Category Archives: Uncategorized

PH Vienna

Slides are available below in pdf format.

Teaching Teenagers- Challenge Accepted
In the first part of the seminar we will consider some of the developmental factors which characterise teenage learners and explore strategies and techniques which can be used in order to establish rapport with groups of teenage students. We will also examine the importance of establishing a relevant classroom roles in order for a healthy classroom dynamic to emerge, together with a sustainable motivation to learn.
In the second part of the seminar we will focus on teenage topics, and question some of the received wisdom regarding which topics work best with teenage learners. We will look at practical ways of developing relevant and effective materials based on selected topics, based on the principles of flexibility and authenticity.
The seminar will feature several ideas from ETpedia Teenagers by Edmund Dudley (Pavilion Publishing)

Fischer International Conference, Bucharest

Slides from my plenary talk and workshop are available below in pdf format.

Plenary talk:
My four C’s
‘Twenty-first century skills’ is a broad term encompassing life skills, literacy skills and learning skills. As teachers, we are most concerned (but not exclusively concerned) with the third aspect: learning skills. You have probably already heard of the so-called Four Cs – communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity – and are probably interested in finding out ways to kindle them in your students. This talk is not going to focus on those Four Cs. Instead, I would like to consider the role of the teacher in all this. What skills and qualities do we need to bring to the classroom? To help discover some of the answers to this question, I’ll be sharing my own ‘Four Cs’ for effective teaching in a twenty-first century context.

Workshop:
Handling materials in the mixed-ability classroom
How can we best differentiate materials and language-learning activities? How can collaborative- and co-operative learning methods help students get the best out of their coursebook in the mixed-ability classroom? In this workshop I will be looking at these questions and more.

VUS TESOL Conference 2018, Vietnam

Slides of my talk are available here in pdf format.

Working hard or hardly working? How attitudes and life-skills can affect language learning

English Language Teaching is increasingly looking beyond language. Recent global trends, such as 21st Century Skills and Mindsets for learning reflect the importance now being given to the role of non-linguistic skills and attitudes. What is being said specifically? The first part of the talk provides an overview. The next thing to consider will be the local context. The trends mentioned above originate in the USA; how directly relevant are their findings for teachers and students in Vietnam? The second part of the talk will address this question, and will seek to find an optimized, ‘glocalized’ approach with the strengths of local culture and educational traditions at its heart. The final part of the talk will focus on the implications for our teaching, specifically with regard to classroom management and task design. I will share a number of practical techniques ideas and which can be tried out in the classroom by teachers looking to bring the best out of their students.

Oxford Days, Vietnam

Slides from my session are available here in pdf format.

Close your books
What’s the best way to get the most out of your coursebook? Remember to close it from time to time! In this talk I will share a variety of five-minute activities which can be used to increase motivation, provide much-needed variety, and promote reflection and awareness – all without using the book.