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

Teaching with Ellii

Discover what's new or coming soon, including upcoming lessons and resources and product feature updates. 

Announcements

<p>Are you teaching US history and government and&nbsp;preparing students for the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test? You are changing lives, and Ellii wants to help!</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Yes! Ellii is developing test prep materials for the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>We began working on new content as soon as the notice went out about the new test (Sep&nbsp;18, 2025). If your students are preparing for the naturalization test, you&nbsp;can expect plenty of new content on Ellii in the next few months. We&#39;ll be updating this post as new content is available.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>What has changed with the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test?&nbsp;</h3>

<ul>
	<li>If applicants applied before or within 30 days of the notice (Sep&nbsp;18, 2025), they take the 2008 test.</li>
	<li>If applicants&nbsp;applied 30 days or more after this notice (Sep&nbsp;18, 2025), they take the 2025 test.</li>
	<li>On the new (2025) test, the&nbsp;USCIS officer will ask applicants to answer up to 20 out of&nbsp;128 civics test questions&nbsp;to prove their&nbsp;knowledge of&nbsp;US&nbsp;history and government.</li>
	<li>USCIS officers will&nbsp;stop&nbsp;after the&nbsp;applicant answers&nbsp;12 questions correctly OR misses 9 questions.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Note:</strong> Scroll down for useful external links to resources regarding these updates.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Media Gallery</h2>

<p>Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;new <a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep" target="_blank">US Civics &amp; Test Prep</a> videos build history and government knowledge while offering practical test-taking tips. Choose from short, digestible clips or full-length video lessons with chapter divisions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep/colonial-period-independence" target="_blank"><img alt="US Civics Test Prep videos" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5010/content_Civics-Video-Colonial-Period-and-Independence_OG-play.png" /></a></p>

<p>The first 18 <a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep" rel="noopener" target="_blank">US Civics &amp; Test Prep videos</a> are available now!&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep/the-1800s" target="_blank"><img alt="https://ellii.com/media/videos/us-civics-test-prep/the-1800s" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5011/content_Civics-Video-1800s_OG-play.png" /></a></p>

<p>Videos include a real teacher from Ellii, real&nbsp;photographs, useful drawings, and real questions and possible answers from the test.</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/video/recent-american-history" target="_blank"><img alt="Recent US History video " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5055/content_Screen_Shot_2025-11-19_at_3.11.32_PM.png" /></a></p>

<p>More videos are coming soon.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Study Packs</h2>

<p>Ellii Study Packs allow you to assign your students bundled content easily with one click. Visit our <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?category=45&amp;page=1" target="_blank">US Civics</a> category in Courses &amp; Packs&nbsp;and watch this content&nbsp;grow.<br />
<br />
If you and your students like Ellii&#39;s test prep videos, you&#39;ll love the NEW study packs. Each video lesson comes with practice tasks, including vocabulary review, comprehension, and speaking practice. In our first release, <strong><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/colonial-period-independence/materials" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Colonial Period &amp; Independence</a></strong>, students practice questions <strong>73&ndash;89 </strong>of the civics test.</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/colonial-period-independence/materials" target="_blank"><img alt="Colonial Period &amp; Independence Study Pack on Ellii " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5012/content_US-Civics-Test-Prep-Colonial-Period-and-Independence_OG.png" /></a></p>

<p>This follow-up pack on <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/the-1800s/materials" target="_blank"><b>The 1800s</b></a><b>&nbsp;</b>features video lessons and practice about western expansion and the Civil War. Students practice questions <strong>90&ndash;99 </strong>of the civics test. Expand your students&#39;&nbsp;knowledge with related lessons from our library, such as lessons on historic figures from this period, including <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3185-harriet-tubman" target="_blank">Harriet Tubman</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3473-frederick-douglass" target="_blank">Frederick Douglass</a>, and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2881-susan-b-anthony" target="_blank">Susan B. Anthony</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/the-1800s/materials" target="_blank"><img alt="The 1800s US Civics Test Prep Study Pack on Ellii " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5013/content_US-Civics-1800s_OG.png" /></a></p>

<p>The third&nbsp;pack features video lessons and practice about conflict and change in <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/recent-american-history/materials" target="_blank">Recent US History</a> (the 1900s and early 2000s). Students practice questions <strong>100&ndash;118&nbsp;</strong>of the civics test. Expand your students&#39;&nbsp;knowledge with related lessons from our library, such as lessons on historic figures from this period, including <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1535-franklin-d-roosevelt" target="_blank">Franklin Roosevelt</a>, the <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2856-the-vietnam-war" target="_blank">Vietnam War,</a> and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1466-september-11th" target="_blank">September 11th</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/recent-american-history/materials" target="_blank"><img alt="Recent US History US Civics Test Prep Study Pack: The 1900s and early 2000s" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5054/content_US-Civics-Recent-US-History_OG.png" /></a></p>

<p>You can also send content individually to just the students who are studying for the test&nbsp;(NEW feature).</p>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/introducing-individual-student-assignments" target="_blank"><img alt="individual assignments on Ellii " src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5014/content_Screen_Shot_2025-11-14_at_11.12.24_AM.png" /></a></p>

<p>We have six more packs in the works&nbsp;and will be releasing the videos and lessons as they are ready!</p>

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Collections</h2>

<h3><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics" target="_blank">US Citizenship &amp; Naturalization</a></h3>

<p>This<strong> </strong>collection category<strong> </strong>offers six ready-made collections of EL Civics content focusing on US law, government, history, and culture. This content will help prepare ELLs for life and citizenship in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lessons/american-presidents" target="_blank">American Presidents&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/american-institutions" target="_blank">American Institutions</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/american-trailblazers" target="_blank">American Trailblazers</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/american-holidays" target="_blank">American Holidays</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/us-history" target="_blank">American History</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/us-civics/us-landmarks" target="_blank">American Landmarks</a></li>
</ul>

<h3><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/el-civics" target="_blank">EL Civics</a></h3>

<p>This collection category features curated content for pre-approved civics objectives <strong>(COAAPs)</strong> selected by California agencies supporting adult ed. Search for content that is specifically related to the needs assessment of your students and use this content toward&nbsp;the 30 hours of instruction your learners need before doing related assessments.</p>

<h3><a href="https://ellii.com/collections/nations-regions/americana" target="_blank">The United States</a></h3>

<p>Our content library is full of lessons about American facts, figures, and firsts. This collection highlights some of our most popular lesson content related to the US, including presidents, famous people, and holidays.</p>

<h2>Popular Ellii Lessons</h2>

<p>Use the <strong>Search</strong> field on Ellii to find lessons on topics you are covering, and reach out to us if you can&#39;t find what you&#39;re looking for. Here are some popular US civics lessons:</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5757-us-immigration-rights" target="_blank">US Immigration Rights</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2277-american-citizenship" target="_blank">American Citizenship</a> (in editing)</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3836-n-400-vocabulary" target="_blank">N-400 Vocabulary</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2676-the-united-states" target="_blank">The United States </a>(Listening in English)</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2263-map-of-the-us" target="_blank">Map of the US</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1505-george-washington" target="_blank">George Washington</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2779-trail-of-tears" target="_blank">The Trail of Tears</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3172-the-us-constitution" target="_blank">The US Constitution</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5636-the-bill-of-rights" target="_blank">The Bill of Rights</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4037-the-declaration-of-independence" target="_blank">The Declaration of Independence</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2764-the-supreme-court-us" target="_blank">The Supreme Court</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3381-election-day-us" target="_blank">Election Day</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/video/republicans-democrats" target="_blank">Republicans Vs. Democrats</a> (explainer video)</li>
</ul>

<h3>Coming Soon on Ellii&nbsp;</h3>

<ul>
	<li>30 + more videos</li>
	<li>Six + US Test Prep Study Packs</li>
	<li>NEW comprehensive civics&nbsp;lessons focused on US History &amp; Government&nbsp;</li>
	<li>US Test Prep Speaking Practice Tests</li>
</ul>

<h3>Useful External Resources for 2025 Updates</h3>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/18/2025-18050/notice-of-implementation-of-2025-naturalization-civics-test" target="_blank">Notice of Implementation of 2025 Naturalization Civics Test </a>(09.18.2025)</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/brochures/USCIS-2025-Civics-Test-Study-Guide.pdf" target="_blank">One Nation, One People Study Guide (2025)</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-Civics-Test-128-Questions-and-Answers-09.15.2025.pdf" target="_blank">128 Civics Questions (2025)</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/check-for-test-updates" target="_blank">USCIS Comparison of 2008 / 2025 Test</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5n2h5rdfojhykxegok15a/Natz_Test_Comparison_A_2008-2025.pdf?rlkey=47rpmtohvcrqazh1uf17h8o7k&amp;e=1&amp;st=r1lxr88r&amp;dl=0" target="_blank">Bill Bliss&#39;s Comparison chart of 2008 / 2025 Test</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship" target="_blank">USCIS Citizenship Resource Center</a></li>
</ul>


2025 US Naturalization Civics Test Prep Now on Ellii

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<p>Ellii<strong>&nbsp;</strong>is making<strong>&nbsp;</strong>some changes to our navigation system to simplify how you find, save, and assign materials, and how you generally get around the site. The changes will go live on October 2, 2025.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Here&rsquo;s what has changed:</h3>

<ol>
	<li>Our top navigation bar</li>
	<li>Our Lesson Section Index page</li>
	<li>Our Lesson Section pages</li>
	<li>The &quot;Like&quot;&nbsp;feature<br />
	&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<h2>Let&rsquo;s dive into each...</h2>

<h1><b>1. We&#39;ve simplified the top navigation</b></h1>

<p>We&#39;ve made three changes to the top navigation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>First, our navigation bar has been simplified. The Materials tab, Classes tab, and Saved tab have been <strong>combined into one universal menu</strong> we call the &quot;<strong>Everything</strong><em>&quot;</em>&nbsp;menu. So now, to get to any of our three main areas of the site, you simply need to click one button. Click &quot;Everything<em>&quot;</em>!</p>

<p>Second, our search tool has been brought to the middle of the navigation bar, making it more accessible and easier&nbsp;to spot.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>And third, our administrator&nbsp;tools&nbsp;for managing your&nbsp;team and viewing usage reports have been conveniently moved to the Accounts menu on the right side of the navigation bar.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dsy605WReDk?si=Qc240yMiBBnoyUee" width="640"></iframe></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h1><b>2. The Lesson Page Index now includes genre filters, pins, and a plain-text list view</b></h1>

<p>Our redesigned navigation in our Lesson Page Index includes a new <strong>genre tag filter</strong> at the top of the page, so you no longer have to scroll forever to get to a particular section you&rsquo;re interested in. Just click a genre tag to filter to your favorite lesson sections.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
We&rsquo;ve also moved our&nbsp;<strong>Resources</strong>&nbsp;into the Lesson Page. What used to live on its own page is now available as one of the filter genres at the top. Inside, you&rsquo;ll find all the same great resources such as Assessment &amp; Reflections, Certificates, Grammar Charts, and more, now easier to access in one place.</p>

<p>We&rsquo;ve also added a&nbsp;feature that lets you pin the lesson sections you use the most and access them all on one dedicated <strong>personalized Pinned page</strong>.</p>

<p>Lastly, we built a <strong>plain-text index view</strong> to quickly see and scan all lesson section titles in a single, simple snapshot page.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2G8z_Pl-Aw?si=jIlKgjUdx7IfFZfO" width="640"></iframe></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h1><b>3. Each lesson section&nbsp;now includes&nbsp;category tags, and all lessons have an instant &quot;Add to class&quot;&nbsp;button</b></h1>

<p>Most lesson sections on Ellii include categories to appropriately divide the many lessons by theme or&nbsp;target structure. In the past, you would sometimes find yourself endlessly scrolling&nbsp;to get to a category lower down the page. Now, we&rsquo;ve converted our <strong>categories into</strong> <strong>filter tags</strong>&nbsp;at the top of each lesson section, so that you can instantly jump to the category you&rsquo;re most interested in with just one click.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We&rsquo;ve also <strong>added a + button</strong><strong> </strong>next to every lesson title on the index page so that you can add that lesson to a class without having to click into it first. Super convenient!&nbsp;</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/avb6x-eFX1E?si=VkSsAjkoVV0F77cO" width="640"></iframe></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h1><b>4. Likes have been retired. Your old likes have a new home.</b></h1>

<p>We have retired the &quot;Like&quot;&nbsp;button on Ellii. If you were using the &quot;Like&quot; button before, all of the materials you saved have been moved into a new folder&nbsp;in your Folders area. The name of the folder is aptly called &quot;<strong>My Likes</strong>,&quot;&nbsp;but you can change the name to anything you prefer. From now on, you can put your favorite lessons into that folder.</p>

<p><strong>Why did we retire the &quot;Like&quot;&nbsp;button? </strong>1) Because it was not being used&nbsp;often. More people were putting content into their folders than utilizing the &quot;Like&quot;&nbsp;button. And 2) we think that it should possibly be reintroduced down the road to specifically indicate if you liked a lesson you taught, rather than be used as a favorites/saving&nbsp;feature. We think folders are better suited&nbsp;for saving your favorite items.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IQ1H9eIefRA?si=8_wjLvrOrSaEyUX_" width="640"></iframe></div>

<h1>&nbsp;</h1>

<h1><b>Where are the English Storylines?&nbsp;</b></h1>

<p>Our English Storylines courses (Everyday Idioms, and Detective Series) have been moved to our Courses section. <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?category=2&amp;material=courses&amp;page=1">You can find them here.</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h1><b>Supporting Teachers Through Change</b></h1>

<p>We understand that change can sometimes feel overwhelming&mdash;especially if you&rsquo;ve been using Ellii for a long time and are comfortable with the way things were. These updates are designed to make Ellii easier to navigate, cleaner in design, and more intuitive for all teachers, no matter how you use the platform. Our goal is to give you back valuable time so you can focus on teaching and connecting with your students. We&rsquo;re confident that once you&rsquo;ve had a chance to explore the new design, you&rsquo;ll find it not just different, but a big step forward.</p>


A New Way to Navigate Ellii

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<p>Photographs are wonderful teaching tools. They capture moments in time and help us to tell stories and facilitate discussions.</p>

<p>In this blog, I share some ideas for how to use Ellii&#39;s <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lessons/photo-prompts">Photos of the Week</a>&nbsp;to bring current affairs and global news into the ELT classroom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our Photos of the Week section shares five photos each week from our media partner, <strong>The Associated Press</strong>. These photos depict diverse stories from around the world&nbsp;and help learners to explore these topics in more detail.</p>

<p>You can use these hot off the press&nbsp;or take a step back in time to find out more about&nbsp;key stories from recent history.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>1. Assign as speaking homework</h2>

<p>These photo prompts&nbsp;are designed for self-directed learning. You can assign them to a class or an individual student to prepare them for an upcoming lesson&nbsp;or to give them additional practice of something you&#39;ve been working on in class.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Students are prompted to look at a photo, read a short description, and talk about the photo. The instruction is deliberately flexible to allow students to add their own ideas, knowledge, or creativity to&nbsp;the topic.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example, take this photo of women voting in Guinea:&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="screenshot of women from Guinea" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4940/content_Guinea-Vote.jpg" /></p>

<p>You could encourage students to:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>Describe the photo using adjectives</li>
	<li>Say what the people in the photo might be thinking or saying</li>
	<li>Say what they know about the topic&mdash;and what they&#39;d like to know more about</li>
	<li>Predict what might happen next&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Guess what happened before the photo was taken</li>
	<li>Imagine what the story is about</li>
</ul>

<p>Students don&#39;t necessarily need to know the backstory to the photo in order to use it as a speaking prompt. The aim is to get them talking and using their English. But you could let them research the story more&nbsp;before recording their answer.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>2. Discuss in class</h2>

<p>These photos work really well in class. Simply present one at a time or all of them at once and ask students to share what they know&nbsp;and what they&nbsp;would like to know about each photo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here is a photo of Venezuelan migrants on a boat between Panama and Colombia:&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Venezuelan migrants" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4941/content_Venezuelan-Boat.jpg" /></p>

<p>You could ask the students:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>What can you see?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>What&nbsp;do you know about this story or place?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>How does this photo make you feel?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>How do you think the people in the photo feel?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>What would you do in this situation?</li>
</ul>

<p>Before the lesson, you could read about each story and share some interesting extra information. You could also facilitate some debate around each photo.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>3. Improve research skills</h2>

<p>These photo prompts are perfect for developing research skills. They can serve as a introduction to the topic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Have students work in pairs or small groups. Have them&nbsp;choose a photo that intrigues them. Ask them to write a list of all the questions that they have about the photo.</p>

<p>Let&#39;s use this photo as an example:&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Melanie Santiler" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4942/content_Havana.jpg" /></p>

<p>Students may write questions such as:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>Who is Melanie Santiler?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>What kind of music does she play?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Who else plays at Shangri La in Havana?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>In what ways is the music scene in Havana changing?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Once they have a list of questions, have them research the answers online and take notes. Finally, have them share their findings.&nbsp;Some ways they could do this include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>a vlog</li>
	<li>a presentation</li>
	<li>a poster</li>
	<li>a sketchnote or infographic</li>
	<li>a blog post</li>
	<li>a social media post</li>
	<li>a news article</li>
	<li>a role-play&nbsp;interview of&nbsp;one of the people in the photo</li>
</ul>

<p>Here are some further classroom ideas, taking an inquiry-based learning approach:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/inquiry-based-learning-a-quick-guide-of-elt-professionals">Inquiry-Based Learning: A Quick Guide for ELT Professionals</a></li>
</ul>

<p>If you&#39;d like some more ideas&nbsp;on how to use photos in class, check out these blog posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-one-image-can-develop-visual-literacy-and-critical-thinking">How One Image Can Develop Visual Literacy &amp; Critcial Thinking Skills</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-use-pictures-as-grammar-prompts">How to Use Pictures as Grammar Prompts</a></li>
</ul>

<p>How do you use photos in class? How would you use <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lessons/photo-prompts">Photos of the Week</a>? Share your ideas with other teachers in the comments!</p>


How to Use Photos of the Week

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<p><em>This post answers frequently asked questions about Ellii&#39;s Placement Tests. For general questions about Ellii&#39;s assessment content, view this related post: <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/ellii-assessments" target="_blank">How to Find Assessments on Ellii</a></em></p>

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Placement Test (<em>Autograded</em>)</h2>

<p>The <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5606-ellii-placement-test-autograded" target="_blank">Ellii Placement Test </a>(autograded) is designed to help teachers or administrators&nbsp;determine the Ellii level of a new English language student. This short, autograded test does not include writing and speaking tasks.&nbsp;Students have&nbsp;<strong>30 minutes</strong>&nbsp;to complete the Ellii Placement Test. There is also a printable version with downloadable audio available if schools prefer this method.</p>

<p>The Ellii Placement Test (autograded) has 30 multiple-choice questions and is divided into 3 sections:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Part 1: Listening (3 recordings, 9 questions)<br />
Part 2: Grammar (12 questions)<br />
Part 3: Reading (3 readings, 9 questions)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For the most accurate scoring, teachers should encourage&nbsp;students to skip questions they can&#39;t answer rather than guessing.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><strong>Score Range = Ellii Level</strong><br />
<br />
0-3% = Pre Beg<br />
4&ndash;17% = Low Beg<br />
18-40% = High Beg<br />
41-63% = Low Int<br />
64-83% = High Int<br />
84-97% = High Int &ndash; Adv<br />
98-100% = Adv</p>
</blockquote>

<p>After completing the assessment, students are assigned a score and suggested a level placement. This helps teachers decide which Ellii materials to use with their students.<br />
<br />
The type of level teachers&nbsp;see is based on the settings they have selected on their <strong>Account</strong> page (Ellii, CLB, CEFR, ELD, NRS). A percentage score will also be shown.</p>

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Placement Test (<em>Speaking &amp; Writing</em>)</h2>

<p>The<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4226-ellii-placement-test-writing-speaking" target="_blank"> Ellii Placement Test (Writing &amp; Speaking)</a> assesses all four skills and is designed to help teachers determine the Ellii level of a new English language student. Teachers can also consult our&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/equivalencies">Equivalency Scale</a>&nbsp;to determine which materials are best suited for their&nbsp;students based on their level preference.</p>

<p>We recommend giving students a time limit of&nbsp;<strong>60 minutes</strong>&nbsp;to complete this test in order to get the most accurate level placement. If assigning the digital version, teachers can include this guideline as a note: &quot;Please use a maximum of 60 minutes to take this test. I will see the time taken after you submit your answers.&quot;</p>

<p>A printable version with suggested rubrics for the speaking and writing portion is available in the Teacher PDF. If students are taking the digital version, teachers may want to share expectations so students understand what they will be looking for in a response. There is also an <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4798-ellii-placement-test-ireland">Irish version</a> of this test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This test is divided into 5 sections:</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Part 1: Listening (6 recordings, 12 questions, 20%)<br />
Part 2: Grammar (16 questions, 27%)<br />
Part 3: Reading (3 readings, 9 questions, 15%)<br />
Part 4: Writing (3 short answers, 1 long answer, 22%)<br />
Part 5: Speaking (1 long answer, 16%)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For the most accurate scoring, students should be encouraged to skip questions they can&#39;t answer rather than guessing. Here is the suggested level placement for the full test with speaking and writing portions.</p>

<blockquote>
<p><strong>Score Range = Ellii Level</strong><br />
<br />
0-3% = Pre Beg<br />
4&ndash;17% = Low Beg<br />
18-40% = High Beg<br />
41-63% = Low Int<br />
64-83% = High Int<br />
84-97% = High Int &ndash; Adv<br />
98-100% = Adv</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The score and suggested level will help teachers decide which Ellii materials to use with their students. The type of level teachers see is&nbsp;based on the settings they have set up on their Account page (Ellii, CLB, CEFR, ELD, NRS). A percentage score will also be shown.&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Exit Test</h2>

<p>To assess students&#39; gains since they took the autograded <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5606-ellii-placement-test-autograded" target="_blank">Ellii Placement Test</a> or to use an alternative version of the autograded Ellii Placement Test, teachers can assign the&nbsp;<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5607-ellii-exit-test-autograded">Ellii Exit Test</a>.&nbsp;This is an additional autograded proficiency test with different questions at the same difficulty and with the same number of questions as the autograded Ellii Placement Test. Some teachers also use it to deter cheating or to offer extra practice taking assessments. Students have 30 minutes to complete the test.&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Proficiency Level Account Settings</h2>

<p>Under <strong>Account</strong> settings (top right on Ellii), teachers can adjust their level preferences to the ones they want to see on the materials. Teachers choose the&nbsp;generic&nbsp;<strong>Ellii</strong> level (Pre Beg &ndash; Adv) with the option to add one of the following level systems:&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p><strong>Canadian Language Benchmarks: </strong>CLB 1&ndash;12<br />
<strong>Common European Framework: </strong>CEFR A0&ndash;C2<br />
<strong>English Language Development:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>ELD 1&ndash;6<br />
<strong>National Reporting System: </strong>NRS 1&ndash;6</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://ellii.com/equivalencies" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4927/content_Screen_Shot_2025-09-18_at_1.54.43_PM.png" /></a></p>

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Equivalency Scale</h2>

<p>If you want to know more about Ellii&#39;s levels, consider reviewing our <a href="https://ellii.com/equivalencies" target="_blank">Equivalency Scale</a>. You can find this comparison scale on the footer of the site.&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<h2>Ellii Solo</h2>

<p>If your school has <a href="https://ellii.com/solo" target="_blank">Ellii Solo</a>, Ellii&#39;s self-study solution designed for pre-enrollment learning paths, computer lab programs, and independent learning initiatives, students will take the <strong>Ellii Placement Test </strong>when they first begin the program. This test is the same autograded test that teachers assign on Ellii. After taking the test, students will be directed to ready-made pathways of self-study packs and courses most appropriate for their level. The proficiency level will be displayed the way the administrator has chosen (e.g., Ellii + CLB).<br />
<br />
<img alt="Ellii Solo Level" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4928/content_Screen_Shot_2025-09-18_at_3.25.40_PM.png" /><br />
Students must complete a pathway or retake the placement test in order to unlock higher-level pathways.&nbsp;<br />
<img alt="Ellii Solo Pathways" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4929/content_Screen_Shot_2025-09-18_at_3.35.56_PM.png" /></p>

<p>Students using Ellii Solo can also access the&nbsp;Library if they choose to explore courses, packs, and videos&nbsp;without using the guided pathways.</p>

<p><img alt="Ellii Solo Navigation bar" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4930/content_Screen_Shot_2025-09-18_at_3.37.18_PM.png" />We hope <a href="https://ellii.com/resources/assessment-tools" target="_blank">Ellii&#39;s diagnostic assessments</a> help you and your learners find the content and courseware you need to ensure proficiency success!</p>


All about the Ellii Placement Test

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Find quick links to each episode of the Teacher Think-Aloud podcast, hosted by Shélynn Riel and Anna Ciriani-Dean and sponsored by Ellii.  

Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast

<p>Reflection is a powerful tool for English language teachers. In Part 2 of their collaboration with the&nbsp;<a href="https://diesol.org/welcome-to-the-diesol-podcast/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">DIESOL Podcast</a>&nbsp;team, Sh&eacute; and Anna of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>&nbsp;pick up their conversation with Brent Warner and Ixchell Reyes and explore the nuances of reflective practice, moving beyond foundational theories to actionable steps. From unexpected &quot;golden moments&quot; of inspiration during a dream or a walk&nbsp;to the more structured approaches of journaling and goal-setting, the hosts and guests share personal experiences and insights on making reflection a meaningful part of a teacher&#39;s professional life.</p>

<blockquote>&quot;Reflection doesn&rsquo;t have to be polished. It just has to be honest&mdash;that&rsquo;s how you&rsquo;re going to get the most out of it!&quot; &mdash;Sh&eacute;lynn Riel</blockquote>

<p>The episode emphasizes that reflection doesn&#39;t have to be a daunting task. It can be iterative, allowing teachers to discover what works best for them without the pressure of perfection. The discussion highlights the importance of carving out dedicated time for reflection, even if it&#39;s just a few minutes, to foster professional growth and prevent burnout. They introduce the concept of &quot;Reflection for Action,&quot; where insights from past experiences guide future planning and long-term professional development goals.</p>

<p>The team also dives into innovative tech tools that can enhance reflective practice, such as &quot;Future Me&quot; for sending future self-emails, Marco Polo for asynchronous video conversations, video recordings for self-observation, and&nbsp;AI chatbots as reflective partners. The episode also underscores the invaluable role of accountability partners and professional learning networks. If you&#39;re looking to transform your teaching practice and discover new ways to reflect, tune into the full episode for a rich and inspiring discussion!</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhXN052zZJg?si=rmttQhbKpVECJA74" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br />
🎙️&nbsp;<strong>Listen now on your favorite platform:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>🔗&nbsp;<strong>Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thinkaloud_pod/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thinkaloudpod.bsky.social" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/teacher-think-aloud/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li>
</ul>


Reflection for Action: Unlocking Professional Growth in English Language Teaching

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

Articles

<p>Sometimes I need to give myself a shake and remind myself that everyone has the power to make<strong> <em>tiny changes to Earth</em></strong>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Those last four words are taken from one of my favorite songs by Frightened Rabbit. They play like a mantra in my head on days when the world seems overwhelmingly tough.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I might not be able to move mountains, regrow felled trees, or end world hunger, but I can&nbsp;do little things that make a difference. Many small actions can soon add up to much bigger collective improvements to the world we live in.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this post, I look at ways we can support our learners to make tiny changes that can have a huge impact&mdash;and give you some real-world good news stories.&nbsp;</p>

<h1><strong>Believe in yourself &amp; others</strong></h1>

<p>Roza Salih has long been one of the humans I admired the most. Her story is so inspiring that it was made into a <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3792220/" target="_blank">film</a>&nbsp;and a theater production, and she also features in the book&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123331351-spectacular-scottish-women" target="_blank">Spectacular&nbsp;Scottish Women</a>.</p>

<p><img alt="Roza feature in Spectacular Scottish women book" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4922/content_Roza-salih.png" /></p>

<p>One of five &quot;Glasgow Girls,&quot; Roza is now the first councillor from a refugee background in Scotland. Her family came to Scotland&nbsp;from Kurdistan to claim asylum&nbsp;when she was a teenager.&nbsp;At the time, the Home Office was carrying out dawn raids on asylum seekers whose claims&nbsp;had been unsuccessful.</p>

<p>Roza and her school friends saw the injustices of their classmates being&nbsp;placed in detention centers or deported. With the help of their teacher&nbsp;and&nbsp;the community, they successfully petitioned the Scottish government to&nbsp;end the detention of minors in Scotland.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This story is a testament not only to the power of youth voice, but also to how teachers can support learners to be changemakers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can watch Roza sharing some of her tips for how to make a difference and believe in yourself here:&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/8hyWY5qNw44?si=zRQSOLMpob4C8ipE" target="_blank">Standing Up for Refugee Rights</a>.</p>

<h1><strong>Work collectively</strong></h1>

<p>Ali Waters is a young changemaker who has managed to collect one million pieces of litter around the world. This is an epic achievement to complete by the age of 11. Unsurprisingly, Ali did not collect all these individual pieces herself. As &quot;Chief Picking Officer&quot;&nbsp;for Kids Against Plastic, Ali&nbsp;enlisted the help of other litter pickers globally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ali is now working towards a new two-million target! You can find out more about Ali&#39;s campaign and get involved&nbsp;here:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/one-in-a-million-plastic-litter-challenge">One in a Million: Plastic Litter Challenge</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/46-greening-the-elt-classroom-tips-teaching-ideas">Greening the ELT Classroom</a></li>
</ul>

<p>In the classroom, we can facilitate discussions on&nbsp;topics that matter to our students&nbsp;and have them think about how they could work together to make a difference. We can also encourage students&nbsp;to work with parents, local community groups, charities, politicians, and any other willing volunteers.</p>

<p>For instance, students could take part in <a href="https://unhabitat.org/world-cleanup-day-2025">World Cleanup Day</a>. This annual event takes place on&nbsp;September 20 and gives people&nbsp;around the globe the opportunity to participate in efforts to preserve and maintain a clean and healthy environment.</p>

<h1><strong>Inspire with changemakers</strong></h1>

<p>Nothing reminds us that we can make a change more than real stories of&nbsp;humans like ourselves who have made a difference. You could share the inspiring stories of&nbsp;Ali Waters, Roza Salih,&nbsp;or your own local heroes.</p>

<p>You could also use ready-made&nbsp;lessons on famous activists such as <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2822-viola-desmond">Viola Desmond</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2087-malala-yousafzai">Malala Yousafzai</a>, <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2566-martin-luther-king-jr">Martin Luther King Jr.</a>, and <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3121-greta-thunberg">Greta Thunberg</a> from Ellii&#39;s <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/famous-people?">Famous People</a><strong> </strong>section.</p>

<p><img alt="screenshot of the famous activists" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4923/content_Activists-Ellii.png" /></p>

<h1><strong>Include globally important&nbsp;topics</strong></h1>

<p>Ellii has hundreds&nbsp;of lessons on current affairs, politics, activism, and protests. These are all a brilliant starting point to get students thinking about their own impact on the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some sections you may like to explore:&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://ellii.com/resources/photo-prompts"><strong>Photo Prompts</strong></a></h3>

<p>These lessons start with a photo and are designed to boost discussion and critical thinking. Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;<strong>Photos Of The Week</strong> series compiles a selection of the key&nbsp;headlines while <strong>Photos in the News</strong> features&nbsp;popular news stories.</p>

<p><img alt="photos in the news" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4924/content_Photos-in-the-news-Ellii.png" /></p>

<h3><strong>2. </strong><a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/that-s-news-to-me"><strong>That&#39;s News to Me</strong></a></h3>

<p>This series of lessons, featuring content from Ellii&#39;s media partner&nbsp;<strong>The Associated Press,</strong> covers social justice, politics, environment, health, and education. New weekly lessons are often available at two or three proficiency levels.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/historic-events"><strong>Historic Events</strong></a></h3>

<p>The lessons in this section allow classes to explore topics such as racial issues, wars, movements and milestones, politics and economics, and diasters and emergencies.&nbsp;</p>

<h1><strong>Celebrate wins</strong></h1>

<p>Even small wins deserve to be celebrated. Get creative as you reward or visualize progress. Certificates, sticker charts, or visual progress trackers can all make participants feel good, and motivate people to continue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I loved this idea from Harry Waters:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/harry-waters_for-past-couple-of-weeks-ive-been-spending-activity-7363572501924270082-aVc2/" target="_blank">Applauding wins with applause</a>.</p>

<h1><strong>Do what you can with the tools you have</strong></h1>

<p>I am not a politician&nbsp;nor a billionaire, so my power and influence may seem&nbsp;small. It is easy to let your inner troll win and think of all the things you <strong>can&#39;t </strong>do. However, as educators, we all have a&nbsp;variety of skills that we&nbsp;<strong>can</strong> use to make a difference.</p>

<p>Here are some of mine to get you started:</p>

<p><strong>1. I can cycle.</strong> So I have completed <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-importance-of-growth-mindset-for-learning-teaching">various long-distance rides</a> to raise awareness and funds for good causes.</p>

<p><strong>2. I can write materials.</strong> So I created a resource pack of visual tools, a sketchnote, and an infographic to educate people about the <a href="https://www.emilybrysonelt.com/product-the-boiling-river" target="_blank">Boiling River</a> and raise money to conserve this special place.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>3. I can edit. </strong>So I compiled a couple of books for <a href="https://www.handsupproject.org/shop" target="_blank">The Hands Up Project</a>,&nbsp;which delivers English language learning through the context of stories, plays, and songs to kids in Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>4. I can share.</strong> Social media allows us to easily share campaigns and content that we want more people to know about&nbsp;or help us with. The post I am most sharing at the moment&nbsp;is about my friend <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/team/teamhuphope">Ashraf Kuhail</a>, author of &quot;Stories Alive&quot;&nbsp;and &quot;Stories Reborn&quot; for The Hands Up Project. He&nbsp;has been offered the chance to study a PhD in the UK and&nbsp;is raising money to bring his family to the UK from Gaza.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>5. I can sketchnote.</strong>&nbsp;So I collaborated with other sketchnoters to be part of the prettiest recipe book in the world:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.siepomaga.pl/sketchy-recipes-for-szymon" target="_blank">Sketchy Recipes for Szymon</a>. Sales of the book raise funds&nbsp;for a boy who desperately needs gene therapy. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>6. I can educate.</strong> So I can bring globally important topics into the classroom,&nbsp;facilitate debates, inspire learners, and support them&nbsp;to be changemakers.</p>

<p><strong>7. I can blog. </strong>So I can write posts like this to remind educators that we can make the world a better place, even if just a teeny tiny bit!</p>

<p>Everyone has a skill they can contribute, whether it is&nbsp;organizing a concert, selling cookies, attending a rally, making posters, or teaching a class to write poems or stories. We can ALL make (tiny) changes to Earth.&nbsp;What could&nbsp;you do?&nbsp;</p>

<p>How have you helped your learners to make the world a better place? Which ideas from this post would you like to use?&nbsp;</p>


Teachers & Learners as Changemakers: Making the World a Better Place

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<section>
<p>In this special crossover episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, Sh&eacute; and Anna team up with Brent Warner and Ixchell Reyes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://diesol.org/welcome-to-the-diesol-podcast/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">DIESOL Podcast</a>&nbsp;(Developing Innovation in English as a Second or Other Language) for a lively conversation about reflective practice&mdash;the foundation of our podcast and a shared passion between both shows.</p>

<blockquote>Being a reflective educator is really a commitment to a growth mindset and to this idea of continual growth and transformation. &mdash;Anna Ciriani-Dean</blockquote>

<p>Instead of Sh&eacute; and Anna&rsquo;s usual narrative format, you&rsquo;ll hear the DIESOL style: less commentary, more conversation, and plenty of banter among all four hosts.</p>

<p>In Part 1, the group explores the <em>why</em> of reflective pedagogy and its core principles, beginning with a shared understanding of what reflective practice really means in the context of English language teaching. Reflection, as discussed, is not just about looking back on a lesson, but it also includes intentionally engaging with our teaching to uncover insights, strengthen our practice, and align our work with our values. The group examines why reflection matters&mdash;not only for teachers&rsquo; professional growth but also for students&rsquo; learning and classroom equity&mdash;emphasizing that intentional reflection can transform teaching from a routine into a meaningful practice. Finally, the conversation moves toward how teachers can move from superficial reflection, such as simply noting what went well or poorly, to deeper engagement through descriptive, conceptual, and even critical reflection that challenges assumptions and considers broader systemic and cultural dynamics.</p>

<p>This episode offers both philosophical grounding and practical inspiration, setting the stage for Part 2, where the conversation will dig more into actionable strategies for bringing reflection into the classroom.</p>

<p>🎧 Tune in to hear how reflective practice can empower teachers, shape learning experiences, and sustain professional joy&mdash;while enjoying the energy of four educators learning from each other.</p>

<p>Make sure to subscribe to The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast so you don&rsquo;t miss out on the Part 2 drop!</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SSQHZMXlWgs?si=KMgJVPTaG2FO7N_V" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>🎙️&nbsp;<strong>Listen now on your favorite platform:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>🔗&nbsp;<strong>Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thinkaloud_pod/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thinkaloudpod.bsky.social" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/teacher-think-aloud/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li>
</ul>
</section>


The Reflective Educator: A Conversation on Growth & Transformation

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<p>What&#39;s&nbsp;not to love about post-it notes?&nbsp;These delightfully colorful bits of paper come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They can instantly make the classroom a more joyful, interactive, communicative, and multisensory place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this blog, I share some of my favorite post-it note activities. They are perfect for adapting and using for your own needs and learning context, so prepare to get inspired and creative!</p>

<p>If you are teaching online, many digital whiteboards such as Canva, Zoom, Miro, and Mural have sticky notes, so you can still use these ideas in class.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Processes &amp; problem-solving</strong></h2>

<p>Sticky notes are incredibly effective at helping people think and solve problems. In&nbsp;Tom Wujec&#39;s TED Talk, <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/tom_wujec_got_a_wicked_problem_first_tell_me_how_you_make_toast" target="_blank">&quot;Got a Wicked Problem? First Tell Me How You Make Toast,&quot;</a>&nbsp;Tom explains some crucial steps and tips for simplifying processes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Using post-its forces people to simplify content and keep ideas focused. It also allows them to move ideas around, trash&nbsp;nonessential ideas, and add new ones. Collaboratively, this can lead to creative solutions for large-scale problems.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In class, have students work in groups. Give them some post-its and have them work together to describe a process.</p>

<p>For example: how to make toast, a cup of tea, or a sandwich, or something more complex, like&nbsp;the water cycle. Then have them write the steps of the process or describe them in a presntation format.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="mage of post-its - making tea" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4873/content_Cup-Of-Tea-Post-It-Process.jpg" /></p>

<h2><strong>Brainstorming &amp; ideation</strong></h2>

<p>Sticky notes are amazing for getting ideas out of the brain and onto paper. They are small enough to keep ideas short and simple, and flexible enough to move around or bin if and when necessary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One classroom idea is to have students write suggestions for things they want to learn on post-its (one idea per post-it). They can then add them to the whiteboard, group similar ideas, and discuss which ideas they like the most. This is a great way to make lessons as&nbsp;learner-centered as possible.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Forehead stickies game</strong></h2>

<p>This game is a classic. It&#39;s a great way to practice asking and answering closed questions and various vocabulary items.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Start by giving students a&nbsp;post-it note. Have them write a vocabulary item or a famous person on it. Then mix up the post-its. Invite one student to the front of the class and have them put one of the sticky notes on their forehead. Make sure they don&#39;t see what is on it. Then have them ask questions with yes/no answers. The aim is to guess what is on their post-it with as few clues as possible.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Do I need to go to university for this job? &gt; Yes</li>
	<li>Do I work in an office? &gt; No</li>
	<li>Do I go home every day after work? &gt; No</li>
	<li>Do I sleep at work? &gt; Yes</li>
	<li>Am I an astronaut? &gt; Yes</li>
</ul>

<p>Once the first student has guessed correctly, move on to the next learner so that all students have a turn.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Emily with post-it with astronaut on her head" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4874/content_Emily-Bryson-Post-It.jpg" /></p>

<h2><strong>Container activities</strong></h2>

<p>In graphic facilitation, a &quot;container&quot; is a large-scale doodle or icon that creates a space to think or add ideas. These can be drawn large scale on a flipchart or whiteboard, or form part of a printable worksheet or <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/graphic-organizers-for-language-skills-development">graphic organizer</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Container activities are brilliant as they allow students to think and add their ideas anonymously. They also allow learners to move around the classroom and discuss different topics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this example, I wanted to help learners think about their study habits and preferences. I drew containers to represent different ways that learners might study. For example:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>videos</li>
	<li>podcasts</li>
	<li>online&nbsp;</li>
	<li>books&nbsp;</li>
	<li>radio</li>
	<li>apps</li>
</ul>

<p>Students then wrote examples of books they liked, apps they love, videos they recommend, etc., on their sticky notes. They then added them on the whiteboard and discussed the best ways to learn.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Study skills containers" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4875/content_Study-skills-containers_with-post-its_Emily-Bryson-ELT.jpg" /></p>

<p>You can find more container activity ideas and other&nbsp;examples in these blog posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-simplify-complex-tasks-with-visual-prompts">How to Simplify Complex Tasks with Visual Prompts</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.emilybrysonelt.com/visual-templates-for-engaging-environmental-discussions" target="_blank">Visual Templates for Engaging Environmental Discussions</a></li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Post-it note prompts&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Students often need prompts to focus their ideas, discussions, and reflections. In <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/janecarvell_postitnotes-icebreaker-businessenglishtraining-activity-7360550618102464513-w0bs/?utm_source=social_share_send&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web&amp;rcm=ACoAAAi7ip0BCqZAlTHCFG8wTwULtYB8nWVFeUM" target="_blank">this LinkedIn post</a>, Jane Carvell uses post-its to prompt her learners to think about their key moments from recent experiences. Often&nbsp;when we ask or get asked &quot;What have you been up to?,&quot;&nbsp;our minds go blank, but this activity supports a deeper level of conversation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Jane's high point/surprise/challenge post" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4876/content_Jane-Carvell-post-its.jpg" /></p>

<h2><strong>Visual storytelling (aka &quot;stickytelling&quot;)</strong></h2>

<p>Another benefit of sticky notes is that they immediately make information sharing less intimidating. Give a learner a blank piece of 8x11&nbsp;paper and ask them to write or draw on it, and they may feel overwhelmed by the size they have to fill. Give someone a teeny-tiny post-it note and they&#39;ll instantly relax, knowing that whatever they add will be viewed as a draft attempt.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That&#39;s one of the reasons why post-its are so fun when it comes to storytelling. Here are a couple of&nbsp;ideas:&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li>Give students a sticky note. Have them doodle something or write a word on it. Mix up the stickies. Pull a sticky out of the pile. Have one student start the story based on what is on that sticky note. Ask the next student to choose the next sticky and continue the story. Continue until the whole class has created a story.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Have students work in groups. Give them a set of sticky notes. Ask them to use the stickies to tell a story. Have them draw one icon or add a prompt word to each sticky. This could be as simple as describing their day so far, their daily routine, or their English language learning story so far. You could also have them retell some of the stories from Ellii&#39;s collection:</li>
</ol>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/media/videos/stories-songs">Videos: Stories &amp; Songs</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/word-bank-readers">Word Bank Readers</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Here are some more storytelling themed posts:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-stories-we-tell">The Stories We Tell&nbsp;</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/simply-storytelling-inspiring-english-learners-with-story-prompts">Simply Storytelling: Engaging English Learners with Story Prompts</a></li>
</ul>

<h2><strong>Visual check-ins</strong></h2>

<p>Sticky notes are blissfully color-coded. To check in with learners to see how they are doing, give each one a pink, orange, and green sticky (or one per table). If students are feeling confident, have them display the green sticky. If they are feeling a little confused, have them display the orange sticky. If they really need your attention and support, have them display the pink sticky. &nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Post-it progression walls</strong></h2>

<p>Stickies also work well to show learner progress. At the beginning of a course, create a poster or wall display outlining the course content. For an added element of fun, you could make this into a journey map, stairs, stepping stones, or footprints. Have students create an avatar for themselves on a post-it&nbsp;and then move it at the end of each lesson or as they complete different&nbsp;the sections of coursework.&nbsp;Different shapes of post-its, such as butterflies, work really well for this, so feel free to go wild in your local stationery store.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Are you a fan of the humble post-it note? How have you used them in class? Have you tried any of these ideas? We&#39;d love to hear your own experiences and top tips! Share your ideas in the comments.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some other blog posts that you might be interested in:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-multi-modal-multi-sensory-multi-cultural-power-of-multi-literacy-learning">The Multimodal, Multisensory, Multicultural Power of Multiliteracy Learning</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/getting-to-know-your-learners-supercharging-learner-centred-teaching">Getting to Know Your Learners: Supercharging Learner-Centered Teaching</a></li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Learning That Sticks: The Power of Post-its in the ELT Classroom

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<p>Our number one goal as language teachers is to help our students communicate in the real world. Inviting guest speakers into the classroom is a fantastic way to bring learning to life&nbsp;and provide authentic language practice opportunities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this post, I&#39;ll explore the benefits of guest speakers, share some ideas for who to invite, and give you some top tips for scaffolding the sessions.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The benefits of guest speakers</strong></h2>

<p>Throughout my years as a language teacher, I jumped at every opportunity to have a guest speaker in the classroom. I always found that students benefited from what the guests had to say and the opportunities that they offered.</p>

<p>Here&#39;s why:&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Guest speakers are inspiring</strong></h2>

<p>Everyone has a story to tell. Bringing someone new into the classroom to share their experiences can be powerful. There are limitless options for who to invite and what information and ideas they might share with learners.</p>

<ul>
	<li>A previous student may give learners the confidence to know that one day they too could reach a high level of English proficiency.</li>
	<li>A storyteller might give students the skills to share their experiences with the world.</li>
	<li>An employment agency representative might transform a learner&#39;s career path.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>I could go on! But I&#39;m sure you&#39;ll agree that having the opportunity to connect in this way can open minds, share possibilities, and get heads away from dwelling on perfecting their use of the passive voice!</p>

<h2><strong>Guest speakers can offer opportunities&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>As teachers, we can equip learners with language and communication skills. Our role is to support learners to achieve their English language learning&nbsp;goals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But behind every language learning goal, there is a wider goal&mdash;perhaps to get into university,&nbsp;secure a better job, or support their kids with schoolwork after resettling in an English-speaking country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local and global organizations are often looking for ways to connect with language learners. Universities and colleges may want to recruit for their classes. Community groups may be looking for volunteers to look after their grounds or get involved in cooking lessons. Other language classes at the other side of the world may be looking for pen pals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Each of these is an opportunity to practice English, open new doors, and create social connections.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Guest speakers are REAL&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Richard Cauldwell&#39;s &quot;botanic&quot;&nbsp;metaphor for language learning springs to mind here. He described the classroom as a &quot;geenhouse&quot;&mdash;a safe space for growth&nbsp;where conditions are <em>controlled&nbsp;</em>and every student is nurtured to flourish. In the &quot;garden,&quot; students experience more independence to practice their language in a safe environment through<em> freer</em> practice. Lastly, in the &quot;jungle,&quot; students are released into the real world where they experience the wild organic&nbsp;world of fast speech, slang, idiomatic language, and unfamiliar accents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Inviting a guest speaker is a chance to let students venture&nbsp;into the jungle with a supportive guide at their side. The speaker may not be well practiced in modifying their language usage to be understood, so learners may need to work harder and push themselves to new levels in order to communicate successfully.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who to invite</strong></h2>

<p>The guest speakers you choose to invite depend on your learning context, location, and learners&#39; needs. In some ways, this could&nbsp;be simpler if you teach in an English-speaking country. However, you could also invite people to deliver an input session online, show&nbsp;pre-recorded videos, or use&nbsp;emails/letters.</p>

<p>Here are some guest speakers that you may wish to consider:&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Previous students</strong></h3>

<p>There is nothing more rewarding than re-connecting with a previous student and discovering that they have opened their own restaurant, written a book,&nbsp;started working in&nbsp;a retirement center, or gotten an&nbsp;opportunity to teach in a preschool.</p>

<p>For learners, hearing true stories from relatable individuals who have similar stories to them helps them believe in themselves. It&nbsp;can also support them to make plans and set their own goals.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><b>Representatives from educational organizations</b></h3>

<p>Universities and colleges often have teams specifically for engaging with potential students. If students are thinking of applying, consider inviting a representative in to talk them through the process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This can be helpful in introducing learners to the application system, course requirements, and other aspects of further and higher education.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These speakers are particularly useful if you are teaching workplace English, such as&nbsp;career-specific pathway&nbsp;courses:</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/nursing-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Nursing Assistants</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/pharmacy-technicians/materials" target="_parent">English for Pharmacy Technicians</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/dental-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Dental Assistants</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-phlebotomists/materials" target="_parent">English for Phlebotomists</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-paraeducators/materials" target="_parent">English for Paraeducators</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-custodians/materials" target="_parent">English for Custodians</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-emergency-medical-technicians/materials" target="_parent">English for Emergency Medical Technicians</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/english-for-medical-assistants/materials" target="_parent">English for Medical Assistants</a></li>
</ul>

<p>The tricky part may be finding an interest that the class shares. However, application systems can be similar across organizations and every guest is a language learning experience.&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Community Organizers</strong></h3>

<p>Charities and nonprofit organizations often have funding to deliver projects or engage with the wider community. Look out for opportunities online and by joining email lists and connecting with local (and global) potential partners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I always remember a particularly fun partnership with a local museum. Students got to attend a variety of workshops exploring diverse cultures and religions around the world&nbsp;and telling their own stories. They all loved getting out of the classroom and learned a lot from the immersive experience. One learner even went on to volunteer with the museum.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Potential employers</strong></h3>

<p>Large employers are always looking for staff&nbsp;and often have recruitment teams or apprenticeships. Reaching out to speakers who would like to find new employees can help learners find the right opportunities for them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It can also be helpful to connect with recruitment agencies or charitable organizations that provide training.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here&#39;s some further reading on this topic:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/how-to-teach-workplace-english">How to Teach Workplace Engish</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-importance-of-workplace-english">Why You Should Teach Workplace English</a></li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Creatives</strong></h3>

<p>It can be a lot of fun to invite someone to deliver a creative workshop or project with learners. This way students can practice their language whilse developing their life skills and critical thinking.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Consider inviting people to:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>perform a play, song, story (and have students perform&nbsp;their own)</li>
	<li>read/write poetry</li>
	<li>create a piece of artwork</li>
	<li>learn how to <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/sketchnoting-101-supercharged-professional-development-with-visual-notes">sketchnote</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li>explore topics of global importance</li>
	<li>start a community garden</li>
	<li>write and publish a magazine</li>
</ul>

<h3><strong>Other teachers</strong></h3>

<p>It can sometimes be challenging to find the right guest speaker&nbsp;and convince them to join your class. Teaming up&nbsp;with other classes and teachers can be a good way to add some energy to classes and try something new. This can be particularly beneficial towards the end of term,&nbsp;when class numbers inevitably drop as&nbsp;students&nbsp;sneak away on vacation!&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Top tips for successful guest sessions</strong></h2>

<p>Guest speakers are fantastic for so many reasons. However, I learned the hard way that they can be challenging to understand.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The first thing English language teachers learn to do is modify our language use to be as intelligible as possible.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Guest speakers often don&#39;t know these simple tricks&mdash;or they know the theory but haven&#39;t mastered the practice!&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before a session, it is wise to remind speakers (even and especially previous learners)&nbsp;to slow down, choose simpler words, and avoid regional language. Here&#39;s a sketchnote I created that you could share with them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Communicating Across Languages Sketchnote" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4872/content_how-to-communicate-across-languages.png" /></p>

<p>You can share this sketchnote easily via this <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brysonemily_sketchnoting-sketchnotes-visualrecording-activity-7315274798643707904-YITe?utm_source=social_share_send&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web&amp;rcm=ACoAAAi7ip0BCqZAlTHCFG8wTwULtYB8nWVFeUM" target="_blank">LinkedIn post</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is also a good idea to come up with strategies with the speaker in advance to engage students and ensure that they can follow along:</p>

<ul>
	<li>pause at regular intervals and ask concept check&nbsp;questions to review and make sure students have understood</li>
	<li>take (sketch)notes on the whiteboard as the speaker is presenting&nbsp;so students can have visual support</li>
	<li>scaffold the visit&nbsp;by pre-teaching vocabulary or previewing content (e.g., slides)&nbsp;</li>
	<li>review the session after the visit and invite questions or further explorations</li>
</ul>

<p>Have you invited any guests into your classroom? Who did you invite? How did it go? What are your top tips? We&#39;d love to know!&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some related blog posts we think you&#39;ll love:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/stem-tips-and-resources">Tips &amp; Resources to Make Content More Accessible in STEM Subjects</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/simply-storytelling-inspiring-english-learners-with-story-prompts">Inspiring English Learners with Story Prompts</a></li>
</ul>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


From Experts to Everyday Heroes: Bringing the Classroom to Life with Guest Speakers

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<p>If there is one thing you should never do as a language teacher (or in life), it is to ask &quot;Do you understand?&quot;</p>

<p>No one wants to admit in front of their peers that they don&#39;t understand! Humans live in fear of being the only person in a group who hasn&#39;t understood something. It makes the palms sweat, the&nbsp;heart beat faster, and the face turn a telltale shade of red.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Faced with this question, most people will nod, agree, and hope that the next activity will bring clarity&mdash;or at least be simpler.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this blog post, I will share much more effective ways to check that students have understood.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>1. Concept check questions</h2>

<p>Concept check questions zoom in on detailed aspects of the language. They allow teachers to check that students have understood a grammar point or the meaning of a vocabulary item. They are particularly helpful after presenting a new grammar target.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asking the right concept check questions can take some practice. When you&#39;re starting out in teaching, you might want to prepare them before a lesson. Over time,&nbsp;you&#39;ll likely be able to create your own as and when the need arises.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some top tips for concept check questions:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Keep it simple</strong>.&nbsp;Questions with short&nbsp;answers are the best. Aim to use very simple <em>wh-</em>&nbsp;questions, or questions with <em>yes/no</em> or <em>either/or</em> answers.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Use language students already know.</strong>&nbsp;Try not to use more complex concepts or vocabulary than the one you are checking. So don&#39;t ask questions in past perfect progressive&nbsp;when you&#39;re checking understanding of the simple past.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Play around with different questions.</strong> It&#39;s okay to ask a few questions to check meaning.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Ask questions to focus on the meaning and form.</strong>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Let&#39;s use the following sentence to teach the simple past:&nbsp;&quot;She went to the ice cream shop last night.&quot;&nbsp;Some concept check questions might be:</p>

<ul>
	<li><em>Where did she go? &gt; The ice cream shop.&nbsp;</em></li>
	<li><em>Is she at the ice cream shop now? &gt; No.</em></li>
	<li><em>When did she go? &gt; Last night/yesterday.&nbsp;</em></li>
	<li><em>Is &quot;last night&quot; about the past, present, or future? &gt; Past.</em></li>
	<li><em>Is &quot;went&quot;&nbsp;present or past tense? &gt; Past.</em></li>
	<li><em>To talk about &quot;now,&quot; do I use &quot;went&quot;&nbsp;or &quot;go&quot;? &gt; Go.</em></li>
</ul>

<p>You can find more about concept check questions in this British Council blog post:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/managing-lesson/articles/checking-understanding">Checking Understanding</a></p>

<h2>2. Physical concept checks</h2>

<p>To check understanding and get students our of their chairs, you could bring an element of movement into the classroom. Designate each corner of the classroom as &quot;yes,&quot; &quot;no,&quot; or &quot;maybe.&quot; Have students stand up,&nbsp;ask them a concept check question, and ask&nbsp;them to move to the corner of the room that answers that question. You could also do this by having students stand in a line and step left for &quot;yes,&quot; step right for &quot;no,&quot; and stay in the same place for &quot;maybe.&quot;</p>

<h2>3. Mediation</h2>

<p>Mediation is another way to check understanding. While concept checking relies on the teacher asking the right questions to assess students have understood, mediation allows students to take a more active role in demonstrating it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mediation tasks prompt students to take notes, summarize, critically evaluate, compare information, and rephrase content. They allow learners to share their understanding with others by putting their learning into practice and perhaps explaining it to others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can find out more in this blog post:&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/mediation">Mediation: The What, Why &amp; How Explained</a></p>

<h2>4. Visual checks</h2>

<p>Visuals are a great way to check understanding. You could have students create their own visual summaries, <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/sketchnoting-101-supercharged-professional-development-with-visual-notes">sketchnotes</a>, mind maps, infographics,&nbsp;timelines, or doodles to check meaning. For example, ask them to draw (or point to) a tomato or the verb &quot;run.&quot; You could also show them a couple of visuals and ask them which is correct or to adapt it to be correct.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You could also use visual metaphors to allow students to share how confident they feel about a topic. Leave colored circles with &quot;traffic lights&quot;&nbsp;on their desk and have them display &quot;red&quot;&nbsp;if they definitely need support, &quot;orange&quot;&nbsp;if they might need help, and &quot;green&quot; if they are happy with their understanding. This also works well with weather symbols (a rain cloud = I need help&nbsp;/&nbsp;a sun = I&#39;m all good)&nbsp;and emojis (sad face = help me&nbsp;/ happy face = I don&#39;t need help).&nbsp;</p>

<h2>5. Peer-to-peer learning</h2>

<p>The best way to learn is to teach something!&nbsp;I&#39;ve always found that students love to &quot;be the teacher.&quot; It is an instant confidence boost to be trusted to explain something to someone else&nbsp;and a great way to give students a chance to share their understanding with others. It also has the added bonus of allowing students to potentially explain concepts in their first language&nbsp;so they can express and understand&nbsp;it more easily.&nbsp;</p>

<p>You could&nbsp;pair a student who feels confident with a student who needs more support, and have them explore the linguistic point in more detail. Alternatively, have students check each others work or write quizzes or comprehension questions for each other.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>6. Assessment tools</h2>

<p>Ellii has over 70 assessment tools designed specifically to help teachers check students&#39; understanding. These range from placement tests to needs assessments and&nbsp;reflection tools.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here is an example from the Exit Slips&nbsp;resource. Students can complete these before leaving to help them evaluate and share what they learned in class that day.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2228-exit-slips"><img alt="Ellii's exit slips" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4861/content_exit-slip.png" /></a></p>

<p>You can access these resources here:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2228-exit-slips">Exit Slips</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/resources/assessment-tools">Assessment Tools</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Here are some other blog posts on checking reading comprehension that we think you&#39;ll love:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/pre-reading-activities-to-boost-comprehension">Pre-Reading Activities to Boost Comprehension</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/10-activities-to-increase-understanding-while-reading">10 Activities to Increase Understanding While Reading</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/9-post-reading-activities-to-help-students-reflect-on-a-text">9 Post-Reading Activities to Help Students Get the Most Out of a Text</a></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>Have you tried any of these techniques to check understanding? What are your top tips? We&#39;d love to hear your experiences and ideas. Let us know in the comments!</p>
</blockquote>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Perils of "Do You Understand?" & How to Check Comprehension Effectively

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<section>
<p>In the latest episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, hosts Sh&eacute; and Anna are joined by Harry Waters, a global ELT educator, teacher trainer, and climate activist behind&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-waters/?originalSubdomain=es">Renewable English</a>. Together, they explore how sustainability can become a consistent, student-driven context in the English language classroom&mdash;not just a one-off Earth Day activity.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote><em>We&rsquo;re not just teaching nouns and verbs. We&rsquo;re helping students find their voice in a noisy world.</em></blockquote>

<p>From student-led recycling campaigns to eco-themed grammar activities, Harry shares practical ways to embed environmental awareness into your teaching&mdash;without overhauling your curriculum. His strategies include small but powerful shifts, like ending a lesson with &ldquo;How does today&rsquo;s topic connect to the planet?&rdquo; or reframing the second conditional to ask, &ldquo;If our school planted 1,000 trees&hellip;&rdquo;.</p>

<p>But this episode goes deeper. Harry also tackles the tough questions&mdash;what happens when student projects fail? How do we keep going when change feels slow? And how can we empower students to lead, even when systems resist?</p>

<p>🎧 Tune in for honest insights, tangible ideas, and the reminder that every lesson is a chance to model agency, connection, and care for the world we share.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_CwkBAl6tEk?si=e015Uo2loTQO9-Os" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

<p>🎙️&nbsp;<strong>Listen now on your favorite platform:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zv5mVNpSqkDNiNbQlnm7B" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Spotify</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-teacher-think-aloud-podcast/id1629819608" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>🔗&nbsp;<strong>Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thinkaloud_pod/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/thinkaloudpod.bsky.social" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thinkaloud_pod" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li>
</ul>
</section>


Greening ELT: Addressing Sustainability in the English Language Classroom

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<h1>The ultimate all-in-one platform for ELT teacherpreneurs</h1>

<p>Years ago, I was teaching English at a university an hour&rsquo;s drive from my home. Luckily, I had three English-teacher friends all commuting to the same city. Our daily carpool conversations usually revolved around classroom dilemmas and teaching methodology. Very often, while brainstorming our lesson plans, one of us would say, &ldquo;Ellii has the perfect lesson for that!&rdquo; or &ldquo;Today is an Ellii day!&rdquo; (Of course, back then, it was ESL&nbsp;Library, but you get the idea.)&nbsp;Ellii was the most popular resource in school.</p>

<p>When I left classroom teaching and became an independent &ldquo;teacherpreneur,&rdquo; turning to Ellii was a no-brainer.&nbsp;<strong>Here&rsquo;s why Ellii has everything I need to run my teaching business</strong>.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1107880312" width="640"></iframe></div>

<h2>Engaging, ready-made lessons for every student</h2>

<p>Like many independent teachers, my students range widely in age and level on any given day. I always count on Ellii to meet each student&rsquo;s needs and interests.</p>

<p>When a shy middle school student came to her first 1:1 lesson terrified to speak English, Ellii&rsquo;s <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/true-grammar-stories">True Grammar Stories</a> got her excited to discuss trailblazers like Ruby Bridges and fascinating places like Chile&rsquo;s Marble Caves.</p>

<p>When a socioeconomics student felt &ldquo;stuck&rdquo; expressing her opinions, Ellii&rsquo;s <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/discussion-starters">Discussion Starters</a> lesson on <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2775-universal-basic-income">Universal Basic Income</a> gave her the language to communicate more deeply on a real-world topic that truly mattered to her.</p>

<p>When the cashier at a convenience store in Cyprus asked me to explain the present perfect tense, I pulled up Ellii&rsquo;s <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1597-present-perfect">Present Perfect</a> Grammar Practice Worksheet&nbsp;on my phone for an impromptu grammar lesson. He responded, &ldquo;You just clarified in five minutes something that has confused me my whole life!&rdquo;</p>

<p>Ellii offers a massive library of&nbsp;<strong>high-quality, ready-made lessons</strong>, interactive games, engaging videos, and more&mdash;with new materials added daily. Ellii&rsquo;s content isn&rsquo;t just interesting and current; it&rsquo;s designed by real teachers to foster meaningful language encounters and genuine human connection.</p>

<p><img alt="Search results for &quot;travel&quot; showing 210 results in Lessons &amp; Resources" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4832/content_Lesson-Search.png" /></p>

<h2>Super simple class management</h2>

<h3>Student accounts</h3>

<p>As a private teacher, I need a simple system to keep track of everyone and give each student a personalized learning experience. Ellii&rsquo;s <strong>built-in LMS</strong> (Learning Management System) is perfect for this.&nbsp;Ellii offers an <a href="https://ellii.com/pricing"><strong>affordable Individual plan</strong></a> that comes with 35 student licenses.&nbsp;Students can be placed into an unlimited number of classes. I can create a class for one specific student or add multiple students to the same class.</p>

<h3>Drag-and-drop lesson prep</h3>

<p>With Ellii&rsquo;s kanban-style&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/try-class-prepping-with-elliis-lesson-planner"><strong>Lesson Planner</strong></a>, class prep is a breeze. I just drag and drop content into the Prepping, Teaching, or Taught lanes to get ready for upcoming classes, assign tasks to my students, and keep track of what&rsquo;s been done. I have full control over the timing and pace of each student&rsquo;s learning journey. My business students appreciate a structured, intentional flow of exercises. My grammar fanatics love having a curated collection of tasks to tackle. And my conversation students enjoy seeing connected topics and feeling a sense of progress in their language development.</p>

<p><img alt="Ellii's drag-and-drop Lesson Planner showing lessons in the Prepping, Teaching, and Taught lanes" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4833/content_Lesson-Planner.png" /></p>

<h3>Flexible organization</h3>

<p>Whenever I&rsquo;m browsing Ellii&rsquo;s content library, something always catches my eye. I can quickly &ldquo;<strong>like</strong>&rdquo; lessons or save content to customizable&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/folders"><strong>Folders</strong></a>. I can also create <a href="https://ellii.com/flashcard_sets"><strong>Flashcard Sets</strong></a> to share with my students. Whether I&rsquo;m planning days ahead or pulling things together last minute, Ellii keeps me organized.</p>

<h3>Streamlined grading &amp; feedback</h3>

<p>Ellii&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/introducing-grade-feed"><strong>Grade Feed</strong></a>&nbsp;also makes it easy to monitor and support my students&rsquo; progress. I can leave meaningful feedback with stars, written comments, and&mdash;my personal favorite&mdash;audio responses. When I&rsquo;m pressed for time or just need a little inspiration, the suggested responses (created by an Ellii writer) and&nbsp;<strong>Ellii Bot</strong> (built-in AI assistant)&nbsp;are lifesavers.</p>

<p><img alt="Ellii's Grade Feed showing a student's answer and Ellii Bot's suggested response" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4834/content_Grade-Feed.png" /></p>

<h3>Built-in support &amp; professional development</h3>

<p>Teachers spend hours a day connecting with students, but running an independent teaching business can still feel isolating. Over the years, I&rsquo;ve leaned on Ellii for support and guidance.</p>

<p>Ellii is built by teachers, for teachers. Beyond great lesson content, Ellii supports teachers with a weekly&nbsp;newsletter, a huge library of&nbsp;teacher resources, and tons of&nbsp;tutorials, demo videos, and practical&nbsp;teaching tips. When I&rsquo;m looking for a curated sequence of lessons, I turn to Ellii&rsquo;s ready-made&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?page=1"><strong>Courses</strong>&nbsp;<strong>&amp;</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Study Packs</strong></a>. When I&rsquo;m not sure what to teach next, I check the <a href="https://ellii.com/discover"><strong>Discover page</strong></a> and <a href="https://ellii.com/calendar"><strong>Lesson Calendar</strong></a> for fresh content and timely topics. If I&rsquo;m ever stuck on how to break down a tricky language point, I head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/blog"><strong>blog</strong></a>&mdash;it&rsquo;s full of expert insights and inspiring stories from the Ellii team and guest writers from the English teaching community.</p>

<h2>Teacher webinars</h2>

<p>And coming soon, Ellii is launching a brand-new<strong>&nbsp;webinar series for independent teachers</strong>!&nbsp;Join our free, practical sessions led by experienced educators who understand the unique challenges of private teaching. Register now for one of our&nbsp;upcoming webinars on <a href="https://www.crowdcast.io/c/teachwithellii-aug28" target="_blank"><strong>August 28 at 2:00 pm ET</strong></a> or <a href="https://www.crowdcast.io/c/teachwithellii-aug29" target="_blank"><strong>August 29 at 11:00 am ET</strong></a>.</p>

<p>Discover how Ellii can be your full teaching tool kit&mdash;everything you need to help your business thrive!</p>


Run Your Independent Teaching Business with Ellii

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<p>Have you heard the talk of the town? Ellii&nbsp;has a new <strong><a href="https://ellii.com/packs/conversation-phrases-course/materials">Conversation Phrases</a></strong> course!&nbsp;</p>

<p data-end="438" data-start="251">This video-based course is designed to help students improve their speaking&nbsp;skills and&nbsp;focuses on <strong>reduced pronunciation</strong> for more natural, fluent speech.</p>

<p data-end="745" data-start="440">Throughout the course, students will become familiar with <strong>useful, everyday phrases</strong> they can use to greet people, make plans, make small talk, talk about preferences, and wrap up a conversation. Each video lesson also leads students through oral reduced pronunciation practice and provides opportunities for speaking in a guided conversation.&nbsp;</p>

<p data-end="745" data-start="440">By the end of this course, students will gain the confidence they need to <strong>interact comfortably</strong> in various everyday conversations.</p>

<p data-end="807" data-start="747">Watch the <strong>introductory video</strong> from this course to learn more:</p>

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1098554567" width="640"></iframe></div>

<p data-end="859" data-start="811">The course includes the following <strong>lesson topics</strong>:</p>

<ul data-end="1010" data-start="861">
	<li>How to Start a Conversation</li>
	<li>How to End a Conversation</li>
	<li>How to Make Plans</li>
	<li>How to Make Small Talk</li>
	<li>How to Talk about Likes &amp; Dislikes</li>
</ul>

<p data-end="1371" data-start="1012">Each video-based lesson introduces 12 to 15 <strong>common, conversational phrases</strong> grouped into four sets of questions and responses. Students will hear natural examples of colloquial phrases and expressions, practice reduced pronunciation, and role-play guided conversations. The final video also teaches students how to agree and disagree with someone in a conversation.</p>

<p data-end="1542" data-start="1373">This&nbsp;course includes two digital <strong>assessments</strong> (a mid-course and final assessment) and an optional speaking task that teachers would need&nbsp;to review and score manually.</p>

<p data-end="1693" data-start="1544">You can find our new&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/conversation-phrases-course/materials"><strong data-end="1605" data-start="1557">Conversation Phrases</strong></a>&nbsp;course in the&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?category=2&amp;page=1">Life Skills</a> section in&nbsp;Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://ellii.com/packs/?page=1">Courses &amp; Study Packs</a>.</p>

<p data-end="1842" data-start="1695">From the course page, you can easily click the <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/conversation-phrases-course/materials">&quot;Add to class&quot;</a> button to assign lessons to your students right away or schedule them through your <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/try-class-prepping-with-elliis-lesson-planner">Lesson Planner</a>.</p>

<p data-end="1979" data-start="1844">Don&rsquo;t forget to check out the <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/conversation-phrases-course/materials">Materials</a>, <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/conversation-phrases-course/overview">Overview</a>, and <a href="https://ellii.com/packs/conversation-phrases-course/notes">Teachers&#39; Notes</a>&nbsp;tabs&nbsp;for helpful resources and teaching suggestions.</p>

<p data-end="2119" data-start="2104">We hope you and your students enjoy this new type of course!</p>


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