Stay up-to-date with ELT trends and ideas with articles from experts and teachers in the field.

Articles

<p>If you have ever taught or written an environmental-themed lesson, I salute you. I have taught many in my lifetime, but somehow there&#39;s always an <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/activity-to-boost-confidence-and-well-being" target="_self">inner troll</a> telling me:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>This is futile.</li>
	<li>No one cares.</li>
	<li>Students aren&rsquo;t interested.</li>
	<li>It won&#39;t change anything.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>My inner troll has taken a bit of a beating since I visited the <strong>Boiling River</strong>&nbsp;in Peru. As an author for NGL, I got lucky and managed to visit with National Geographic explorer Andr&eacute;s Ruzo. This is a guy who has devoted his life to discovering the mysteries of the river and protecting this unique place. If you&#39;re not familiar with him, check out his <a href="https://www.ted.com/speakers/andres_ruzo" target="_blank">TED talks</a> (or use them in class). I promise you&#39;ll be blown away.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Emily Bryson with Andres Ruzo at the Boiling River, Shanay Timpishka, Peru." src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4149/content_Ellii_Andres-boiling-river_Emily-Bryson.jpg" /></p>

<p class="caption">Emily Bryson with Andr&eacute;s Ruzo at the Boiling River, Shanay-Timpishka, Peru.</p>

<h2>The Boiling River</h2>

<p>So the Boiling River is indeed a river that boils! It can reach temperatures of 95 degrees Celsius! To get there, you need to first arrive in Pucallpa by bus or plane and then drive for three hours, mostly on gravel roads. It is a hidden wonder of the world that not many people know about or have seen. Personally, it is one of the most impressive places I have ever visited.</p>

<p><img alt="the boiling river signage" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4150/content_Ellii_boiling-river_Emily-Bryson.jpg" /></p>

<p>My first glimpse was both breathtaking and terrifying. Only a noticeboard with the temperature keeps danger away. One misplaced foot&nbsp;and I&#39;d have been boiled from the outside in, starting with my eyes, according to Andr&eacute;s! The wellness retreat we stayed at recommended sitting on the rocks less than a foot from the river to enjoy a natural steam bath. Oddly, even when I was sweating profusely in&nbsp;40-degree&nbsp;heat, the steam from the river was cleansing and refreshing.</p>

<h2>The climate crisis: Too close for comfort</h2>

<p>As we drove to the river, we noticed a lot of wildfires. We asked our driver to stop and took some photos and videos. It reminded my husband of photos of the aftermath of the Battle of the Somme in the First World War! Whole forests had been razed to ashy fields, mere tree stumps remaining. It was so hot that Andr&eacute;s&#39;s phone overheated and his sneakers&nbsp;melted.</p>

<p>That night, as we slept in our wooden tambo, I could smell the fires still burning. My mind raced as I expected to be evacuated at any point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thankfully, when we woke, all was quiet and the steam continued to rise from the crystal clear waters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="boiling river" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4151/content_Ellii_boiling-river2_Emily-Bryson.jpg" /></p>

<p class="caption">The aftermath of a forest fire just a few kilometers from the site of the Boiling River</p>

<p>Our visit continued with meetings with local people. The situation is complex and I had to remind myself that Scotland, as well as many other countries, chose to deforest many years ago to make boats and farmland. Of course the quick reward of cash is easier to desire than trees, even if trees give us clean air and reduce the risk of drought and floods.</p>

<p>The remaining lungs of the planet are vanishing rapidly. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/global-deforestation-rainforest-climate-goals-brazil-colombia-agriculture" target="_blank">The World Resources Institute reckons on 10 football fields to be lost every minute!</a> Given that Bolivia just lost 3 million hectares (5.6 trillion football fields) in September, I suspect this rate might now be quicker!</p>

<p>Locals want to make way for crops such as soy and palm oil. Illegal loggers want to cut down and sell the biggest, most carbon-absorbing trees. And land traffickers sell plots of land they don&#39;t own to anyone trusting enough not to check.</p>

<h2>A positive message</h2>

<p>It&#39;s hard not to get disillusioned and let the inner troll run riot. But something Andr&eacute;s said helps my <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/activity-to-boost-confidence-and-well-being" target="_self">inner angel</a> win.</p>

<p>Every time the Boiling River gets a mention in a book, blog, printable lesson plan, video, or social media post, it&#39;s one more piece of evidence to strengthen the conservation case to officials.</p>

<p>So dear ELTers, keep teaching conservation topics, especially about the Boiling River and other undiscovered beauties that need our protection. And if you ever write about the BR, send Andr&eacute;s a link. He&#39;ll want to know!</p>

<p>Keep on teaching, keep on writing, keep on spreading the word that our planet needs help if the human race wants to continue to thrive on it!&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Related</h2>

<p>There are 400+&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/collections/global-issues/the-environment" target="_self">environment-themed resources</a> on Ellii, including these&nbsp;wildfire-themed materials:</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4665-dealing-with-devastation-in-fire-ravaged-hawaii " target="_self">Dealing with Devastation in Fire-Ravaged Hawaii</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4671-trudeau-slams-facebook-for-blocking-canada-wildfire-news" target="_blank">Trudeau Slams Facebook for Blocking Wildfire Ne</a><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4671-trudeau-slams-facebook-for-blocking-canada-wildfire-news" target="_blank">ws in Canada</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/video/can-tourists-help-maui-s-economy-without-compounding-wildfire-trauma" target="_blank">Tourism in&nbsp;Maui after Wildfire</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4586-wildfires " target="_blank">Wildfires</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Here are some more related posts:</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/46-greening-the-elt-classroom-tips-teaching-ideas" target="_blank">Greening the ELT Classroom</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-what-why-and-how-of-sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank">The What, Why&nbsp;&amp; How of Sustainable Development Goals</a> &nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/one-in-a-million-plastic-litter-challenge" target="_blank">One in a Million: Plastic Litter Challenge</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/student-showcase-earth-day-projects" target="_blank">Student Showcase: Earth Day Projects</a> &nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/activity-to-boost-confidence-and-well-being" target="_blank">A Quick Activity to Boost Confidence &amp; Well-Being: Inner Troll Vs. Inner Angel</a></li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Have you heard of BR? Have you experienced a wildfire or noticed extreme climate change? Do you know any other special places that need their profile raised? What have you done to protect places like this? We&#39;d love to know.</p>
</blockquote>


Boiling Rivers & Burning Forests: Why Teaching Conservation Topics Is So Important

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Learn how to make the most of your Ellii subscription with tips from our publishing team.

Teaching with Ellii

<p>When I was an ESOL lecturer at City of Glasgow College, I delivered a lot of employability-themed and workplace English lessons. My learners were mostly from refugee backgrounds, wishing to get back into their profession or upskill to reap the economic benefits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In my previous post, I reflected on&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-importance-of-workplace-english" target="_parent">Why You Should Teach Workplace English</a>. In this post, I&rsquo;ll give some of my top tips on &quot;how.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Seek local (or online) partnerships</b></h2>

<p>Students want to learn workplace English in order to enhance their career opportunities. To do this, connecting them with people who can offer further support is extremely helpful. Local and online partners could provide services such as:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>inspiring workshops and webinars</li>
	<li>mentoring&nbsp;</li>
	<li>job application advice</li>
	<li>work placements</li>
	<li>volunteering</li>
	<li>workplace visits and site tours</li>
</ul>

<h2><b>Share inspiring stories&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p>Finding work in a language you are developing can be a challenge. Students can often get disheartened. To boost their confidence and motivation levels, share stories of people who have been in similar situations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can find these stories in newspapers, magazines, or blog posts. Alternatively, search through the content library at Ellii for a real-life reading, like this one on how <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2405-jack-ma " target="_parent">Jack Ma</a> became China&rsquo;s wealthiest person after creating Ali Baba or how <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4061-entrepreneurs-simple-past" target="_parent">Milton Hershey</a>&nbsp;opened a world-famous chocolate factory or how <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2212-hedy-lamarr" target="_parent">Hedy Lamarr</a> went from acting to paving the way for Wi-Fi technology.</p>

<p>Personally, I find the most motivating stories for learners come from their own peers. Have them share their own success stories in class&nbsp;or invite previous students back to class to share theirs.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Bring in realia</b></h2>

<p>When I was teaching ESOL for Social Care, learners had A LOT of technical vocabulary to learn. One of the most fun&nbsp;and realistic&nbsp;ways to get vocabulary to stick was by bringing in realia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Luckily for me, my parents hadn&rsquo;t retired at the time, so they brought me lots of cool stuff to use in class: colostomy bags, syringes, bandages, and bedpans. Students had a great time discussing these items as well as&nbsp;labeling them and doing role-plays with them!</p>

<p>Of course, it may not be practical or possible to bring real equipment to class. It&rsquo;s quite unlikely you&rsquo;ll be able to bring a dentist&rsquo;s LED light to class, for example!&nbsp;That&rsquo;s when you can rely on Ellii&rsquo;s vast <a href="https://ellii.com/media/flashcards" target="_parent">Media Gallery</a>, which now has almost 5,000 images and 150 workplace videos.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://ellii.com/video/led-light" target="_blank"><img alt="LED light silent clip" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4087/content_LED-light-video-Ellii-workplace-english.png" /></a><a href="https://ellii.com/media/flashcards/at-work-on-the-job?flashcard=9109&amp;query=LED%20light" target="_blank"><img alt="LED light flashcard" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4080/content_Screen_Shot_2024-11-04_at_4.17.25_PM.png" /></a></p>

<p>Check out Ellii&#39;s growing&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/media/flashcards/at-work-on-the-job" target="_parent"> At Work &amp; On the Job</a> flashcard category.</p>

<h2><b>Focus on the&nbsp;<i>English</i></b></h2>

<p>When teaching workplace English, remember that you are first and foremost teaching English. You are (probably) not a pharmacist, dentist, phlebotomist, custodian, emergency medical technician, or nursing assistant. It can be tricky to distance yourself from learning (or inadvertently teaching) the workplace topic. That&rsquo;s for your students to learn. You can give them the communication skills to succeed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To get around this, ask your learners frequently what they need and what interactions they have (or may have) had. You can also have them bring any tricky coursework to class to inform your lessons. Use these to put the vocabulary into practice using role-plays and real-life scenarios.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It can take a lot of time and preparation to create high-quality workplace English lessons. That&rsquo;s why Ellii has done the hard work for you with its new Career-Specific&nbsp;Pathway courses. The teachers and writers at Ellii are not phlebotomists or pharmacists, either! However, they hired real-life&nbsp;consultants to help build these courses for your students&#39; career exploration and to ensure the scenarios are realistic and relevant. You can teach these in class or set them as self-directed study.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Check them out here:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Career-Specific Pathway&nbsp;Courses</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/nursing-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Nursing Assistants</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/pharmacy-technicians/materials" target="_parent">English for Pharmacy Technicians</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/dental-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Dental Assistants</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-phlebotomists/materials" target="_parent">English for Phlebotomists</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-paraeducators/materials" target="_parent">English for Paraeducators</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-custodians/materials" target="_parent">English for Custodians</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-emergency-medical-technicians/materials" target="_parent">English for Emergency Medical Technicians</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-medical-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Medical Assistants</a></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

<p>Not ready for full courses?&nbsp;Ellii also has exploratory Career Pathways lessons that can be ideal to find out what your students are interested in.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Exploratory Career Pathways Lessons</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5018-working-as-a-nursing-assistant " target="_parent">Working as a Nursing Assistant</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5034-working-as-a-pharmacy-technician" target="_parent">Working as a Pharmacy Technician</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5030-working-as-a-dental-assistant " target="_parent">Working as a Dental Assistant</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5035-working-as-a-phlebotomist " target="_parent">Working as a Phlebotomist</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5016-working-as-a-custodian" target="_parent">Working as a Custodian</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5038-working-as-a-paraeducator " target="_parent">Working as a Paraeducator</a></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

<h2>Related</h2>

<p>For more on our <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/career-pathways-for-newcomers" target="_parent">Career-Specific&nbsp;Pathway&nbsp;courses</a>, check out this blog post from Tara Benwell and watch for an upcoming webinar!&nbsp;</p>

<p>You may also like this post on <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-importance-of-workplace-english" target="_parent">Why You Should Teacher Workplace English</a>.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Have you taught workplace English? What career-specific topics have you taught? What are your top tips? Do you have any employment success stories to share regarding your past ESOL students?&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>


How to Teach Workplace English

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<p>In this post, I outline some reasons why teaching workplace English is so important. (And why I&rsquo;m personally excited about Ellii&rsquo;s new <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?category=6&amp;page=1" target="_parent">Career-Specific Pathway&nbsp;courses</a>.)</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S2HAIBUNgKo?si=WOUi4VpVjRMOR39Y" width="640"></iframe></div>

<h2><b>1. Hope</b></h2>

<p>For many years, I taught workplace ESOL to new Scots. My learners were mostly people from <strong>refugee backgrounds</strong> who had made Scotland their home. Many of them were skilled professionals&mdash;doctors, nurses, business owners, and engineers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Imagine being forced to leave your country due to war, political unrest, or lack of safety.&nbsp;You find yourself in an unfamiliar place where you have to take a role below your skill level to survive. You&rsquo;ve devoted years of your life to your career, but your qualifications aren&rsquo;t accepted or have been destroyed. To add to that, your English language skills aren&rsquo;t proficient enough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Teaching workplace ESOL&nbsp;and providing learners access to self-study courses&nbsp;can give them hope. It can take years to learn English, but <strong>developing skills tailored to their chosen career path</strong> can help them get where they want to be much faster.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/nursing-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Nursing Assistants</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/pharmacy-technicians/materials" target="_parent">English for Pharmacy Technicians</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/dental-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Dental Assistants</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-phlebotomists/materials" target="_parent">English for Phlebotomists</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-paraeducators/materials" target="_parent">English for Paraeducators</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-custodians/materials" target="_parent">English for Custodians</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-emergency-medical-technicians/materials" target="_parent">English for Emergency Medical Technicians</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-medical-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Medical Assistants</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-home-health-aides/materials" target="_blank">English for Home Health Aides</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/soft-skills-for-hospitality-workers/materials">Soft Skills for Hospitality Workers</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-commercial-drivers/materials">English for Commercial Drivers</a></li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

<h2><b>2. Motivation</b></h2>

<p>One of the main reasons for learning another language is to enhance career opportunities. Having proficient language skills can increase confidence and open doors. If you ask your learners why they are learning English, <strong>employability</strong> will likely be one of their top reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As teachers, we are constantly looking for content that students can get excited about, and tailoring lessons to students&rsquo; needs can help do this.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>If a student is a <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/pharmacy-technicians/materials " target="_parent">pharmacy technician</a>&nbsp;or is (re)training to be one, what could be more motivating than a whole course specifically designed with their needs in mind?</p>

<h2><b>3. (Re)Training</b></h2>

<p>One of the biggest <strong>barriers</strong> my learners faced when finding employment in Scotland was their <strong>qualifications</strong>. In many cases, their certificates had perished in fires&nbsp;or been abandoned in haste. This left them <strong>without evidence </strong>of having completed their training.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another issue was that some <strong>qualifications</strong> had different <strong>equivalencies</strong> between countries. For example, four years at university in one country could be the equivalent to two levels below in another. This meant that many students had to re-train in order to practice. In some cases, this meant a conversion course while&nbsp;others had to start their training again from scratch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Training or re-training is not simple, especially in a new language. Teaching workplace English can support learners to prepare for training courses&nbsp;or support them while they complete their professional development.</p>

<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/976886639?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="English-for-Nursing-Assistants-Intro-V2"></iframe></div>
<script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>

<h2><b>4. Opening closed doors</b></h2>

<p>In order to be a teacher, lawyer, dentist, or other specialized trade, you need to speak the language of the country you are practicing in proficiently. Many of my learners were intermediate or below. This meant that the proverbial door was closed to them until their language skills were strong enough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Learning a language can take years. However, this can be fast-tracked by targeted learning and by focusing on the interactions, skills, and vocabulary that each individual learner needs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ellii&rsquo;s <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?category=6&amp;page=1" target="_parent">Career-Specific&nbsp;Pathway&nbsp;courses</a> help <strong>dental assistants, nursing assistants, pharmacy assistants, phlebotomists, medical assistants, paraeducators, </strong>and<strong> custodians</strong> communicate confidently in their chosen profession. And don&#39;t worry! Ellii has plans to help nudge the doors open for many other occupations in 2025.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>5. Client communication</b></h2>

<p>Many learners may already be working in their chosen profession. They might already have developed their language skills, gotten the qualifications they need, and started working in their chosen role. Yet, now that they are working, they feel the need to polish their work-specific communication skills.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A South African friend of mine is a surgeon. He speaks English proficiently, but when he moved to Scotland, he found that he couldn&rsquo;t understand his patients. Why? Because his patients are speaking Scots. My friend started taking notes of all the Scots terms he encountered and now uses them conversationally around other Scots speakers&nbsp;and with his patients. As with our learners, he needed to develop his workplace communication skills.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this lesson on <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4944-communication-during-a-blood-draw" target="_parent">Communication during a Blood Draw</a>&nbsp;from the <strong>English for Phlebotomists</strong> course, the student can read and listen to an example conversation during a blood draw. The phlebotomist describes the stages and what he is doing&nbsp;while&nbsp;distracting the patient by asking her to talk about her interests.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="English for phlebotomists" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4064/content_Screen_Shot_2024-10-30_at_2.27.58_PM.png" /></p>

<h2><b>6. Career inspiration</b></h2>

<p>Some learners may be exploring which career path they wish to take. Workplace English can be a great way for them to consider some aspects of the job roles that interest them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, maybe they want to be a dental assistant. Giving them access to the <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/dental-assistants/materials " target="_parent">English for Dental Assistants</a> course can not only polish their English skills, but also help them understand the role more deeply.</p>

<p><img alt="English for dental assistants" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4067/content_English-for-Dental-Assistants.png" /></p>

<blockquote>
<p>If your students aren&#39;t sure what jobs they might be interested in, you&nbsp;could even start with an <a href="https://app.ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/career-pathways" target="_parent">Ellii Poll</a> or lesson on <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/career-pathways" target="_parent">Career Pathways</a>&nbsp;before assigning a full course.</p>
</blockquote>

<h2><b>7. Switching roles: Being a better patient!</b></h2>

<p>Maybe your learners have other career interests or Ellii hasn&rsquo;t yet had a chance to create the perfect course for them. You can still use them with your learners!&nbsp;</p>

<p>If a student is going into hospital, you could do this lesson on <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4809-patient-admission " target="_parent">Patient Admission</a> from the <strong>English for Nursing Assistants</strong> course.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If a student is <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4892-filling-procedure " target="_parent">getting a filling</a>, try this lesson from the <strong>English for Dental Assistants</strong> course.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If a student needs to visit the pharmacy for medicine recommendations, you could use <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4938-over-the-counter-recommendations " target="_parent">this lesson</a> from <strong>English for Pharmacy Assistants</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When I first started teaching workplace English many years ago, there were limited resources. We had to create our own, so I was delighted to see that Eliii has created all these wonderful resources to make teachers and learners lives so much easier.&nbsp;I hope you enjoy them.&nbsp;For more ideas on how to teach <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/career-pathways-for-newcomers" target="_parent">Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;Career Pathways content</a>, check out these tips.</p>

<p>Watch for my follow-up post on <strong>How to Teach Workplace English</strong>&nbsp;as well as an upcoming webinar focusing on Ellii&#39;s content for&nbsp;<strong>Allied Health </strong>industry.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-57c41dd3-7fff-3929-616a-3dc8321f83ed">Have you taught workplace English? What have you taught? In what ways do you think it is important for learners? </b></p>
</blockquote>


Why You Should Teach Workplace English

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<p>There is no doubt that using photos, images, and illustrations in class is a powerful tool. They can help:</p>

<ul>
	<li>aid understanding</li>
	<li>boost memory</li>
	<li>ignite conversations</li>
	<li>motivate learners&nbsp;</li>
	<li>enhance accessibility</li>
	<li>stimulate critical thinking</li>
	<li>inspire creativity</li>
</ul>

<p>Here are some ways to use them to support English language learning.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>1. To teach vocabulary</h2>

<p>Images are particularly useful for teaching vocabulary, especially at lower levels. It can be challenging to explain the meaning of a word using simpler language than the target word&nbsp;itself. However, showing an image can bring immediate understanding.</p>

<p>For example, imagine trying to explain &quot;cheek retractors&quot; to a B1 student studying workplace English without using pictures or looking at each other! First, you&rsquo;d need to check that they understood the word &quot;cheek&quot;&nbsp;(the part of your face between your lips and ears), and then you&rsquo;d need to find a way to express &quot;retractor.&quot; Pretty tricky, right?</p>

<p>Or, you could just show them this photo from Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/dental-assistants/materials" target="_self">English for Dental Assistants</a> course!</p>

<p><img alt="cheek retractor" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4012/content_cheek-retractor-Ellii-visuals.png" /></p>

<p class="caption">&nbsp;Image of &quot;cheek retractors&quot; from the Ellii course Workplace: <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4900-teeth-whitening-treatment" target="_self">English for Dental Assistants: Teeth Whitening Treatment</a>.</p>

<p>You could also use this illustration from Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/media/flashcards/at-work-on-the-job/dental-assistants?flashcard=9713" target="_self">Dental Assistants</a> flashcard set.</p>
<p<img alt="cheek retractors" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4006/content_cheek-retractors_CT.png">
<p>Many of Ellii&#39;s lessons use flashcards and picture dictionaries to introduce vocabulary. Ellii has almost 5,000 flashcards and teachers can create sets to meet their students&rsquo; needs. Students can then use these to create their own picture dictionaries and vocabulary notes.</p>

<p>Here are some other <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/twelve-ellii-flashcards-for-reflection" target="_self">creative ways to use flashcards</a>.</p>

<h2>2. To introduce global topics</h2>

<p>While illustrations can be fun and educational, sometimes a photo is more appropriate and expressive, such as this photo entitled <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4546-fleeing-sudan" target="_self">Fleeing Sudan</a>&nbsp;from Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/resources/photo-prompts" target="_self">Photo Prompts</a> section.</p>

<p>Using just one image, students are prompted to describe the photo, make predictions, research the history of Sudan, and explore reasons for migration. In this case, a photo is essential to show the reality of the situation.</p>

<p><img alt="real photos from the news" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4007/content_Screen_Shot_2024-10-17_at_4.19.10_PM.png" /></p>

<p>This blog post has more ideas for you to get a three-hour lesson out of just one image:&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-one-image-can-develop-visual-literacy-and-critical-thinking" target="_self">What&#39;s the Story? How One Image Can Develop Visual Literacy &amp; Critical Thinking Skills</a></p>

<h2>3. To inspire storytelling</h2>

<p>Using storytelling in class is a brilliant way to incorporate all four communication skills. Students can:</p>

<ul>
	<li>listen to a story and take notes</li>
	<li>discuss the story</li>
	<li>write a summary of the story (or an alternative version)</li>
	<li>read other students&#39; stories</li>
</ul>

<p>Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/story-prompts" target="_self">Story Prompts</a> use images to inspire students&rsquo; storytelling skills. For example, in this Superhero story, students can describe the picture or use it to tell their own version of the story. Students can do this alone or in groups.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<img alt="Story Prompts at Ellii" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4008/content_Screen_Shot_2024-10-17_at_4.20.44_PM.png" /></p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/resources/language-scenes" target="_self">Language Scenes</a>&nbsp;like this one, &quot;At the Beach,&quot; can be used in a similar way:&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Language Scenes at Ellii" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4009/content_Screen_Shot_2024-10-17_at_4.20.54_PM.png" /></p>

<p>For more ideas on how to use images to tell stories, check out these blog posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/simply-storytelling-inspiring-english-learners-with-story-prompts" target="_self">Simply Storytelling: Inspiring English Learners with Story Prompts</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/wordless-lessons-project" target="_self">Wordless Lessons: An Innovation Project</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/create-your-own-adventure-teaching-english-the-wordless-way" target="_self">Create Your Own Adventure: Teaching English the Wordless Way!</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>4. To instigate conversation</h2>

<p>Sometimes the best way to get a conversation going is to stay silent. For example, show students this image from Ellii&#39;s silent video &quot;disagreeing,&quot; or play the full video. In this case, the authentic person showing their disagreement is perhaps more emotive than an animation might be.</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/video/disagreeing" target="_blank"><img alt="Silent Clips on Ellii" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4011/content_Ellii-video-screenshot-disagreement.png" /></a></p>

<p>Have students answer conversation starters, such as:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>How does she feel?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Why do you think she feels this way?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>What makes you respond in this way?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>When was the last time you disagreed with someone? Why?</li>
	<li>Make a list of five things you disagree with. Share them with a partner.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>For an added challenge, have students come up with their own questions, or ask them to write a dialogue between two people disagreeing about something.&nbsp;You can access Ellii&#39;s<a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/silent-clips" target="_self">&nbsp;silent clips</a> here. There are also Workplace vocabulary silent clips&nbsp;in this <a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/workplace" target="_blank">category</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For more ideas on using silent clips and moving images, check out these blog posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/4-ways-to-use-silent-video-clips" target="_self">4 Creative Ways to Use Silent Video Clips in English Class</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-use-videos-in-class" target="_self">4 Ways to Use Videos Effectively in Class</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>5. To boost creativity</h2>

<p>Photos and illustrations are wonderful receptive teaching tools. Having students produce their own can be equally, if not more, beneficial. This can help you check that students have understood, give an opportunity for peer learning, let them tell their own stories, and incorporate creativity into the classroom. Some students may not feel confident with drawing. In this case, remind them that drawings don&rsquo;t have to be artistic. The aim is to communicate a message, not to be Picasso! Every day scientists, architects, engineers, and teachers use simple doodles and diagrams to explain things, take notes, and help them to think. It is a useful skill for all ages.</p>

<p>Here are some ways to have students draw in the classroom:</p>

<ul>
	<li>play Pictionary</li>
	<li>draw their own flashcards or picture dictionaries</li>
	<li>take notes using simple sketches</li>
	<li>tell a story in comic style or replacing words with doodles</li>
	<li>create their own graphic organizers, using oversized doodles instead of tables</li>
	<li>use doodles in mind maps or diagrams</li>
	<li>copy the Ellii illustrations</li>
</ul>

<p>Here are some related posts on Ellii:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/sketchnoting-101-supercharged-professional-development-with-visual-notes" target="_self">Sketchnoting 101: Supercharge Professional Development with Visual Notes</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-simplify-complex-tasks-with-visual-prompts" target="_self">How to Simplify Complex Tasks with Visual Prompts</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/graphic-facilitation-101" target="_self">Graphic Facilitation 101: Teaching English through Visual Communication</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/graphic-organizers-for-language-skills-development" target="_self">Using Graphic Organizers for Language Skills Development</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-use-pictures-as-grammar-prompts" target="_self">How to Use Pictures as Grammar Prompts</a><br />
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>How do you use visuals in the classroom? Do you prefer photos, illustrations, or your own drawings? Share your experiences and ideas in the Comments below!&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
</p<img>

The Power of Visuals in the Classroom

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<p>Firstly, there is nothing &quot;passive&quot;&nbsp;about &quot;passive&nbsp;income.&quot; I want to start by debunking this myth.</p>

<p>There are many sponsored ads and influencers on social media that will try and convince you otherwise, but, in reality, even those people aren&rsquo;t sitting back and sipping cocktails as they wait for the money to roll in!&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reality is that so-called &quot;passive&nbsp;income&quot; streams are a lot of hard work. The ideas that I give in the rest of this post are the easy part! The difficult bit is marketing those products once you&rsquo;ve created them. And all the social media posts, video content, and emails take a lot of time and energy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Having said that, I know a lot of people who have done very well by creating content to sell online. So if you want to give it a go&nbsp;and are happy to invest the time and energy in marketing, it can be worth it.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>1. Write a book</h2>

<p>This is a dream for many and is a great way to share your skills and resources with the world. My first book was a collection of ESOL activities that I had created for my classes. Sharing the activities&nbsp;with the world meant that other teachers could use them and that they weren&rsquo;t hiding in a folder on my desktop.</p>

<p>In general, student&nbsp;books sell more copies than methodology books or photocopiable resources. That&rsquo;s because student&nbsp;books sell as a class set&mdash;so let&rsquo;s say 15&ndash;25 copies for each cohort. Methodology and photocopiable resource books tend to sell as one per staff room or school library. Methodology books also tend to be bought by individual teachers for a course they are taking. On completion of that course, the buyer will pass it on to a friend or sell it online.&nbsp;So, if you want to write a methodology book, you probably want it to become a core text in a popular TEFL training course.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>2. Publish on resource-sharing sites</h2>

<p>Digital materials are growing in popularity. Printable PDF resources (such as those on Ellii) have the benefit of offering minimal preparation. They are easy to search for by topic, and they provide flexibility in curriculum design. This means if your learners are interested in a certain subject or need extra practice with a language point, you can easily tailor lessons for them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Websites such as Teachers Pay Teachers and Eduki let teachers share their materials and earn some cash for each download. It can take time to set up your account, add freebie samples, and promote your lessons on socials, but some teachers do make a good income from this.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>3. Start a website</h2>

<p>Having your own website will help you raise your profile and share your skills with the world. This can help potential employers or students find you more easily. There are various ways to monetize your website.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>&nbsp;<strong>Advertisements:</strong>&nbsp;You can directly sell advertising&nbsp;space on your site or use ad networks, such as Google AdSense, that automatically post advertisements&nbsp;to your site. You&rsquo;ll earn money every time someone clicks on the ad. In order for this to make you money, you&rsquo;ll need to have lots of traffic to your site, and that means lots of time spent creating content that people want to read or use.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>&nbsp;<strong>Affiliate marketing:</strong> This means promoting products or services for other companies (for example, writing a blog post about your favorite brand of board marker and then adding a link to buy the markers from an affiliate company&nbsp;such as Amazon). You&rsquo;ll receive money for every sale made using your affiliate link.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>&nbsp;<strong>Product sale:</strong> Set up a shop on your site to sell resources, books, or courses. You could do this as part of a monthly membership subscription or on a product-by-product basis.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>4. Get popular on socials</h2>

<p>This is probably the hardest way to generate so called &quot;passive&rsquo;&quot; income. To join the YouTube Partner Progam and earn money from ads on YouTube, you need at least 1,000 followers and 4,000 watch hours a year. Each ad that one of your subscribers watches earns between $0.01 and $0.03. This isn&rsquo;t a huge amount if your video gets fewer than 1,000 views, but it can be significant if it is watched a million times.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In other industries, social media influencers can get paid to promote clothing and other products. In English language teaching, it is very unlikely that you&rsquo;ll get paid to promote an ELT-related resource.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5. Make your money work for you</h2>

<p>Probably the most tried and tested ways of generating passive income are by making sure your money is working for you. Ensuring that your savings are in accounts that will earn high interest or invested in (well-researched) index funds are good ways to do this. It&rsquo;s also worth shopping around for the best deal on a pension and exploring the property market to build equity or rental income.&nbsp;In these instances, make sure to seek financial advice and explore your options as carefully as possible. Managing your finances has to work for you and your individual situation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These are just a few ways to potentially generate &quot;passive&quot; income as a teacher. As I mentioned at the beginning, there is no quick fix. Each one takes time, research, and long-term management, but they are all definitely worth exploring.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
Here are some other blog posts about professional development, teacherprenuerism, and ELT careers that may interest you:</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/teacherpreneur" target="_self">How to Be a Teacherpreneur</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/beyond-teaching-elt-careers-to-keep-you-motivated" target="_self">Beyond Teaching: ELT Careers to Keep You Motivated</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/getting-started-and-moving-forwards-professional-development-for-elt" target="_self">Getting Started &amp; Moving Forward: Professional Development for ELT&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Here are some Ellii lessons and collections that will build your students&rsquo; financial and money skills:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/money-matters/materials" target="_self">Money Matters</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1210-retirement-savings " target="_self">Retirement Savings</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/teaching-english-learners-about-money-banking" target="_self">Teaching Learners about Money &amp; Banking</a><br />
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>What experience do you have of generating &quot;passive&quot;&nbsp;income? Is there anything you&rsquo;d like to try or recommend here? We&rsquo;d love to know.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>


5 Ways to Earn "Passive" Income as a Teacher

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Tour around the ELT conference circuit as our team shares conference highlights and session reviews.

Conferences

<p>In 2005, my husband and I embarked on our first adventure in Latin America. We started with a monthlong stay at a friend&rsquo;s in Ilhabela, Brazil. Our next stop was Montevideo. Needless to say, this city will always hold a special place in my heart.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;d told me then that I would return 20 years later to speak at a conference, I probably wouldn&rsquo;t have believed you! But this year I returned and delivered a workshop on making learning accessible in the mixed-ability classroom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The content of my session was in some ways a sneak peek at the pre-recorded input I created for Rachel Oner&rsquo;s<strong> Learning Differences and Inclusion course for Nile ELT</strong>.&nbsp;I discussed barriers to learning and made suggestions of simple ways to make lessons accessible for diverse abilities and learning needs.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Montevideo</h2>

<p>Montevideo in winter reminded me of Scotland. Walking along the seafront, I felt like I was in a Scottish coastal town. Even the architecture was reminiscent of Glasgow!&nbsp;</p>

<p>I didn&rsquo;t have a huge amount of time for sightseeing, but I knew that I wanted to eat chorip&aacute;n at the Mercado del Puerto. On our first visit 20 years ago, this was my first introduction to a chorizo roll. I have dreamed about it ever since.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The sessions</h2>

<h3>Ben Goldstein</h3>

<p>Ben Goldstein&rsquo;s opening plenary asked &quot;Where do I fit in now?&quot; He explored post-pandemic teacher roles and how teachers fit in the age of AI. It focused on how teachers can offer their empathy, understanding, and human touch to connect with learners. The session was engaging, thought-provoking, and reassuring.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Emily Bryson</h3>

<p>I got lucky and had the second slot. My workshop gave teachers the opportunity to explore simple ways they could make learning accessible. I was delighted that many teachers enthusiastically approached me at the end to say how helpful and inspiring it had been. Even Jeremy Harmer said it was &quot;absolutely brilliant.&quot; You can&rsquo;t beat a review like that from an ELT great!</p>

<h3>Susan Hillyard &amp; Claudia Rey</h3>

<p>Next up were Susan Hillyard and Claudia Rey, who share 90 years of collective teaching experience. They took us on an entertaining journey from the era of tapes and developmental psychology to the current era of social-emotional learning, inclusive practices, and AI. They also shared their top tips for how to stay enthusiastic, inspired, and resilient.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Juan Maria Segura</h3>

<p>Juan Maria Segura then presented in Spanish. &quot;Que hacemos con el aula?&quot;&nbsp;or &quot;What can we do with the classroom?&quot; This pushed my Spanish to the limit, but I think I got the gist: We need to embrace technology to reach learners, especially from younger generations. The session was provocative and ensued in much animated discussion.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Ines Stefani</h3>

<p>Ines Stefani&rsquo;s workshop on reading made some important points. The crucial takeaway was that reading comprehension activities can kill the creativity of reading books in class. She offered various alternatives to inspire learners and maintain the simple pleasures of reading in class.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Lorena Estefanell</h3>

<p>The penultimate session was Lorena Estefanell on &quot;45 habitos mentales para bienestar&quot;&nbsp;or &quot;45 mental habits for well-being.&quot; The session was in Spanish again and I admit that I snuck out! I&rsquo;m not sure my brain cells had the energy for a session in English, let alone rapid Rioplatense. I took the opportunity to seek out coffee and cake, then felt the FOMO when everyone came out raving about how amazing it was!&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Jeremy Harmer</h3>

<p>The closing plenary was given by the legendary Jeremy Harmer. It was every bit as memorable as you&rsquo;d expect. He talked about the benefits of singing in class and as a means of developing social connections. To this end, he got us to all sing a wonderful song he&rsquo;d written. The song was a welcome to people resettling into a new community. It really resonated with me as the majority of my learners have been from refugee backgrounds.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Sketchnotes</h2>

<p>As usual, I created some sketchnotes of the sessions. These help me to focus during the session, and they serve as a visual reminder of the key takeaways.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can view my <a href="https://www.emilybrysonelt.com/sketchnotes-from-congreso-anglo-2024/ " target="_blank">sketchnotes</a> here.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How to get involved&nbsp;</h2>

<p>If you&rsquo;d like to attend next year, you can find more information at:&nbsp;<br />
<a href="https://www.anglo.edu.uy/" target="_blank">www.anglo.edu.uy</a>&nbsp;or follow them on socials @InstitutoAnglo. I certainly hope to be back!</p>

<p>You may like these conference-themed posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/perutesol-2024-reflections-and-take-aways" target="_self">Peru TESOL 2024:&nbsp; Reflections &amp; Takeaways</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-an-elt-conference" target="_self">How to Get the Most Out of an ELT conference</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/speaking-at-an-elt-conference-demystifying-the-application-process" target="_self">Speaking at an ELT Conference: Demystifying the Application Process</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/speaking-at-an-elt-conference-demystifying-the-application-process" target="_self">Speaking at an ELT Conference: Top Tips for Successful Presentations</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/sketchnoting-101-supercharged-professional-development-with-visual-notes" target="_self">Sketchnoting 101: Supercharge Professional Development with Visual Notes</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/10-practical-ways-teachers-can-excel-with-ai" target="_self">10&nbsp;Practical Ways Teachers Can&nbsp;Excel with AI</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/developing-learner-autonomy-with-ai" target="_self">Developing Learner Autonomy with AI</a></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>Have you been to the Anglo Congress before? What were your experiences?</p>
</blockquote>


Anglo Congress 2024: Reflections & Takeaways

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<p>Teachers are notoriously pushed for time. Somehow we have to plan and deliver classes, mark coursework, attend meetings, deal with emails, and make time for individual students and their parents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The good news is that there are lots of ways that we can reduce our prep time to make our workload more manageable.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Exploit materials</h2>

<p>When I did my diploma in TESOL, one of my tutors told me that the certificate in English language teaching is where you learn to plan and deliver lessons, whereas the diploma is where you learn to exploit every aspect of the classroom and adapt your lessons to your students&rsquo; needs.</p>

<p>This ability to see opportunities to exploit classroom activities and adapt to learner needs comes with experience. It also comes with trialing new techniques and noticing what your students need to practice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, a reading activity in class could be as simple as reading the text and answering comprehension questions. But you could extend and exploit it by having students do the following:&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Look closely at the style and format&mdash;discuss whether the text is formal or informal (and find examples), underline linking words and phrases, summarize paragraphs, identify and re-write topic sentences, create or re-write the title or heading.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Identify new words&mdash;discuss their meaning, write definitions, create example sentences or questions, look for synonyms and antonyms.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Explore phonics&mdash;underline interesting spelling rules or sounds, find other words with the same sounds, create tongue twisters or poems with these words.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Look at parts of speech and gramma&mdash;blank out all the verbs, nouns, or adjectives and have students re-write the text with alternatives; draw attention to the usage of pronouns, prepositions determiners, or articles; discuss reasons for using certain grammar structures and look for alternatives. &nbsp;</li>
	<li>Perform or present&mdash;write a play and act it out, role-play a scene, write what happened before or after, do a presentation on a theme from the text.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<p>These are just some ideas. They are good to have on hand as extension&nbsp;options. They can also be used to give fast finishers a task as they wait for other learners to complete an activity.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Graphic facilitation</h2>

<p>As a graphic facilitation geek, I love having the ability to quickly draw an activity on the board at any point. Knowing a few simple visual tools can save a lot of preparation time. These can be used as a warmer, the main activity, or an extension task in a lesson.</p>

<p>For example, my <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/activity-to-boost-confidence-and-well-being" target="_blank">Inner Troll Vs. Inner Angel</a> activity involves drawing a devil and an angel on the board with a couple of thought bubbles. Students can then copy the depiction on a piece of paper and reflect on their negative and positive thought patterns. To end the activity, students rip up their common negative thoughts. This helps them consider how their brain plays a part in their confidence and can help or hinder them from completing their tasks or goals.</p>

<p>You can find more information about <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/graphic-facilitation-101 " target="_blank">Graphic Facilitation</a> here.</p>

<h2>Dogme</h2>

<p>A blog post about minimal preparation teaching wouldn&rsquo;t be complete without mentioning <a href="https://teflzoneracheltsateri.wordpress.com/2021/10/06/my-dogme-class-for-delta-module-2/" target="_blank">Dogme</a>. It is a communicative language teaching approach developed by Scott Thornbury and Luke Meddings. This method focuses on natural communication in the classroom rather than using published resources. It allows the teacher to find a topic that interests the students and create a lesson around that.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Going into class without resources or a lesson plan&nbsp;might sound scary, but the Dogme approach follows a structure:&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Teachers and students decide on a topic.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Learners participate in discussion or complete a task (e.g., read, watch a video, do a role-play) based on that topic.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Students receive&nbsp;feedback on the task. Teacher draws attention to and provides practice of emergent language as well as feedback on language usage.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Students engage in further classwork or homework allowing practice or emergent language or topic-related tasks.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<h2>Language experience approach</h2>

<p>The language experience approach is attributed to the work of Ashton Warner and Paulo Freire. I personally like to think of it as Dogme for the literacy classroom, as its aim is focused on providing reading and writing practice based on learner needs and interests. The approach is intended to start with a shared experience, such as a class trip or group craft activity, but I find it works just as well with shared knowledge of a topic.</p>

<p>Here are the stages:</p>

<ol>
	<li>Class shares an experience (e.g., visit the local library, create a vocabulary notebook). OR Class chooses a shared topic of interest (e.g., sports, gardening, cooking, childcare).&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The students describe the experience or suggest sentences to create a collaborative text about their topic of interest. The teacher writes these on the board.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The teacher reads the full text to the class, pointing at the words on the board.</li>
	<li>The class reads the text chorally&nbsp;as the teacher points at the words.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Students copy the text to their notebooks.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Students work in pairs to read the text aloud to each other.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<p>The text can then be exploited in many ways. For example, the teacher could:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>Print it and cut out individual sentences or words. Students then put it back in order.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Invite students to circle interesting spellings or phonics rules and then practice them. For example, think of words with similar spellings, create a picture dictionary, and make sentences and short texts.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Erase certain words on the board. Students have to add the words back&nbsp;or add alternative words.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Have students write a similar text about them.&nbsp;The text could also be exploited using some of the activities I mentioned in the previous section above.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h2>Ellii resources</h2>

<p>One of the best ways to save time as a teacher is to subscribe to <a href="https://ellii.com/" target="_blank">Ellii</a>. There are over 2,000 lessons on pretty much every topic and language point imaginable. Most can be printed or used as interactive online tasks. Students can develop their speaking, listening, reading, writing, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Many lessons are also focused on skills development such as employability, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.&nbsp;All you need to do is search for the perfect lesson, print it, and go to class! Here are some <a href="https://ellii.com/sample/lessons" target="_blank">Sample</a> lessons to get an idea of what you&#39;ll find on Ellii.</p>

<p>Here are a couple of blog posts with other ways to reduce your prep time:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/10-zero-prep-fillers" target="_blank">10 Zero-Prep Fillers</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-one-image-can-develop-visual-literacy-and-critical-thinking" target="_blank">How One Image Can Develop Literacy &amp; Critical Thinking</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-use-videos-in-class">4 Ways to&nbsp;Use Videos Effectively in Class</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/bell-ringers" target="_blank">Engage Learners with Bell-Ringer Activities</a></li>
</ul>

<p><br />
These are just a few ideas that can reduce your preparation time. For more, you may want to check out the <strong>Teachers Talk Radio</strong> session I did with <strong>Graham Stanley </strong>on<strong> <a href="https://www.ttradio.org/listenback/episode/455b5481/minimal-preparation-teaching-the-twilight-show-with-graham-stanley">Minimal Preparation</a></strong>.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>How do you save time as a teacher? Have you tried any of these approaches? We&rsquo;d love to know.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>


Minimal Preparation Activities: Time-Saving Teaching Techniques

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<p>I feel absolutely honored to have had the chance to attend the 2024 Peru TESOL conference. I am traveling around South America while working remotely at the moment. One of my online contacts noticed that I had arrived in Arequipa and mentioned that the conference was on. It sounded like a great opportunity, so I extended my stay and attended.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year was the first face-to-face conference Peru TESOL has held since before the pandemic, so everyone was very excited to see each other. It was lovely watching so many ELT professionals re-connect and inspire each other after so long.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The importance of human connection was a theme that ran strongly throughout the event. Online conferences are brilliant, but you can&rsquo;t beat a warm hug and smile from a long lost friend or a new best pal!</p>

<h2>Arequipa</h2>

<p>Arequipa is now firmly one of my favorite cities. At 2,335 meters above sea level, the altitude can take a bit of getting used to, but it is absolutely worth it. Nicknamed the &quot;White City&quot;&nbsp;because many of its buildings are made of sillar (a white volcanic rock), it&rsquo;s lovely just wandering around the center and surrounding neighborhoods. The city has numerous miradors (viewpoints) where you can enjoy the scenery of three surrounding volcanoes:&nbsp;Chachani, Misti, and Pichu Pichu. Even the conference venue, Instituto del Sur, had this stunning vista from its fire escape (which we didn&rsquo;t have to use)!</p>

<h2><img alt="Peru TESOL conference 2024" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3880/content_Peru.jpg" /><br />
Sessions</h2>

<p>Over three days, the conference covered an eclectic range of topics. Every plenary was engaging and it was tricky to choose which workshop to attend.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sandra Story, the director of the Regional English Language Office (RELO) at the US&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;in Lima, opened the conference with a super interactive plenary on the past, present, and future of ELT. Her delivery was truly exemplary. She had us all moving around, using actions, chatting, thinking, and laughing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One key takeaway from her session was that &quot;English and English teachers change lives.&quot;&nbsp;I couldn&rsquo;t agree more.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="build strong communities sketch" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3881/content_change-lives.png" /></p>

<p>As with many corners of English language teaching at the moment, artificial intelligence was a popular theme. It was a topic that came up in almost every session, even if the session&nbsp;wasn&rsquo;t specifically about AI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another exemplary session for me was Laura Holland&rsquo;s closing plenary on maintaining human connection in the age of AI. If anyone was born to be a teacher and teacher trainer, it was Laura. She has an extremely&nbsp;welcoming persona that just makes you want to smile and get involved. Her session was super interactive and full of innovative ideas.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I especially loved her recommendation to monitor students&rsquo; discussions by pretending not to listen. It&rsquo;s a simple technique to prevent students&rsquo; getting distracted by the teacher poking their head into their conversation!</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s a sketchnote I created of her session. I hope you enjoy the image of the giant stealth ear!&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="build strong communities sketchnote" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3882/content_build-strong.jpg" /></p>

<h2>Sketchnotes</h2>

<p>The last few conferences I&rsquo;ve attended, I&rsquo;ve been commissioned to create digital sketchnotes. It was a delight to be able to get my pens out and sketchnote the analogue way, just for me! Of course, due to popular demand, I shared them on my socials and Whatsapp-ed them to my new Peru TESOL contacts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can view <a href="https://www.emilybrysonelt.com/sketchnotes-from-perutesol24/ " target="_blank">sketchnotes from the other sessions</a>&nbsp;here.</p>

<h2>Networking</h2>

<p>One of the best things about attending conferences is the human connection! It was wonderful making new contacts from the world of ELT.</p>

<p>On the first day, Peru TESOL arranged a dinner for participants. The food was delicious: corn and cheese salad, chicken with spicy chili sauce, and cheesecake for dessert. All washed down with the most delicious chicha (a corn-based soft drink) and a pisco sour (a cocktail with pisco, lime juice, sugar, and egg white). &nbsp;</p>

<p>This was the perfect chance to get to know everyone on a more personal level. We chatted about our experiences, Spanish learning, and pesky squirrels causing havoc at home!</p>

<p>Over the three days of the event, there were many opportunities to network. I looked forward to lunch and dinner, not only for the delicious Peruvian treats, but also for the chance to meet so many interesting and inspiring ELTers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s a photo from the closing ceremony. Can you spot me?&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Peru TESOL 2024 group picture" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3883/content_peru-ts.jpg" /></p>

<h2>How to get involved&nbsp;</h2>

<p>If you&rsquo;d like to speak at or attend Peru TESOL next year, you can find more information at:&nbsp;<br />
<a href="http://www.perutesol.org" target="_blank">www.perutesol.org</a> or follow the organization&nbsp;on socials:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/perutesoler/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/perutesoler/</a></p>

<p>You may like these conference-themed posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-an-elt-conference">How to Get the Most Out of&nbsp;an ELT Conference</a><br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/speaking-at-an-elt-conference-demystifying-the-application-process">Speaking at an ELT Conference: Demystifying the Application Process</a><br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/speaking-at-an-elt-conference-top-tips-for-successful-presentations">Speaking at an ELT Conference: Top Tips for Successful Presentations</a><br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/sketchnoting-101-supercharged-professional-development-with-visual-notes">Sketchnoting 101: Supercharge Professional Development with Visual Notes</a><br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/10-practical-ways-teachers-can-excel-with-ai">10 Practical Ways Teachers Can Excel with AI</a><br />
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/developing-learner-autonomy-with-ai">Developing Learner Autonomy with AI</a></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>Have you attended Peru TESOL before? What were your experiences? Do you agree that &quot;English and English teachers change lives&quot;?&nbsp;Have they changed yours or your students&#39;?</p>
</blockquote>


Peru TESOL 2024: Reflections & Takeaways

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<p>In this blog post, I&rsquo;ll share the importance of literacy skills and the benefits of using a phonics approach to teach them.</p>

<h2>Why is literacy important?</h2>

<p>The ability to read and write is an essential skill. It allows us to access information, communicate with others, express ourselves, and advance our careers. Reading can help us relax, boost our imaginations, and learn about the world we live in. Writing gives us the opportunity to articulate our opinions, share our expertise, and advocate for ourselves and important causes.</p>

<p>From a language learning perspective, learners who are developing literacy skills may be at a disadvantage to their peers with stronger literacy skills. In my classes, there was a noticeable divide between learners whose first script was Roman and those who were learning to read and write in a new script.</p>

<p>Learners whose first script was Roman would take notes quickly, understand meaning while&nbsp;reading more easily, and be able to write well-structured texts confidently. Learners who were developing their literacy skills in English (and perhaps in their first language too) took more time and required more support.</p>

<h2>What are the challenges of teaching literacy?</h2>

<p>There are many reasons why literacy skills are challenging to develop. Students may need to learn how to identify and form a whole new alphabet. They also have to develop an understanding of punctuation, sentence structure, and paragraphing. Then there&rsquo;s rhetorical styles, formality, and a diverse range of text styles with which to become familiar.</p>

<p>Perhaps the most difficult aspect of literacy is spelling-pronunciation agreement. English is notoriously irregular when it comes to pronunciation rules. Think about the spelling of &quot;ough&quot; for example. It is pronounced differently in &quot;though,&quot; &quot;through,&quot; &quot;thought,&quot; and &quot;tough.&quot; And the word &quot;read&quot;&nbsp;is spelled the same way in both the simple present tense and&nbsp;the simple past tense, but sounds like the color &quot;red&quot;&nbsp;in its past form.</p>

<h2>What are the benefits of teaching phonics?</h2>

<p>In order to develop students&rsquo; reading and writing skills, we need to work on their ability to match sounds to spelling. Teaching phonics is a great way to do this. It provides an opportunity for students to become familiar with common sound-spelling agreements as well as their exceptions.</p>

<h2>How to teach phonics?</h2>

<p>There are many ways to teach phonics. I like to devote time in any reading lesson to identifying a few similar sounds and ways to spell them and then have students add them to their vocabulary notebooks. You could also have them make silly sentences or short texts using the target sound or spelling.</p>

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Phonics Stories</h2>

<p>A great way to teach sound-spelling agreement is to use Ellii&rsquo;s collection of <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/phonics-stories" target="_blank">Phonics Stories</a>. Each one cleverly introduces words that use the same target sound in context. Students can read, listen, and repeat the fun short stories. This raises awareness of new words, their pronunciations, and their spellings.</p>

<p>This collection of stories is perfect for learners of all ages and has been graded to different levels.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Ellii's Phonics Stories" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3872/content_Screen_Shot_2024-07-24_at_4.05.34_PM.png" /></p>

<p>Let&rsquo;s look more closely at <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3854-a-whale-with-a-veil" target="_blank"><strong>A Whale with a Veil</strong></a>. In this lesson, students read about a whale that wore a wedding veil in a gale. It focuses on the sounds and spellings for /w/, /v/, and /e/ (long a).</p>

<p><img alt="A Whale with a Veil by Tara Benwell for Ellii" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3873/content_Screen_Shot_2024-07-24_at_4.12.58_PM.png" /><br />
<br />
The digital version of the lesson also contains&nbsp;a video of the story with captions to follow along.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vyIcDc-9LEc?si=BVjLr7Y3t713Tm3q" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>There are lots of possibilities for teaching and adapting this lesson (or any of Ellli&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/phonics-stories" target="_blank"><strong>Phonics Stories</strong></a>) in class. Here are some ideas:</p>

<p>1. Say the title aloud and have students predict the story.</p>

<p>2. Read and listen to the story.</p>

<p>3. Check comprehension by asking and answering questions.</p>

<p>4. Have students identify the sounds and spellings by circling the words in the text:</p>

<ul>
	<li>wh - whale, white, what</li>
	<li>w - west, wait&nbsp;</li>
	<li>silent w = (ow) - blown</li>
	<li>v - vest, veil</li>
	<li>a_e - tale, whale, gale</li>
	<li>ai - tail, wait, wail</li>
	<li>ei - veil</li>
	<li>ay - way</li>
	<li>est - best, vest, rest</li>
</ul>

<p>5. Practice pronouncing the sounds individually and the whole words.&nbsp;</p>

<p>6. Listen to the story again and complete a gap-fill text using the target words.&nbsp;</p>

<p>7. Have students read the text aloud.&nbsp;</p>

<p>8. Have students turn the story into a script and perform it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>9. Help them to find or think of other words that use this sound and spelling. Create a list on the board or in their notebooks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>10. Create a picture dictionary with the new words&mdash;either with drawings, digital images, or printing images to cut out and glue in the dictionary.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Emily Bryson's example picture dictionary drawings" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3874/content_Screen_Shot_2024-07-24_at_4.04.47_PM.png" /></p>

<p class="caption">Some examples of picture dictionaries from my adult ESOL Literacy class.</p>

<p>11. Write definitions and find synonyms or antonyms for each word.&nbsp;<br />
12. Make sentences, questions, tongue twisters, or short texts with the words.<br />
13. Set the individual tasks for homework.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Do you teach phonics? What are your top tips? Do you have any favorite Phonics Stories?</p>
</blockquote>


How to Develop ESL Literacy with Phonics Stories

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<p>Task-based learning (TBL) is a communicative approach to language teaching. Similar to project-based learning (PBL), it allows students natural opportunities to practice their language skills.</p>

<p>In this post, I&rsquo;ll look more closely at what TBL is and how to use this approach in class.</p>

<h2>What is task-based learning?</h2>

<p>Essentially, TBL involves giving students a task to complete and supporting them with their English throughout. The task can be pretty much anything as long as it necessitates communication and has a clear goal.</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<ul>
	<li>creating a poster</li>
	<li>comparing two pictures</li>
	<li>producing a video</li>
	<li>writing a newsletter or blog</li>
	<li>finding a solution to a problem</li>
	<li>performing a play</li>
</ul>

<p>TBL can also be referred to as:</p>

<ul>
	<li>TBLT: task-based language teaching</li>
	<li>TBI: task-based instruction</li>
</ul>

<h2>What are the benefits of using a task-based learning approach?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>There are many benefits to using TBL in the classroom. Here are a few:&nbsp;</p>

<h3>1. Life skills</h3>

<p>Task-based learning supports the acquisition of life skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, communication, teamwork, and creativity. These 21st-century skills are highly sought after by employers and will help learners succeed.</p>

<h3>2. Real-life tasks</h3>

<p>TBL gives students the chance to develop their life skills by providing real-world tasks. What better way to let students apply their learning than to give them a work- or life-related scenario or activity. For example, they could create a detailed itinerary for an upcoming trip or plan their own TV show.</p>

<h3>3. Student-centered</h3>

<p>Task-based learning is a learner-centered approach that allows lessons to be designed especially for student needs or interests. If learners are particularly interested in Harry Potter, you could have them create a mythical creature, design a magical classroom, or solve the problem of a broken broomstick.</p>

<h3>4. Communicative</h3>

<p>As TBL requires learners to collaborate on a task, it is naturally communicative. As students work together, they&rsquo;ll be using their language skills to share ideas, negotiate, make plans, and give opinions. As they do this, certain language features will emerge naturally, which you can note down and discuss later.</p>

<h2>What are the stages of a TBL lesson?</h2>

<p>As with all teaching methodologies, TBL can be used and adapted depending on teaching context and learner needs. It has a few distinct stages, but you don&rsquo;t need to be strict in following them.</p>

<h3>1. Pre-task</h3>

<p>As with most lesson introductions, this is a chance to introduce the topic, brainstorm ideas, and give instructions. It can also be helpful to pre-teach any useful vocabulary and let students ask any questions that they might have. You could also give them an example of a completed task or some ideas for inspiration.</p>

<h3>2. Task</h3>

<p>This is the part where students actually do the task. As tasks can be complex, there are three stages to this:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Task</li>
	<li>Planning</li>
	<li>Reporting</li>
</ul>

<p>The <strong>Task</strong> stage is when students work together in pairs or small groups. The teacher can monitor and take notes of examples of interesting communication. There is no need to correct students&rsquo; language at this point as the purpose is fluency, confidence building, and task completion.</p>

<p>The <strong>Planning</strong> stage is when students get ready to tell others about their task. Students make notes of what they&rsquo;d like to share (e.g., their findings, how they did the task, how they solved any problems that arose, etc.) and decide how they will present the information. They may wish to allocate speakers or scribes. At this stage, the teacher can be available to give advice on language or reporting skills.</p>

<p>The <strong>Reporting</strong> stage is when students present their work to the class. This could be through a presentation, a poster, a video, a report, or any other communicative method. Students can then give each other feedback, discuss each other&#39;s&nbsp;tasks, ask questions, and perhaps even vote for the best piece of work. The teacher can facilitate these discussions, provide language advice, and give feedback.</p>

<h3>3. Language focus</h3>

<p>The final stage of the lesson is an analysis and practice of the language. The teacher can share some interesting examples of emergent language that the students used throughout the lesson. Students can also make suggestions for other useful language. They can then add these words and phrases to their notebooks and practice them.</p>

<p>Here are some Ellii sections and lessons that you may want to use to try out TBL:</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/group-projects" target="_blank">Group Projects</a>: These are similar to task-based learning, though generally carried out over a series of class sessions.</p>

<p><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2149-nelson-mandela-poster-part-1" target="_blank">Nelson Mandela Poster - Part 1</a> and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2150-nelson-mandela-poster-part-2" target="_blank">Nelson Mandela Poster - Part 2</a>: Show students these posters as inspiration and then ask them to create their own. They could choose another person to feature in the poster or give them a theme to focus on (e.g., One day our planet will&hellip;).</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/current-events" target="_blank">Current Events</a>: Show students one of these videos (or ask them to choose one). Their task could then be to re-write the voiceover with a different new story, role-play the events, write a news article, or interview someone.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Have you tried task-based learning in your classroom? What ideas and tips can you share with us? We&rsquo;d love to know.</p>
</blockquote>


Task-Based Learning: An Introductory Guide

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<p><strong>Social-emotional learning </strong>(SEL, also known as socio-emotional learning or social and emotional learning)&nbsp;is a common educational approach. It aims to provide students with the skills and opportunities to reflect on their learning and how to apply it to their own lives, manage emotions, be empathetic, and think critically.</p>

<p>In this post, I&rsquo;ll explore the approach in more detail and share some ways to incorporate it into the classroom.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What exactly is social-emotional learning?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>SEL is an approach to learning that aims to help all learners succeed. It equips them with essential skills and provides a supportive learning environment and community to help them do this.</p>

<p>When we think about what helps us succeed, we might consider skills, confidence, motivation, support networks, and a positive mindset. SEL incorporates these into the classroom by allowing students to interact with new information in a variety of ways.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What are the five main components of SEL?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The <a href="https://casel.org/">Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)</a> aims to make SEL a key educational approach.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The <a href="https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-is-the-casel-framework/">CASEL Framework</a> has five key competencies at its core. These are:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/self-awareness">self-awareness</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/self-management">self-management</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/social-awareness">social awareness</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/relationship-skills" target="_blank">relationship skills</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/decision-making" target="_blank">responsible decision-making</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Let&rsquo;s look at each one a little more closely.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Self-awareness&nbsp;</h3>

<p>This competency relates to the ability to recognize and understand our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. In terms of language teaching, this could be introducing&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/communication-skills/expressing-emotions" target="_blank">feelings</a><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/communication-skills/expressing-emotions/feelings" target="_blank"> vocabulary</a>, doing a lesson on <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/practicing-mindfulness-in-the-classroom" target="_blank">mindfulness</a>, or exploring <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/everyday-topics/health-safety/mental-health" target="_blank">mental health</a> or <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3786-personality-types" target="_blank">personality types</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ellii has a collection of <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/self-awareness">Self-Awareness</a>&nbsp;content here.</p>

<h3>Self-management</h3>

<p>Self-management refers to the ability to control our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. For example, having an awareness of how certain situations make us feel and how we can adapt and control our behaviors can help us&nbsp;succeed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some suitable topics for the language classroom might be:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4505-imposter-syndrome" target="_blank">imposter syndrome</a> and how to overcome it</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1836-stress" target="_blank">stress</a>, its triggers, and how to manage it</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1233-bad-habits" target="_blank">bad habits</a> and advice to stop them</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3675-study-skills" target="_blank">study skills</a> and avoiding <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3715-procrastination" target="_blank">procrastination</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1229-road-rage" target="_blank">road rage</a> and how to prevent it</li>
</ul>

<p>Check out these <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/self-management">Self-Management</a> resources on Ellii.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Social awareness</h3>

<p>This strand focuses on having an awareness of the diverse beliefs, cultures, and backgrounds of people around the world. It also aims for a shared empathy, tolerance, and understanding of these differences. To do this, you can include topics about diversity, equity, and inclusion such as neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, age, gender, race, disability, and religion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some suggested <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/social-awareness">Social Awarness</a> materials compiled by Ellii.</p>

<h3>Relationship skills</h3>

<p>This fundamental aspect of SEL aims to support learners to initiate, build, and maintain trusting, strong, and positive relationships. These relationships can be from a range of diverse backgrounds and include friends, family, coworkers, community, and other social connections. Students can be supported to communicate confidently, listen actively, collaborate effectively with others, and solve problems and conflicts amicably.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This compilation of <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/relationship-skills">Relationship Skills</a> resources provides a variety of options for your classroom.</p>

<h3>Responsible decision-making&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Making responsible decisions is crucial to being a kind and respectful member of any community. In SEL, students can be given various scenarios and case studies to evaluate and consider the ethical implications and solve problems using critical thinking skills. To support learners to make responsible decisions, we can offer them information to analyze, facts to consider,&nbsp;and opinions to discuss. We can also encourage them to find creative, open-minded solutions to real-world problems.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/academic-subjects/social-emotional-learning/decision-making">Decision-Making</a> collection, you&rsquo;ll find news stories, projects, debates, and discussion starters covering a range of global issues including <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3764-pandemic-puppies" target="_blank">Pandemic Puppies</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3650-vaccine-skeptics-change-their-minds" target="_blank">Vaccine Skeptics</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3376-cancel-culture" target="_blank">Cancel Culture</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3356-tearing-down-statues" target="_blank">Tearing Down Statues</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1269-surveillance" target="_blank">Surveillance</a>, and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2743-taking-a-knee" target="_blank">Taking a Knee</a>.</p>

<h3>What are the benefits to SEL?</h3>

<p>Over the years, research has found many benefits to social-emotional learning for students of all ages. It has been found to increase academic attainment as well as student empathy, relationships, confidence, and the ability to manage mental health. It also encourages lifelong learning and participation in local community activities and causes. This in turn can build stronger communities and give individuals more fulfilled lives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Overall, incorporating SEL into the curriculum is a simple and effective way to develop well-rounded individuals and support students to succeed academically and in life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You may also be interested in this&nbsp;post&nbsp;about SEL:</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/warm-up-activity-for-social-emotional-learning">Rose, Bud, Thorn: A Warm-Up Activity That Promotes SEL</a></p>

<p>For more on SEL, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://casel.org/">CASEL</a>.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-89dd9688-7fff-ccdf-795a-0f5266c06b2d">How do you incorporate SEL into your classroom? Have you tried any of the resources recommended here? We&rsquo;d love to hear from you.</b></p>
</blockquote>


A Quick Guide to Social-Emotional Learning

https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/post/title_image/2551/Emily_A-Quick-Guide-to-Social-Emotional-Learning_Banner.png

<p>&quot;Mediation&quot; is one of many words in English with dual meanings. To most people, it describes&nbsp;a method of resolving a conflict between two or more parties using a neutral mediator to assist in discussions and find a mutually agreeable resolution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In language teaching, it is a bridge between understanding. This blog post explores what mediation is, why it&rsquo;s important, and how to include it in the ELT classroom.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What is mediation?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Mediation refers to the ability to understand, summarize, and explain information to others. In terms of teaching, it&rsquo;s a great way to ensure learners have understood a lesson, but it&rsquo;s also an important <strong>life skill </strong>for students. It&rsquo;s a real-life communication skill that will help them<strong> succeed in life and work</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No matter what roles our students play, they&rsquo;ll need to use <strong>mediation skills</strong> to explain (often complex) things to others. For example:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>a parent explaining to their child why they need to brush their teeth&nbsp;</li>
	<li>a doctor communicating a diagnosis to a patient</li>
	<li>a teacher expressing the difference between present perfect and past simple</li>
	<li>a chef sharing the instructions for a recipe</li>
	<li>a friend showing how to progress to the next level in a video game&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Yet there is more to mediation than expressing complex information in a simple way. The <strong>Common European Framework of Reference</strong> (CEFR) includes examples of skills around mediating texts, concepts, and communication. For example:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>relaying and <strong>rephrasing</strong> information to others</li>
	<li><strong>taking notes</strong>, <strong>summarizing</strong>, and translating information</li>
	<li><strong>comparing</strong> and <strong>critically evaluating</strong> information</li>
	<li><strong>collaborating</strong> in a group&nbsp;</li>
	<li>being aware and <strong>adapting</strong> to <strong>cultural differences</strong></li>
	<li>understanding <strong>disagreements</strong> and finding a <strong>resolution</strong></li>
</ul>

<p>You can read the full&nbsp;CEFR list here: <a href="https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/Images/664965-mediation-what-it-is-how-to-teach-it-and-how-to-assess-it.pdf" target="_blank">Mediation: What it is, how to teach it, and how to assess it</a></p>

<h2>Why is mediation important?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>When I first started teaching over 20 years ago, the focus seemed to be on teaching learners four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Over time, the language classroom has grown to support learners in developing a multitude of 21st-century skills:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>critical thinking</li>
	<li>intercultural communication</li>
	<li>digital skills</li>
	<li>employability&nbsp;</li>
	<li>social-emotional skills</li>
	<li>mental health awareness</li>
	<li>translanguaging (and cross-linguistic mediation)</li>
	<li>mediation</li>
</ul>

<p>By incorporating mediation into our classrooms, we give students the opportunity to enhance their communication skills for the real world.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How can I incorporate it into class?&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The good news is that you&rsquo;re probably already doing this. As I write this blog post, I&rsquo;m <strong>researching</strong>, <strong>collating</strong>, and <strong>rephrasing</strong> information from other sources to explain mediation in a simple way. In short, I&rsquo;m mediating information about mediation!&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a similar way, think about many of the activities you do in class most days. Many activities typical of the language classroom involve resolving a gap in communication where students support each other to find and clarify meaning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>reading two different texts and explaining them to another student&nbsp;</li>
	<li>checking answers to comprehension questions in pairs</li>
	<li>researching information and presenting it to the class&nbsp;</li>
	<li>discussing ideas for a group project and how to implement them</li>
</ul>

<h2>Examples of mediation activities</h2>

<p>Let&rsquo;s have a look at Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;lesson on <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2527-distracted-driving" target="_blank">Distracted Driving</a>.&nbsp;(Available in print and digital formats.)</p>

<p>The warm-up questions allow students to link to their previous knowledge, express opinions, and collaborate to construct meaning with peers.</p>

<p><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2527-distracted-driving" target="_blank"><img alt="Ellii's distracted driving lesson screenshot" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3786/content_Screen_Shot_2024-05-30_at_1.15.30_PM.png" /></a></p>

<p>Students then work together to construct meaning of <strong>vocabulary</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>read a text,&nbsp;</strong>and complete <strong>comprehension questions</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These comprehension questions allow learners to relay and <strong>check specific informatio</strong>n, <strong>process the text</strong>, <strong>take notes</strong>, <strong>translate to their first language,</strong> and <strong>break down complex information</strong>. Working in <strong>pairs</strong> provides an opportunity to support each other, communicate, and <strong>create a shared understanding of the text</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lesson ends with a <strong>discussion</strong> and <strong>critical thinking</strong> activities. These prompts provide students with the opportunity to relate the text to their own experiences, discuss challenging debate topics, and express their <strong>personal responses</strong> to the text.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2527-distracted-driving"><img alt="Discussion questions Distracted Driving" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3787/content_Screen_Shot_2024-05-30_at_1.15.42_PM.png" /></a></p>

<p>For further exploration, teachers can launch an interactive <a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls" target="_blank">Ellii Poll</a><strong> </strong>on <a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/distracted-driving" target="_blank">this topic</a> that students can participate in by scanning a QR code on their smartphones.</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/distracted-driving" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3788/content_Screen_Shot_2024-05-30_at_1.16.03_PM.png" /></a></p>

<h2>Further reading&nbsp;</h2>

<p>You&rsquo;ll find more about mediation in these blog posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/6-english-language-teaching-trends-in-2023" target="_blank">6 English Language Teaching Trends in 2023</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-simplify-complex-tasks-with-visual-prompts" target="_blank">How to Simplify Complex Tasks with Visual Prompts</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/translanguaging-embracing-the-power-of-multilingualism-in-your-classroom" target="_blank">Translanguaging: Embracing the Power of Multilingualism in Your Classroom</a></li>
</ul>

<p>I also highly recommend Riccardo Chiappini and Ethan Mansur&rsquo;s book entitled <a href="https://www.deltapublishing.co.uk/book/activities-for-mediation-9783125017443" target="_blank">Activities for Mediation</a>. And this comprehensive resource from the <a href="https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/mediation" target="_blank">CEFR</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>What experience do you have with mediation? How do you incorporate it into the classroom? We&rsquo;d love to hear from you.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


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Emily Bryson