative competence. St Patrick's Day St Patrick’s Day, 17 March, is now celebrated throughout the world, not just in Ireland, with the largest parade taking place in New York City. This festival is full of magical stones, Irish fairies, hidden treasure and lucky charms – everything's green, and there’s even a rainbow with secrets at the end of it. What more could you ask for in a fantasy-filled English primary lesson? In the lesson plan for teachers of teenagers and adults at upper intermediate level, learners read an article and talk about the customs and traditions of their own country's national day.  ‌ British Council teacher community on Facebook Join the British Council teacher community on Facebook to share ideas, resources and learning opportunities. ‌ Visit our website STAY CONNECTED ‌ ‌

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