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

Articles

<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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<p>It&#39;s time to head back to school, and we&#39;ve got some great resources to get you off to a good start!<br />
<br />
In addition to this NEW back-to-school <a href="https://app.ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/back-to-school?_gl=1*1ctfb9m*_gcl_au*MTc5OTcyODM4OC4xNzI0MTgwNTc4*_ga*MTE2ODEwMTYzNy4xNjc2OTg3MTA2*_ga_0YR675LR3Q*MTcyNTQ1NDgyOS45MTcuMS4xNzI1NDU3NDY5LjAuMC4xMjc1OTEyMTYw" target="_self">Ellii Poll</a>&nbsp;and our ready-made <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons" target="_self">lessons</a>, <a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos" target="_self">videos</a>, and <a href="https://ellii.com/media/flashcards" target="_self">flashcards</a>, we have a full <a href="https://ellii.com/resources" target="_self">Resource library</a> full of charts, forms, warm-up activities, and worksheets that are ideal for getting started with a new class.<br />
<br />
Below you&#39;ll find a list of 10 of our top&nbsp;back-to-school downloads to help you get back into the swing of things. Some of these items are also available as digital activities.</p>

<ol>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4164-ellii-placement-quiz"><strong>Ellii Placement Quiz</strong></a><br />
	A quiz consisting of 30&nbsp;multiple-choice questions divided into three sections (Listening, Grammar, and Reading) to assess your students&#39;&nbsp;current English level. For a longer, more in-depth assessment, try the <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4226-ellii-placement-test">Ellii Placement Test</a>.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2209-class-list"><strong>Class List</strong></a><br />
	A basic template for creating a class list (includes fields for contact information and preferred name).&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2208-attendance-sheet"><strong>Attendance Sheet</strong></a><br />
	A basic template for class attendance.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2169-weekly-planner"><strong>Weekly Planner</strong></a><br />
	A planner template with a to-do list for weekly lesson planning. A printable&nbsp;<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2461-monthly-planner">Monthly Planner</a>&nbsp;is also available, but don&#39;t forget about our&nbsp;built-in digital lesson planner that is part of every class you create on Ellii!</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2124-autobiography-int"><strong>Autobiography</strong></a><br />
	A personal story with gaps to fill in for intermediate-level learners. We also have fill-in-the-blank autobiography templates for <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2123-autobiography-beg">beginner-</a> and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2125-autobiography-adv">advanced-level</a> learners.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2127-my-language-goals"><strong>My Language Goals</strong></a><br />
	A goal-setting form for students to fill out during a transitional stage.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2565-teaching-order"><strong>Teaching Order (Grammar Targets)</strong></a><br />
	A chart outlining Ellii&#39;s suggested teaching order for our <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/grammar-practice-worksheets">Grammar Practice Worksheets</a>.</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2218-writing-correction-key"><strong>Writing Correction Key</strong></a><br />
	A code that teachers and peer editors can use for making writing corrections.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2151-basic-ipa-phonetic-chart"><strong>IPA Chart</strong></a><br />
	A chart that shows the basic phonemes of American and Canadian English to aid with teaching pronunciation.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2228-exit-slips"><strong>Exit Slips</strong></a><br />
	Learner reflection forms that teachers hand out to students toward the end of class.</li>
</ol>

<p>Our <a href="https://ellii.com/resources">Resources</a> section is packed full of amazing content that we hope teachers will find useful throughout the school year! In addition, don&#39;t forget to check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/collections/everyday-topics/back-to-school">Back-to-School collection</a>&nbsp;where&nbsp;you&#39;ll find role-plays, dialogues, articles, debates, and discussion starter lessons on a variety of back-to-school topics.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Are you NEW to Ellii and wondering where to start? Check out our video demos in our <a href="https://help.ellii.com/">Help Docs</a>. If you don&#39;t find what you&#39;re looking for, please <a href="https://ellii.com/contact">send us a request</a>.&nbsp;</p>


10 Back-to-School Resources for English Language Teachers

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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>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

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<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>


Mediation: The What, Why & How Explained 

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<p>Over the past two years, I&#39;ve written 50 blog posts for Ellii!&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fifty blog posts sounds like an overwhelming number, yet when you break it into a post every couple of weeks, it was all very manageable. Plus, I had a lot of fun researching and writing each one.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b>Here are some of my top posts:&nbsp;</b></p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/speaking-at-an-elt-conference-top-tips-for-successful-presentations" target="_blank">Speaking at an ELT Conference: Top Tips for Successful Presentations</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-use-videos-in-class" target="_blank">4 Ways to Use Videos Effectively in Class</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/3-end-of-term-activities-for-students" target="_blank">3 Awesome End-of-Term Activities for English Learners</a></li>
</ul>

<p>In this post, I&rsquo;ll explore <strong>the benefits of blogging</strong>, some of <strong>my favorite ELT blogs</strong>, and some <strong>tips for starting</strong> your own.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Benefits</b></h2>

<h3>1. Personal development</h3>

<p>One of the things I have enjoyed most about blogging for Ellii is having an excuse to <em>swot up on*</em>&nbsp;a certain topic. In ELT, there are always new techniques, activities, or methodologies to explore. Writing a blog is an added motivation boost to do this.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2. Sharing expertise</h3>

<p>Blogging is a great way to set yourself up as an industry expert. You can share your research, classroom ideas, and best practices with the world. Plus, when others comment on your posts, you can make new connections and find out more about that topic.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3. Profile raising&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Blogging is a non-intimidating way to raise your profile. When I first started out with my own blog, I didn&rsquo;t have the confidence to vlog or deliver a webinar. Blogging allowed me to gently try engaging with the ELT world online. I was able to edit my work and get my messaging right before posting. When people started complimenting and sharing my posts, this gave me more motivation to try other ways to share my skills. And of course, this led to more writing, training, and blogging work.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>4. Enjoyment</h3>

<p>Blogging is fun, therapeutic, and reflective. There have been weeks when I&rsquo;ve been stressed by other projects. However, I often find that sitting down for a couple of hours to focus on writing can help relieve that stress. It&rsquo;s two hours of deep focus on one subject and an opportunity to process&nbsp;information in a new way.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>My favorite ELT blogs</h2>

<p>There are a lot of fabulous blogs out there for English language teachers. I can&rsquo;t name them all so I&rsquo;ll give you my top four bloggers, and I hope that you add the ones I&rsquo;ve missed in the comments!</p>

<h3>Sandy Millin</h3>

<p>Sandy Millin is an ELT author, trainer, and blogging legend. If you ever have <em>FOMO**</em> about a conference, chances are Sandy attended and wrote extensive notes! Her blog covers almost every imaginable topic and has guest posts from many ELT experts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://sandymillin.wordpress.com/">sandymillin.wordpress.com</a>&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Peter J. Fullagar</h3>

<p>Peter is one of my ELT heroes. He has recently published a fantastic book entitled <em><strong>Existence</strong></em>. It does what every ELT coursebook should be doing&mdash;representing rather than omitting LGBTQIA+ identities. His blog posts date back to 2008 and range from inclusion, to well-being, to Virginia Woolf.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://peterjfullagar.co.uk/">peterjfullagar.co.uk</a></p>

<h3>Peter Clements&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Peter is an EAL teacher, author, and consultant. His impressive back catalogue of blog posts and ELT publications will leave you wondering whether he invented an infinite time-making machine! He&rsquo;s also created some fantastic lessons for Ellii, such as this <strong>Discussion Starters</strong> lesson on <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4101-influencers" target="_blank">Influencers</a> and this <strong>Academic Vocabulary</strong> lesson on <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4185-the-digestive-system" target="_blank">The Digestive System</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://eltplanning.com/">eltplanning.com</a></p>

<h3>Rachael Roberts</h3>

<p>I&rsquo;m a big fan of Rachael Roberts. I wouldn&rsquo;t be the confident, business-minded ELT professional that I am today if it weren&#39;t for her! Her blog is full of essential entrepreneurial advice such as negotiating contracts, marketing yourself, and managing work&ndash;life balance.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://earnlearnthriveinelt.com/free-stuff/">earnlearnthriveinelt.com/free-stuff</a></p>

<h2>Tips for&nbsp;starting your own blog</h2>

<p>The hardest thing about starting your own blog is getting started! My top tip would be to just put your fingers on a keyboard and see where they take you!&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some other tips for blogging:</p>

<h3>1. Start for free</h3>

<p>There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing your blogging platform. Wordpress, Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace are all common hosting providers. Free sites tend to have advertisements, but when you&rsquo;re just starting out, this is perfectly reasonable. Once you&rsquo;ve built up a following you can consider other options. You could also get started by sharing longer posts on Instagram, Linkedin, or Facebook.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2. Feel the fear and blog anyway</h3>

<p>I was terrified the first time I wrote a blog post. I think I proofread it at least ten times! I&rsquo;m pretty sure I also asked a couple of friends to read it too. Now I&rsquo;m not so worried about a misplaced comma or one tiny little typo. No one really cares about that! And if they do, they&rsquo;ll most likely send a friendly private message so you can quietly update it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ELT world is blessed to have so many supportive people working together to improve student experiences. You&rsquo;ll be pleasantly surprised by the encouraging feedback you get.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3. Collaborate</h3>

<p>You might need a bit of extra motivation to get started. I often find that collaborating with someone can be the extra nudge I need.<b> </b>Ask your contacts if they&rsquo;d like to write something with you, or if they&rsquo;d like you to write an article or blog post for them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can find ideas for blogs and magazines that are always looking for articles here:&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/beyond-teaching-elt-careers-to-keep-you-motivated">Beyond Teaching: ELT Careers to Keep You Motivated&nbsp;</a></p>

<h3>4. Write about what you know</h3>

<p>Everyone has a valuable experience to share with the world. It&rsquo;s much easier to write about something you know well&nbsp;than to research something completely new. If you have been trialing new techniques to teach literacy, write about that. There are always other teachers interested in sharing best practices and learning new approaches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Blogging can also be a fantastic way for students to use their language skills. Here&rsquo;s a lesson plan you might want to check out: <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1828-how-to-write-a-blog-post " target="_blank">How to Write a Blog Post</a>. You can also share these <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/categories/for-students" target="_blank">blog posts that are made for EL students</a> and encourage them to practice leaving comments.</p>

<h3>Glossary</h3>

<p>*swot up on<em>: to study intensely </em>(British English)</p>

<p>**FOMO: fear of missing out</p>

<blockquote>
<p>What benefits, bloggers, and top tips would you add to this post? We&rsquo;d love to know your thoughts and recommendations.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>


The Benefits of Blogging: A Guide for Teachers

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<p>English language teaching is a rewarding career. You get to meet interesting students from around the world, learn about their cultures, and maybe even live in new places.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In order to find your first job, teach effectively, stay motivated, and progress in your career, you&rsquo;ll need to dedicate yourself to continuous professional development. CPD is an essential part of any career, and there are many options for English language teachers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this blog post, I&rsquo;ll explore the essential professional development courses for ELT professionals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before I start, I should clear up some of the acronyms:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>ELT - English Language Teaching</li>
	<li>TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language</li>
	<li>TESOL - Teaching English as a Second Language&nbsp;</li>
	<li>ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages</li>
	<li>ESL - English as a Second Language</li>
</ul>

<p>In general, ELT is the umbrella term of TEFL, TESOL, ESL, and ESOL. TEFL tends to focus on teaching English in a country where the first language is not English (e.g., South Korea).&nbsp;</p>

<p>TESOL, ESL, or ESOL refers to teaching English in a country where the first language <em>is</em> English. In the UK, you&rsquo;d be teaching ESOL, whereas in the US, Canada, and Australia, you&rsquo;d be teaching ESL.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>1. Initial teacher training&nbsp;</h2>

<p>If you&rsquo;re starting out in English language teaching, you might want to see if you actually like it first! There are <em>tons</em> of introductory TEFL/TESOL courses available both online and in person.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These courses are often 120 hours and include essentials such as basic teaching&nbsp;theories, classroom activities, and grammar. However, it&rsquo;s unlikely that they will qualify you for a paid teaching role.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most employers will require you to have:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>a bachelor&rsquo;s degree from university (any subject)</li>
	<li>a certificate in ELT (which includes observed classroom practice)</li>
	<li>a proficient level of English&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>These introductory modules are a great starting point, though, or even as a review for practicing teachers.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>2. Certificate in ELT</h2>

<p>Alongside a university-level degree, this is the minimum certification level you will need to secure a job as a language teacher. Although there are many providers, it&rsquo;s essential to check that classroom practice is included in the certification.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The most common certificates in ELT (which include observed classroom practice) are:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/" target="_blank">The Cambridge CELTA</a>:&nbsp;Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/teaching-english/CertTESOL" target="_blank">The Trinity CertTESOL</a>:&nbsp;Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages</li>
</ul>

<p>Both of these certificates are available online and face-to-face. They include:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>language awareness</li>
	<li>learner profiling</li>
	<li>classroom management</li>
	<li>lesson planning&nbsp;</li>
	<li>learning methodologies</li>
</ul>

<p>Each course takes 200 hours and can be pretty intense, whether you opt for the one-month intensive or part-time options.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>3. Diploma in ELT</h2>

<p>Once you have a few years of post-certificate teaching practice, you&rsquo;ll be ready to develop your skills with a diploma. Again, the most well-respected providers are Trinity College London and Cambridge University.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/teaching-english/diptesol" target="_blank">Trinity College DipTESOL</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/delta/" target="_blank">Cambridge DELTA</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Much like the Trinity and Cambridge certificates, both are available as:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>online or face-to-face</li>
	<li>intensive or part-time</li>
</ul>

<p>Each has a research, written, exam, and observed teaching practice component. They are both designed to deepen your skills and knowledge as an ELT professional.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>4. Master&rsquo;s degrees</h2>

<p>In general, most ELT professionals do master&rsquo;s level degrees after completing certificates or diplomas. However, it is possible to skip straight to this level with the right entry qualifications.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There are countless master&rsquo;s level options. The program&nbsp;you choose will depend on your location, the cost, your interests&nbsp;and career goals, and whether you prefer to study online or in person.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some master&rsquo;s programs are research-focused, allowing you to investigate a particular area of interest. Others follow a specific curriculum.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Common master&rsquo;s degrees for language teaching professionals include:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>MA - master of arts&nbsp;</li>
	<li>MEd - master of education</li>
</ul>

<p>These can follow more distinct subjects such as applied linguistics, TESOL, or learning technologies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To find out more about master&rsquo;s programs, search online for universities or subjects that interest you. You could also seek recommendations from peers or colleagues.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5. PhDs</h2>

<p>This is the highest qualification for ELT professionals. Gaining a doctorate can take many years of dedicated study, but can be worth the effort.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It can be a good option if:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>you have a specific area of interest you&rsquo;d like to research</li>
	<li>you&rsquo;d like to advance a certain aspect of language teaching</li>
	<li>you want to explore your master&rsquo;s research topic more</li>
	<li>your goal is to secure a university-level role</li>
</ul>

<p>Finding the right PhD program will take time. The application process is rigorous, and you&rsquo;ll need to submit initial research to be accepted. You&rsquo;ll also have to show strong academic and research skills.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To find out more about PhDs:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>search online for universities that interest you</li>
	<li>search for funding opportunities and scholarships</li>
	<li>speak to other academics for advice</li>
</ul>

<h2>6. Other courses</h2>

<p>I&rsquo;ve covered most of the common routes for English language teachers. However, there are many other options.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some examples:&nbsp;</p>

<h4><strong>Teaching Young Learners</strong></h4>

<p>Trinity College London offers the TYLEC, or Teaching Young Learners Extension Certificate. This certificate supports teachers to deepen their practice with specifically teaching learners aged 7&ndash;16. You can find out more <a href="https://www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/teaching-english/TYLEC" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>NILE</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.nile-elt.com/" target="_blank">Norwich Institute of Language Education</a> offers MA programs, CELTAs, and DELTAs as well as a range of other courses, including:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>Learning Differences &amp; Inclusion&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Management</li>
	<li>Materials Development</li>
	<li>Testing &amp; Evaluation</li>
	<li>Teaching English for Academic Purposes</li>
	<li>Content &amp; Language Integrated Learning</li>
</ul>

<h3>7. Independent courses</h3>

<p>With the rise in online learning, many ELT experts have created group programs and online courses in very niche areas. For example:&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Clare Hayward</strong> offers training on <a href="https://hayward-elt-training.com/about/">how to use Canva</a> to create classroom materials.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Michelle Worgan</strong> provides teacher development on <a href="http://www.michelleworgan.com/ " target="_blank">inquiry-based learning</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Katherine Bilsborough and John Hughes</strong> have a course on <a href="http://www.writingeltmaterials.com/  " target="_blank">materials development</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Emily Bryson </strong>(that&rsquo;s me) has courses on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.emilybrysonelt.com/">graphic facilitation and sketchnoting for ELT</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I list more of these opportunities in my <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/teacherpreneur" target="_blank">Teacherpreneurs</a> post, such as coaching, financial management, podcasting, neurodiversity, and publishing academic research.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>8. Ellii.com resources</h2>

<p>If taking on a whole new training course leaves you feeling overwhelmed, Ellii has plenty of other professional development options for you:&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Blogs</strong>: Ellii has countless&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog">blog posts to help you deepen your knowledge of language teaching</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Webinars</strong>: The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@elliiteachers">Ellii for Teachers YouTube channel</a> has a comprehensive selection of webinars, training videos, and demos.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ElliiCon</strong>: Ellii has hosted a few&nbsp;<em>free</em> online conferences with ELT experts from all over the world. You can catch up on previous years at Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@elliiteachers" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>&nbsp;for teachers.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>What professional development courses have you taken? What are your CPD goals? We&rsquo;d love to know here in the comments.</p>
</blockquote>


Getting Started & Moving Forward: Professional Development for ELT 

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<p>As the world gets smaller with technology, teacherpreneurism is becoming more common. Merging the terms &quot;teacher&quot; and &quot;entrepreneur,&quot; teacherpreneurs are teachers who set themselves up in business.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this post, I&rsquo;ll explore how to become a teacherpreneur and give examples that&nbsp;will inspire you on your journey.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>1. Have an idea that solves a problem</b></h2>

<p>The key to success is to find something that your ideal customer NEEDS. If you offer something that improves their lives, saves them time, or helps them achieve their goals, you&rsquo;re on to a winner.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Think about your skills, experiences, and passions. Then consider how you might use these to give your customers something that they couldn&rsquo;t live without.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It&rsquo;s also important to know exactly who your ideal customer is and tailor your offering to them.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>2. Make yourself visible</b></h2>

<p>You&rsquo;re not going to sell anything if no one knows you (or your company) exist! Successful teacherpreneurs know how to market themselves and their products.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can raise your profile by:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>speaking at conferences and online events</li>
	<li>blogging or vlogging</li>
	<li>posting on social media</li>
	<li>building an email list</li>
	<li>starting a podcast</li>
</ul>

<h2><b>3. Find your niche</b></h2>

<p>There&rsquo;s a lot of competition out there, so you need to find a way to stand out. And if you&rsquo;re going to devote a lot of time to your teacherpreneurial ventures, you&rsquo;ll want it to be something you love. Find something you&rsquo;re good at&nbsp;and raise your profile doing it until you&rsquo;re recognized as one of the top experts in your field.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>4. Get a coach or accountability buddy</b></h2>

<p>As a freelancer or teacherpreneur, you may feel like you don&rsquo;t really know where to begin or what to focus on. A business coach can be the supportive line manager that helps you do this (but that you pay for)! They don&rsquo;t come cheap, but they will help you hone your idea, market yourself, and stay on track.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you can&rsquo;t afford a business coach or aren&rsquo;t ready to pay for one, many offer group programs or free taster challenges.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, Rachael Roberts at <a href="https://earnlearnthriveinelt.com/">Earn Live Thrive</a> frequently runs a &quot;Festival of Freelancing,&quot; which is packed with tools to set up your business, plan your marketing, write engaging emails, and overcome negative mindset gremlins. She also has lots of free business-related guides on her site.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://olakowalska.com/">Ola Kowalska</a> is another business coach who is bursting with enthusiasm. Her podcast, <em>Get Richer Teacher</em>,&nbsp;is definitely worth downloading if you&rsquo;re in need of guidance and inspiration. Her website is also full of free guides, blogs, and info to get you started.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alternatively, find a friend with a similar ambition and team up with them to be accountability buddies. You can offer each other constructive criticism and insights to business plans, social media strategies, and&nbsp;a gentle nudge to stay motivated.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5. Look for inspiration&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Look at what others are doing and think about what it is that makes them successful. Perhaps they&rsquo;ve found the perfect problem to solve or maybe they&rsquo;re absolutely brilliant at marketing themselves and attracting customers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some ELTpreneurs that inspire me:&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Ben Buckwold, CEO of Ellii:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>I couldn&rsquo;t write a blog post for Ellii about teacherpreneurism without mentioning our very own CEO, Ben Buckwold! Ben was a teacherpreneur before it was cool! In December 2002, he returned to Canada after years of teaching in Japan. His dream was to set up a subscription-based site offering teachers ready-to-use lessons on every imaginable topic. And so ESL Library, which is now Ellii, was created. And we all know how much it improves teachers&rsquo; lives around the world!</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s the full story: <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/looking-back-on-20-years-of-ellii" target="_blank">Looking Back on 20 Years of Ellii</a>. You might also appreciate his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vhmgjB8UM0" target="_blank">2024 TESOL speech</a>, which talks about Ellii&#39;s journey as a long-term sponsor of the international convention.</p>

<h3>Marek Kiczkowiak, Academic English Now</h3>

<p>Marek has found the perfect problem to solve&mdash;and he solves it to a consistently high standard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His company, <a href="https://academicenglishnow.com/" target="_blank">Academic English Now</a>, helps academics&nbsp;get published in high-impact research publications. This helps them achieve their goals, gain recognition in their field, and secure tenured positions.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Ann Margaret Smith, ELTWell</h3>

<p><a href="https://eltwell.com/" target="_blank">Ann Margaret Smith</a> is one of the leading voices on inclusive language teaching. She has created numerous support packs for learners with specific learning differences and neurodiversities. Her course on supporting learners with neurodiversity is one of the most informative and important professional development courses I have ever done.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Nicola Prentis, The Chilled Investor</h3>

<p>It is often said that you don&rsquo;t go into English language teaching for the money. But if you&rsquo;re reading this post, perhaps you&rsquo;re looking for other routes to financial security. <a href="https://chilledinvestor.com/" target="_blank">Nicola Prentis</a> is an ELT professional who coaches people to make their money work for them &quot;instead of the other way round.&quot; Her courses support other ELTers to make educated financial choices about pensions and investments, to retire earlier, and to work less.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Laura Wilkes, TESOL Pop &amp; Communicating for Impact</h3>

<p><a href="https://communicating-for-impact.com/" target="_blank">Laura</a> has been creating some of the most popular ELT-related podcasts for years. She now wants to share her expertise with other ELT professionals. Creating a podcast can help you share your knowledge with the world and build strong relationships with your audience. And Laura is the perfect person to show you how.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-cc339a55-7fff-232a-775d-f093bf0e5599">What tips would you add to this list? Would you like to be a teacherpreneur? Are there any other teacherpreneurs that inspire you? We&rsquo;d love to know your thoughts and ideas. </b></p>
</blockquote>

<p>And if you&rsquo;d like to introduce entrepreneurism into your classes, here are some lessons:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1681-internet-entrepreneurs" target="_blank">Internet Entrepreneurs</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4061-entrepreneurs-simple-past" target="_blank">Entrepreneurs -&nbsp;Simple Past</a></li>
</ul>


How to Be a Teacherpreneur

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<p>Anyone who does the same job for a long time will have their highs and lows in motivation. This is no different, if perhaps even more common, for teachers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If there&rsquo;s one thing I&rsquo;ve learned from over 20 years in English language teaching, it&rsquo;s that variety is the key to staying motivated. Taking on a new project, signing up for professional development, or changing roles at work are all great ways to keep the passion for teaching alive.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this post, I&rsquo;ll take a look at&nbsp;different pathways you could explore to move upwards or sideways, or to just reignite your love of educating.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Teacher training</h2>

<p>Every teacher has diverse and valuable experiences, skills, and knowledge to share with the world. If you&rsquo;ve carried out some research, trialed something new, or are just absolutely fabulous at a certain aspect of teaching, you can bet others will want to know.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Getting into teacher training can sometimes be daunting, but it is also very rewarding. It can be nerve-racking sharing your skills to&nbsp;rooms full of experienced professionals. However, it&rsquo;s always wonderful to see those techniques being interpreted in different ways&nbsp;and adapted for different contexts.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>To get started, you may want to gain confidence by delivering sessions for your team. You could also look for online or face-to-face conferences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some blog posts you might find useful:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/speaking-at-an-elt-conference-top-tips-for-successful-presentations">Top Tips for Successful Conference Presentations</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/speaking-at-an-elt-conference-demystifying-the-application-process" target="_blank">Speaking at an ELT Conference: Demystifying the Application Process</a></li>
</ul>

<h2>Leadership &amp; management</h2>

<p>This is often the obvious pathway for many careers. Leading a team or managing a school has many benefits.&nbsp;Perhaps the most attractive advantage is increased salary. However, it can also allow you to use and develop your skills to their full potential.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, directors of studies and senior lecturers can be responsible for:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>recruitment &amp; induction</li>
	<li>marketing</li>
	<li>team building</li>
	<li>curriculum development</li>
	<li>client liaison</li>
	<li>sales &amp; promotion</li>
	<li>human resources</li>
</ul>

<p>These are just a few of the skills you could gain in a role as an academic manager. Of course, with these responsibilities can come additional stress. Plus, you&rsquo;d also need to consider whether you&rsquo;d miss being in the classroom.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Research in academia</h2>

<p>Academic research leads the way for advances in teaching methodology. Getting a job as a university lecturer isn&rsquo;t easy, though. First, you&rsquo;ll need to get a PhD. You&rsquo;ll also need to get your research published in peer-reviewed industry journals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, there are other ways to get involved in research. You could sign up for a diploma or a master&rsquo;s degree in TESOL. It&rsquo;s likely that these will have at least one research module.</p>

<p>An alternative is to do some action research. This is when you identify a problem or area of teaching practice you&rsquo;d like to explore and then trial different approaches to it in your classroom.</p>

<p>You can find more information&nbsp;in this <a href="https://www.emilybrysonelt.com/action-research-a-sketchnote/ ">active research sketchnote</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="action-research" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3687/content_Ellii_Doing-action-research-sketchnote-Emily-Bryson.png" /></p>

<h2>Blogging &amp; writing</h2>

<p>Writing articles for ELT magazines and blogging can be a fun <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4928-side-hustles" target="_blank">side hustle</a>. If you enjoy writing, it&rsquo;s a great way to share your expertise with the world and build your online presence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To get started, you&rsquo;ll probably need to contribute on a voluntary basis first. Publications such as <a href="https://www.iatefl.org/get-involved">IATEFL Voices</a>, <a href="https://www.hltmag.co.uk/">Pilgrims Humanising Language Teaching</a>,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.natecla.org.uk/content/566/Language-Issues-The-ESOL-journal">Language Issues</a>&nbsp;(NATECLA) are always looking for articles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;d prefer to get paid, do some online networking with the marketing teams in larger ELT organizations. You could also contact <a href="https://www.modernenglishteacher.com/write-for-us" target="_blank">Modern English Teacher</a>, which offers a small payment&nbsp;for articles.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Having your own blog is a clever way to be invited to write articles for other organizations. I wouldn&rsquo;t be here writing this post for Ellii if Tara hadn&rsquo;t seen one of my own posts.</p>

<h2><b>Materials development</b></h2>

<p>If you love creating your own resources and aren&rsquo;t overly motivated by money, this could be a good route for you. In general, ELT content writers and editors tend to earn about the same as teachers. Contrary to myth, this pathway isn&rsquo;t paved with gold!</p>

<p>However, developing content that engages learners can be really enjoyable. You get to work with international teams, meet new people, and add a little piece of you to language classes. I personally also find it quite therapeutic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you&rsquo;d like to explore this route, I&rsquo;d recommend developing your own bank of resources. You can then share these online to build your profile or use them as samples to apply for work. You could also sell them on educational marketplace sites.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To get started, follow experts in the field like <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhugheselt/" target="_blank">John Hughes</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinebilsborough-eltwriter-eltteachertrainer/" target="_blank">Katherine Bilsborough</a>, who run their own <strong>materials development training </strong>course. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/atenajuszko/" target="_blank">Atena Juzsko</a> often shares jobs posts too. And <a href="https://www.publishingprofessionals.co.uk/" target="_blank">Freelance Publishing Professionals</a> is a membership organization that post regular materials development opportunities and advice. They also host frequent training and networking events.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s a sketchnote I did for their <strong>ELT Freelancers AwayDay</strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="networking sketchnote" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3688/content_Ellii_networking-tips-sketchnote-Emily-Bryson.png" /></p>

<h2><b>Publishing, sales &amp; marketing</b></h2>

<p>I often feel that this route can be overlooked by teachers looking for a new career path. However, every ELT publisher has a variety of roles that require industry knowledge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Working in sales and marketing can mean trips to conferences in other countries. It can also bring opportunities to visit schools in various locations. You&rsquo;ll need enthusiasm, presentation skills, and a love of socializing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If this interests you, check out the vacancies pages of ELT organisations.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>Teacherpreneur</b></h2>

<p>It&rsquo;s becoming ever more possible to create your own job. Choose your niche, promote yourself, and build a variety of products and income streams.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Being a teacherpreneur means you could get paid for what you&rsquo;re most passionate about. This could be:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>creating materials&nbsp;</li>
	<li>teacher development (e.g., podcasting, graphic facilitation, financial or digital literacy skills)</li>
	<li>teaching a particular niche of student (e.g., artists, soccer players, activists)</li>
</ul>

<p>So that&rsquo;s just a few ideas of different roles you can have in ELT. It&rsquo;s not just about teaching! Look around for inspiration and opportunities!</p>

<blockquote>
<p>What roles are you most interested in? What other opportunities are there? Any advice to share on how to get started in these pathways? We&rsquo;d love to hear your ideas.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>If you&rsquo;d like to support your students to consider their own careers, here are some Ellii lessons and collections:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/everyday-topics/jobs-employment" target="_blank">Jobs &amp; Employment</a> (Collection)</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/career-pathways">Career Pathways</a>&nbsp;(Ellii Poll)</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2099-how-to-write-a-resume " target="_blank">How to Write a Resume</a>&nbsp;(Lesson)</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1815-jobs " target="_blank">Jobs</a>&nbsp;(Lesson)</li>
</ul>


Beyond Teaching: ELT Careers to Keep You Motivated

https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/post/title_image/2512/Emily_Beyond-Teaching-ELT-Careers-to-Keep-you-Motivated_Banner.png

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

Teaching with Ellii

<p>There are many reasons to bring environmental matters into the ELT classroom:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>2023 was the warmest year on record.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Greenhouse gas levels are rising.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ice caps and glaciers are melting.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Sea levels are rising.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The number or extreme weather events has increased.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>This may sound like a scary list, but that is exactly why climate change is&nbsp;an important topic to discuss in class. These things are&nbsp;happening to the planet we live on right now and, consequently, the environment is&nbsp;a subject of global importance.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Including green-themed lessons in the ELT classroom can raise awareness of the climate crisis and inspire learners to make tiny changes to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this post, I&rsquo;ll explore some ways to do this:&nbsp;</p>

<h2>1. Follow green ELT accounts</h2>

<p>One of the best ways to get ideas for greening your classroom is by following the experts. I always feel inspired by the content on <a href="https://eltfootprint.org/" target="_blank">ELT Footprint</a>, <a href="https://green-action-elt.uk/" target="_blank">Green Action ELT</a>, and <a href="https://renewableenglish.com/" target="_blank">Renewable English</a> socials. I also love being part of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/eltfootprint/" target="_blank">ELT Footprint </a>Facebook group, where I can share my own ideas, ask questions, and find out about events.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>2. Take action</h2>

<p>Some of the best opportunities for students to learn English happen outside of the classroom. This can provide a chance for learners to use their language skills to work together towards a shared goal. For example:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>visiting a site of environmental importance (e.g., a recycling plant)</li>
	<li>attending a&nbsp;green event (e.g., a conference, rally, or concert)</li>
	<li>organizing a fundraiser (e.g., creating a recipe book to reduce food waste)</li>
	<li>creating something with upcycled materials (e.g., a greenhouse from plastic bottles)</li>
	<li>taking part in a community cleanup (e.g., a gardening event or litter pickup)</li>
	<li>starting a green-themed petition (e.g., to have more bicycle lanes)</li>
	<li>Plant something (e.g., trees, vegetables, fruit)</li>
</ul>

<h2>3. Get inspired</h2>

<p>At Ellii, we absolutely love Ali Waters, daughter of ELT green guru Harry Waters. This unstoppable human has a mission, and she is on track to succeed. On her 11th birthday, Ali launched the #1millionlitterpick challenge. The goal is to collect and recycle one million pieces of plastic litter.</p>

<p>To get involved, get your students to collect as much litter as possible. Then count it and log it on &quot;Ali&rsquo;s Map&quot;&nbsp;app. You could also take photos&nbsp;and share your own successes with the world. This will spread the word, help Ali to achieve her goals, and make the world&nbsp;a cleaner, shinier place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Learn all about <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/one-in-a-million-plastic-litter-challenge">Ali&#39;s one-in-a-million mission</a> in this post.</p>

<p>Here are some Ellii lessons you could use to introduce the theme of litter:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3308-ocean-garbage " target="_blank">Ocean Garbage</a>: Discussion Starters</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1212-garbage-solutions" target="_blank">Garbage Solutions</a>: Discussion Starters</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1246-composting" target="_blank">Composting</a>: Discussion Starters</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1281-food-waste" target="_blank">Food Waste</a>: Discussion Starters</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4219-throw-it-out " target="_blank">Throw It Out!</a>: Photo Prompts</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1462-plastic " target="_blank">Plastic</a>: Famous Things</li>
</ul>

<h2>4. Encourage debate &amp; discussion</h2>

<p>As with any topic of global importance, students will bring their own experiences and opinions to class. It&rsquo;s important to give them the opportunity to share their ideas in an open and respectful way.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls" target="_blank">Ellii Polls</a> are a great way to do this. They allow learners to anonymously share their views <em>and</em>&nbsp;they provide supported discussion questions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Take this poll on <a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/water-conservation" target="_blank">Water Conservation</a>, for example:&nbsp;</p>

<p>Students <strong>scan the QR code</strong> to get started and then enter their name. Once everyone has joined the poll, the teacher can start the sequence of questions, discussion starters, and vocabulary.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Ellii Poll QR Code Example" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3610/content_Screen_Shot_2024-02-23_at_11.00.49_AM.png" /></p>

<p>Students answer a question and then&nbsp;stop to discuss the responses, which they can see on the teacher&#39;s screen.&nbsp;After the responses come in, you could take the opportunity to encourage discussion around:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>whether students are surprised by the results</li>
	<li>students&rsquo; feelings about the results</li>
	<li>possible reasons for the results</li>
	<li>how to change the results</li>
</ul>

<p><img alt="Ellii Poll Question example" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3611/content_Screen_Shot_2024-02-23_at_11.02.07_AM.png" /></p>

<p>After the initiating <strong>yes/no question</strong>, you can&nbsp;continue the poll sequence to cover vocabulary input, agreeing and disagreeing, and more in-depth discussions.</p>

<p><img alt="Ellii Poll Vocabulary" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3612/content_Screen_Shot_2024-02-23_at_11.03.15_AM.png" /></p>

<p>Next, students get a chance to <strong>agree or disagree</strong> about a set of statements related to the topic.</p>

<p><img alt="agree or disagree example in an Ellii Poll" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3615/content_Screen_Shot_2024-02-23_at_12.16.23_PM.png" /><br />
<br />
After that, students see&nbsp;further poll questions that allow them to <strong>elaborate.</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;<img alt="Ellii Poll questions" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3613/content_Screen_Shot_2024-02-23_at_11.04.36_AM.png" /></p>

<p>Finally, if your students seem interestsed in the topic, you can find related lessons at the end of the poll. Note that the polls are free for anyone to use; however, the lessons&nbsp;require a paid subscription.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<img alt="Related lessons in Ellii Polls" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3614/content_Screen_Shot_2024-02-23_at_11.14.03_AM.png" /><br />
<br />
If you like the sound of this, you can check out Elli&rsquo;s ever-growing bank of<a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls " target="_blank"> poll topics</a>.</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s a few green ones to get you started:&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/food-waste" target="_blank">Food Waste</a><br />
<a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/water-conservation" target="_blank">Water Conservation</a><br />
<a href="https://ellii.com/gather/ellii-polls/climate-change">Climate Change</a>&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5. Browse the collections</h2>

<p>Finding ways to incorporate green issues into the classroom is simple when you have Ellii. All of the awesome environmentally themed lessons you can use in class are in&nbsp;this <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/global-issues/the-environment">Environment</a> collection. There is also a collection that curates Ellii&#39;s content with&nbsp;the UN&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/collections/global-issues/sustainable-development-goals" target="_blank">Sustainable Development Goals</a>&nbsp;in mind.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>How do you include green topics in your classes? What tips and teaching ideas would you add?&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>
