Posts describing lessons or activities for the ESL classroom.

Activities

These posts are written for learners of English themselves. Find learning tips and ideas for learning English.

For Students

The end of the year is the perfect time to stop and think about life. We can look back at the things we have done and what we have learned. This helps us to decide what we enjoyed and what we want to do next year.&nbsp;

Sometimes people make &quot;resolutions&quot; at the beginning of the year. These are promises that you make to yourself. For example:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>I will exercise for 20 minutes every day.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>I am going to study on Ellii for one hour a day.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>I plan to speak B2 English by the end of the year.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

These resolutions can be difficult to keep, so I&#39;d like to share an activity to help you plan next year in a kinder way.&nbsp;

1. Choose your paper

This activity is best on BIG paper. I think A3 (or bigger) is best, but A4 will also work well. If you prefer digital, you can use a drawing tool like Procreate (only for Apple users), Adobe Fresco, Concepts, or Canva Whiteboard.&nbsp;

2. Draw out last year&nbsp;

First, draw a line and then divide it into 12 months. The easiest way to do this is to start with a line and then divide it into six parts:&nbsp;

<img alt="Timeline 1" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5148/content_Timeline_1.png" />

Then, add more lines to divide it into 12 parts.&nbsp;

<img alt="Timeline 2" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5149/content_Timeline_2.png" />

After that, you can write the months of the year. You can shorten them by writing the first three letters of each month or even just the first letter!

<img alt="Timeline 3" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5150/content_Timelin_3.png" />

You can divide the top and bottom parts of the page into different parts of your life&mdash;for example, family, home, health, work, study, money, and fun.&nbsp;

<img alt="Timeline 4" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5151/content_Timeline_4.png" />

In this example,&nbsp;the top part of the page is for &quot;professional&quot; things. For example, things you did at work or that you studied. The bottom part of the page is for &quot;fun&quot;&nbsp;things&nbsp;like travel, seeing friends, and visiting family.&nbsp;

You can add&nbsp;little drawings to help you think. I chose a rocket to show moving forward quickly&nbsp;and a star to express fun.&nbsp;

3. Add what you did&nbsp;last year

Now, add all your important memories from last year.

Think about:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>things you learned</li>
	<li>courses you took</li>
	<li>people you met</li>
	<li>your work</li>
	<li>places you visited</li>
</ul>

If you find it difficult to remember, look back at photos on your phone or your calendars and diaries.&nbsp;

Don&#39;t worry about getting the&nbsp;dates correct or having something for each month. The main idea is to write down the most important things that happened.&nbsp;

Here&#39;s an example:

<img alt="Timeline 5" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5152/content_Timeline_5.png" />

You can add quick drawings or just write down your ideas. Using drawings gives you the chance to play and think more&nbsp;about how things felt. It also&nbsp;helps you to really see your year. The drawings don&#39;t need to be artistic. Simple and messy is perfect!

At this point, you could also highlight the best bits in different colors, cross out the worst bits, or draw little emoji.

4. Decide your &quot;more&quot;&nbsp;and &quot;less&quot;

New Year&#39;s resolutions are promises&nbsp;that you might break. But in this activity, we choose what you want &quot;more&quot;&nbsp;or &quot;less&quot;&nbsp;of in your life. Look at your last year and choose the things that made you smile. Write down one or two things that you want more of this year. Then do the same for things you want less.&nbsp;

Here&#39;s an example:&nbsp;

<img alt="Timeline 6" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/5153/content_Timeline_6.png" />

As an extra, write all the things that you want more of on another piece of paper. Put it somewhere safe. At the end of the year, look back and see if you really got more of what you were looking for.&nbsp;

I hope this activity helps you to think about your year ahead and make a plan that works for you.&nbsp;

Here are some other blog posts that we think you might enjoy:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/six-ways-to-use-journaling-to-learn-english-fast">6 Ways to Use Journaling to Learn English Fast</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/english-belongs-to-everyone-here-s-how-to-own-your-english">English Belongs to Everyone: Here&#39;s How to Own Your English</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/what-is-cockney-rhyming-slang">What is Cockney Rhyming Slang?</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Looking Back to Look Forward: A Classroom Activity

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

Announcements

<h1>Introducing Individual Student Assignments</h1>

Great news, teachers!

As of today, you can now select which individual students receive specific assignments within any class.&nbsp;

<h3>Here&#39;s how it works:</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Click on a lesson, video, or flashcard set in your Prepping or Teaching lane within any of your classes</li>
	<li>A modal will open with your assignment preferences for that lesson&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Click the &quot;Students&quot; tab in the top navigation of the modal</li>
	<li>Switch the setting from &quot;All students&quot; to &quot;Some students&quot;</li>
	<li>Select the students you want to assign the lesson to&nbsp;and remember to hit &quot;Save&quot; inside the modal before closing it</li>
</ul>

Only the selected students will see the assignment inside their class dashboard.

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C5BgjG7wtaI?si=I4waw7z14JkLaeer" width="640"></iframe></div>

We know that a lot of you have been asking for this feature for a while now. So thanks for your patience, and we hope it&#39;s a big help!

All the best, 
Ben :)

Founder, CEO at Ellii

Introducing Individual Student Assignments

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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

<section>
In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/episodes" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Episode 76</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, co-hosts Sh&eacute; and Anna sit down with teacher trainer and host of&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-efl/id1494494153" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Everything EFL</a>,&nbsp;Erin O&rsquo;Byrne, to explore how the&nbsp;Lexical Approach&nbsp;can transform both teaching and learning in the English language classroom.

Erin shares how her journey&mdash;from pandemic boredom to professional epiphany&mdash;led her to embrace the Lexical Approach as a practical, empowering methodology that just&nbsp;makes sense.&nbsp;She explains how shifting from teaching individual words to teaching&nbsp;chunks of language&nbsp;helps students process meaning faster, use real-world English, and become more confident, autonomous speakers.

<blockquote>&ldquo; You are giving them real-world language. The lexical approach is very much conversation driven. They recognize things. They notice things faster.&rdquo;&nbsp; &mdash; Erin O&rsquo;Byrn</blockquote>

From corpus linguistics to classroom spontaneity, this episode explores how teachers can &ldquo;learn it loose,&rdquo; noticing and recycling meaningful phrases that actually appear in authentic communication. Erin also unpacks&nbsp;emergent language&nbsp;and how creating space for student-led noticing can reduce prep time, prevent burnout, and spark creativity for both learners and teachers.

Whether you&rsquo;re new to the Lexical Approach or looking to refresh your teaching, this conversation is packed with ready-to-use ideas and reflective insights on how to move from&nbsp;rules to real language.
<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/mw2DSqH6-fI?si=FBuk8_xdjCXI2c1N" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<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>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<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>

Empowering Learners & Teachers with the Lexical Approach

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

Articles

Autonomous, self-directed, or independent learners have the academic and life skills required to take control of their own learning journeys. They can fast-track their language learning through self-study, seeking out learning opportunities, and using effective learning strategies.&nbsp;

In my previous blog post on independent learning, I looked at <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-importance-of-self-directed-learning-transforming-the-elt-classroom-with-independence">5 Benefits of Encouraging Learner Autonomy</a>. In this post, I will cover some practical ways to do this.&nbsp;

<h3>1. Explore learning strategies</h3>

Every learner is different, so what works for one may be less effective for another. Some learners may feel the need to write up notes straight after class, while others may prefer to watch videos or do activities with a similar theme.

Give&nbsp;students the opportunity to share learning strategies with their classmates. This can help them to find out&nbsp;what works for them and to&nbsp;understand that everyone learns differently. It also lets them&nbsp;take inspiration and guidance from their peers and discover new learning techniques.&nbsp;

For a simple and creative classroom idea for how to do this, check out the container activity&nbsp;in this blog post:&nbsp;

<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/learning-that-sticks-the-power-of-post-its-in-the-elt-classroom">Learning That Sticks: The Power of Post-its in the ELT Classroom&nbsp;</a>

<h3>2. Encourage problem-solving</h3>

Students who haven&#39;t developed the ability to work autonomously&nbsp;can often be full of excuses. For example, they may claim that they didn&#39;t know what the homework was, that they didn&#39;t have the right worksheet, or that they couldn&#39;t log in.&nbsp;

These are all valid excuses in certain contexts. However, it is the student&#39;s responsibility to find out what the homework is, to make sure they have the right worksheet, and to find a way to log in.&nbsp;

We have to help students see excuses as problems to be solved. One way to do this is to write common excuses on the board and have them discuss&nbsp;solutions.&nbsp;

Problem: &quot;I didn&#39;t know we had homework.&quot;

Solution: Ask another student, keep a diary of the homework, or check emails, notes, or the learning platform.

Problem: &quot;I didn&#39;t have the right worksheet.&quot;

Solution: Keep homework tasks in a separate folder, ask a friend, identify&nbsp;the homework worksheet with a post-it or a star, take a photo of someone else&#39;s, and complete it in their notebook.

Problem: &quot;I&nbsp;couldn&#39;t log in.&quot;

Solutions: Ask the IT team,&nbsp;another student, or a friend for help. Follow the password reset functions.&nbsp;

Getting students into the habit of finding their own solutions before asking for help promotes resourcefulness and stops them from relying on you more than necessary.&nbsp;

<h3>3. Use learning journals</h3>

Learning journals can help students keep track of their learning. They can use them to jot down homework tasks, class schedules, topics covered, and upcoming themes. They can also use them&nbsp;to reflect on progress so far.&nbsp;

Learning journals are a great way to help students get organized, assess their own learning, and track their distance traveled.&nbsp;

<h3>4. Set goals</h3>

Setting goals lets learners consider where they want to be and how they are going to get there. It gives them direction and an attainable target to work towards and motivate them.&nbsp;

Here are some posts on the topic:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/creative-ways-to-set-personal-academic-goals-with-students">Creative Ways to Set Personal &amp; Academic Goals with Students</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/4-goals-to-help-you-focus">Struggling to Focus? 4 Types of Goals to Get Your Language Learning Back on Track</a> (for students)</li>
</ul>

Here are some&nbsp;Ellii resources on the topic:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Discussion Starters:&nbsp;<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5541-goal-setting" target="_blank">Goal-Setting</a>&nbsp;(Adv)</li>
	<li>Discussion Starters: <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5543-goal-setting" target="_blank">Goal-Setting</a> (Low Int)</li>
	<li>Discussion Starters: <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5657-grit">Grit</a>&nbsp;(High Int &ndash; Adv)</li>
	<li>Discussion Starters: <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/5439-growth-mindset">Growth Mindset </a>(Adv)</li>
	<li>Grammar Stories: <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4421-more-simple-future-stories">More Simple Future Stories</a> (Goals)</li>
	<li>Student Reflection:&nbsp;<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/2224-goal-setting-can-do">Goal-Setting</a>&nbsp;(Can Do)</li>
</ul>

<h3>5. Use self &amp; peer assessment</h3>

Why spend hours on grading when you can give students the answer key or rubric and have them correct their work themselves? This way they can get into the habit of assessing their own progress in their own time and learning from their mistakes.&nbsp;

Of course, this is simpler for activities with clear-cut answers (e.g., yes/no, true/false, multiple-choice)&nbsp;than for written or spoken work.

However,&nbsp;it is also good to have students get into a routine of checking their productive work against a checklist before they submit.

For example, have them check:

<ul>
	<li>Did they answer the question?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Have they used the right punctuation?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Is the word count suitable?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Have they used the language they are focusing on (e.g., sequence words, phrases for introducing opinions)</li>
	<li>How is the spelling?&nbsp;</li>
	<li>For extra support, you can have them check each other&#39;s work in groups or pairs. That way, they can learn from each other and give feedback and support.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<h3>6. Try project-, task- &amp; inquiry-based learning</h3>

Project-, task-, and inquiry-based learning are great ways to help students explore topics in more depth. They can develop their research, collaborative, and presentation skills too.&nbsp;

Check out these posts for more:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/takeaways-from-tesol-2022-project-based-learning">10 Tips for Successful Project-Based Learning</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/task-based-learning">Task-Based Learning: An Introductory Guide</a></li>
	<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>

<h3>7. Give them choices</h3>

It can be tiring choosing learning topics that will interest our learners. Giving them a choice lets them decide for themselves. You could set aside time in class where students can pick their own activity.&nbsp;

For example:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>read a book</li>
	<li>research something online</li>
	<li>create a poster</li>
	<li>make a video</li>
	<li>write a blog</li>
</ul>

This way, they can choose a mode of learning that works for them and a motivating subject that interests them.&nbsp;

On Ellii, you can use the built-in feature called Student Picks.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eSi7E0R3b4I?si=nbcUwXPOnHAaioAE" width="640"></iframe></div>

Our comprehensive self-study platform, <a href="https://ellii.com/solo">Ellii Solo</a>,&nbsp;lets students choose from a full library of courses, study packs, and videos, as well as studying vocabulary at their own pace. The content helps students target specific skills and reach their language learning goals faster.

For more on the topic of self-directed learning, check out my previous posts:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/the-importance-of-self-directed-learning-transforming-the-elt-classroom-with-independence">5 Benefits of Encouraging Learner Autonomy</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/5-ways-to-supercharge-your-students-study-skills">5 Ways to Supercharge your Students&#39; Study Skills</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/developing-learner-autonomy-with-ai">Developing Learner Autonomy with AI</a></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
How do you encourage learner autonomy in your classroom? We&#39;d love to hear which tips and tricks have worked for you! Let us know in the comments.&nbsp;
</blockquote>

&nbsp;

Self-Directed Learning: 7 Ways to Develop Learner Autonomy in the ELT Classroom

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Self-directed learning is the key to long-term academic success. It empowers students to personalize their learning journeys, think critically, solve problems, and ultimately take control of their language learning.&nbsp;

In this post, I will explore some of the benefits of developing learner autonomy. In short, it answers&nbsp;why autonomous learning is so powerful.&nbsp;

For more, check out my post on&nbsp;how to support learners students to become independent learners: 
 
<a href="https://ellii.com/blog/7-ways-to-develop-learner-autonomy-in-the-elt-classroom">7 Ways to Develop Learner Autonomy in the ELT Classroom</a>

<h2>What is self-directed learning?&nbsp;</h2>

Self-directed learning is&nbsp;a bottom-up approach that puts students at the center, controlling their own academic success.&nbsp;

A self-directed learner can manage their time, set their own goals, and find their own ways to achieve them.&nbsp;

These are the students who complete their homework, write up their notes, and actively seek additional&nbsp;practice for their language skills.&nbsp;

They have developed the study skills to put them on the&nbsp;fast track to success.&nbsp;

<h2>What are the benefits of self-directed learning?&nbsp;</h2>

There are many advantages to promoting learner independence.&nbsp;Let&#39;s look at a few.&nbsp;

<h3>1. Independent learners are self-motivated</h3>

When learners know what they want&nbsp;and choose how they learn, they are motivated. This self-motivation compels them to log in to learning portals, repeat tricky tasks, learn from their mistakes, and&nbsp;reflect on what works for them.&nbsp;

This self-motivation can make them lifelong learners, seeking out ways to try new things and master new skills.&nbsp;

<h3>2. Independent learners have transferrable skills</h3>

The ability to take the initiative and complete challenging tasks independently is essential in the workplace. Employers actively seek to recruit people who are creative, can think critically, and have strong digital skills.&nbsp;

Learners who can do this in the language learning context can transfer these skills into further and higher education as well as&nbsp;nab themselves meaningful employment.&nbsp;

<h3>3. Independent learners are determined</h3>

When something gets too difficult, it can be very easy to give up. Learners who haven&#39;t yet developed their ability to learn autonomously may get put off by even the smallest obstacle&mdash;a forgotten login, a lost document, or an overwhelming liguistic concept. They will likely be dependent on you to get them back on track.&nbsp;

However, nothing stops an independent learner. They will find a way to reset their own login, find the document, and understand that tricky language point.&nbsp;

<h3>4. Independent learners reduce teacher workload</h3>

Teachers are busy, and sharing our time equally between all our students can be a challenge. However, when students can work automously, we can become a&nbsp;guide or facilitator to learning. We can set learners&#39; tasks and give them time to complete them in their own way.

<h3 data-end="436" data-start="271">5. Independent learners know their own needs&mdash;and how to meet them</h3>

Students who know how to learn by themselves know what kind of techniques and tools they like to use. They can choose to learn in a manner that supports their needs.&nbsp;

These are just a few of the benefits of encouraging learner autonomy. For more on this topic, check out these blog posts:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/5-ways-to-supercharge-your-students-study-skills">5 Ways to Supercharge Your Students Study Skills</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/developing-learner-autonomy-with-ai">Developing Learner Autonomy with AI</a></li>
</ul>

You may also want to check out <a href="https://ellii.com/solo" target="_blank">Ellii Solo</a>, our comprehensive self-study platform that is perfect for independent learning success.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l-C2mk0YszA?si=58gjBGwMsPzoL-Bi" width="640"></iframe></div>

<blockquote>
What are your thoughts on self-directed learning? What benefits would you add?&nbsp;
</blockquote>

The Importance of Self-Directed Learning: 5 Benefits of Encouraging Learner Autonomy

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In Episode 75 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherthinkaloud.com/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast</a>, co-hosts Anna and Sh&eacute; explore the transformative potential of AI in the classroom with guest Sara Davila, a self-described &ldquo;learning alchemist&rdquo; who excels in transforming theoretical research into actionable strategies for educators. Sara provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of large language models (LLMs), tracing back to early AI research, and highlights their contemporary applications in education. The discussion emphasizes frameworks for teachers&rsquo; AI use and AI&#39;s potential to enhance teaching while preserving an essential human touch.

<blockquote>&ldquo;AI is a tool created by human beings to be used by human beings for the improvement of human beings. It&#39;s not about replacing humans.&rdquo;&nbsp; &mdash;Sara Davila</blockquote>

Sara encourages educators to experiment with AI, suggesting that beginning with familiar, low-stakes activities can boost confidence and illuminate AI&rsquo;s educational benefits. This episode serves as both a guide and an inspiration for teachers looking to embrace AI&#39;s educational potential.

<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/nZAkl6A-QZg?si=u4elGdSwNcnvzVAj" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<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>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<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>

A Teacher’s Guide to Large Language Models

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Ellii&nbsp;is making&nbsp;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;

<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 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<h2>Let&rsquo;s dive into each...</h2>

<h1>1. We&#39;ve simplified the top navigation</h1>

We&#39;ve made three changes to the top navigation.&nbsp;

First, our navigation bar has been simplified. The Materials tab, Classes tab, and Saved tab have been combined into one universal menu we call the &quot;Everything&quot;&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&quot;!

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;

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;

<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>

&nbsp;

<h1>2. The Lesson Page Index now includes genre filters, pins, and a plain-text list view</h1>

Our redesigned navigation in our Lesson Page Index includes a new genre tag filter 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; 
 
We&rsquo;ve also moved our&nbsp;Resources&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.

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 personalized Pinned page.

Lastly, we built a plain-text index view to quickly see and scan all lesson section titles in a single, simple snapshot page.&nbsp;

<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>

&nbsp;

<h1>3. Each lesson section&nbsp;now includes&nbsp;category tags, and all lessons have an instant &quot;Add to class&quot;&nbsp;button</h1>

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 categories into filter tags&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;

We&rsquo;ve also added a + button 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;

<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>

&nbsp;

<h1>4. Likes have been retired. Your old likes have a new home.</h1>

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;My Likes,&quot;&nbsp;but you can change the name to anything you prefer. From now on, you can put your favorite lessons into that folder.

Why did we retire the &quot;Like&quot;&nbsp;button? 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;

<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>Where are the English Storylines?&nbsp;</h1>

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>

&nbsp;

<h1>Supporting Teachers Through Change</h1>

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.

A New Way to Navigate Ellii

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Photographs are wonderful teaching tools. They capture moments in time and help us to tell stories and facilitate discussions.

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;

Our Photos of the Week section shares five photos each week from our media partner, The Associated Press. These photos depict diverse stories from around the world&nbsp;and help learners to explore these topics in more detail.

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;

<h2>1. Assign as speaking homework</h2>

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;

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;

For example, take this photo of women voting in Guinea:&nbsp;

<img alt="screenshot of women from Guinea" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4940/content_Guinea-Vote.jpg" />

You could encourage students to:&nbsp;

<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>

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;

<h2>2. Discuss in class</h2>

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;

Here is a photo of Venezuelan migrants on a boat between Panama and Colombia:&nbsp;

<img alt="Venezuelan migrants" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4941/content_Venezuelan-Boat.jpg" />

You could ask the students:&nbsp;

<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>

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;

<h2>3. Improve research skills</h2>

These photo prompts are perfect for developing research skills. They can serve as a introduction to the topic.&nbsp;

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.

Let&#39;s use this photo as an example:&nbsp;

<img alt="Melanie Santiler" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4942/content_Havana.jpg" />

Students may write questions such as:&nbsp;

<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>

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:

<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>

Here are some further classroom ideas, taking an inquiry-based learning approach:&nbsp;

<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>

If you&#39;d like some more ideas&nbsp;on how to use photos in class, check out these blog posts:&nbsp;

<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>

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!

How to Use Photos of the Week

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

Teaching with Ellii

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>

<h2>Ellii&#39;s Placement Test (Autograded)</h2>

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;30 minutes&nbsp;to complete the Ellii Placement Test. There is also a printable version with downloadable audio available if schools prefer this method.

The Ellii Placement Test (autograded) has 30 multiple-choice questions and is divided into 3 sections:

<blockquote>
Part 1: Listening (3 recordings, 9 questions) 
Part 2: Grammar (12 questions) 
Part 3: Reading (3 readings, 9 questions)
</blockquote>

For the most accurate scoring, teachers should encourage&nbsp;students to skip questions they can&#39;t answer rather than guessing.

<blockquote>
Score Range = Ellii Level 
 
0-3% = Pre Beg 
4&ndash;17% = Low Beg 
18-40% = High Beg 
41-63% = Low Int 
64-83% = High Int 
84-97% = High Int &ndash; Adv 
98-100% = Adv
</blockquote>

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. 
 
The type of level teachers&nbsp;see is based on the settings they have selected on their Account page (Ellii, CLB, CEFR, ELD, NRS). A percentage score will also be shown.

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Placement Test (Speaking &amp; Writing)</h2>

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.

We recommend giving students a time limit of&nbsp;60 minutes&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;

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;

This test is divided into 5 sections:

<blockquote>
Part 1: Listening (6 recordings, 12 questions, 20%) 
Part 2: Grammar (16 questions, 27%) 
Part 3: Reading (3 readings, 9 questions, 15%) 
Part 4: Writing (3 short answers, 1 long answer, 22%) 
Part 5: Speaking (1 long answer, 16%)
</blockquote>

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.

<blockquote>
Score Range = Ellii Level 
 
0-3% = Pre Beg 
4&ndash;17% = Low Beg 
18-40% = High Beg 
41-63% = Low Int 
64-83% = High Int 
84-97% = High Int &ndash; Adv 
98-100% = Adv
</blockquote>

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;

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Exit Test</h2>

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;

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Proficiency Level Account Settings</h2>

Under Account 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;Ellii level (Pre Beg &ndash; Adv) with the option to add one of the following level systems:&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<blockquote>
Canadian Language Benchmarks: CLB 1&ndash;12 
Common European Framework: CEFR A0&ndash;C2 
English Language Development:&nbsp;&nbsp;ELD 1&ndash;6 
National Reporting System: NRS 1&ndash;6
</blockquote>

<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>

<hr />
<h2>Ellii&#39;s Equivalency Scale</h2>

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;

<hr />
<h2>Ellii Solo</h2>

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 Ellii Placement Test 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). 
 
<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" /> 
Students must complete a pathway or retake the placement test in order to unlock higher-level pathways.&nbsp; 
<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" />

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.

<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!

All about the Ellii Placement Test

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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.

<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>

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.

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!

<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> 
🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<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>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<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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Sometimes I need to give myself a shake and remind myself that everyone has the power to make tiny changes to Earth.&nbsp;

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;

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;

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;

<h1>Believe in yourself &amp; others</h1>

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>.

<img alt="Roza feature in Spectacular Scottish women book" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4922/content_Roza-salih.png" />

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.

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;

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;

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>.

<h1>Work collectively</h1>

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;

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;

<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>

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.

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.

<h1>Inspire with changemakers</h1>

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.

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> section.

<img alt="screenshot of the famous activists" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4923/content_Activists-Ellii.png" />

<h1>Include globally important&nbsp;topics</h1>

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;

Here are some sections you may like to explore:&nbsp;

<h3>1. <a href="https://ellii.com/resources/photo-prompts">Photo Prompts</a></h3>

These lessons start with a photo and are designed to boost discussion and critical thinking. Ellii&#39;s&nbsp;Photos Of The Week series compiles a selection of the key&nbsp;headlines while Photos in the News features&nbsp;popular news stories.

<img alt="photos in the news" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/4924/content_Photos-in-the-news-Ellii.png" />

<h3>2. <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/that-s-news-to-me">That&#39;s News to Me</a></h3>

This series of lessons, featuring content from Ellii&#39;s media partner&nbsp;The Associated Press, covers social justice, politics, environment, health, and education. New weekly lessons are often available at two or three proficiency levels.&nbsp;

<h3>3. <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/historic-events">Historic Events</a></h3>

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;

<h1>Celebrate wins</h1>

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;

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>.

<h1>Do what you can with the tools you have</h1>

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 can&#39;t do. However, as educators, we all have a&nbsp;variety of skills that we&nbsp;can use to make a difference.

Here are some of mine to get you started:

1. I can cycle. 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.

2. I can write materials. 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;

3. I can edit. 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;

4. I can share. 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;

5. I can sketchnote.&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;

6. I can educate. So I can bring globally important topics into the classroom,&nbsp;facilitate debates, inspire learners, and support them&nbsp;to be changemakers.

7. I can blog. 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!

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;

How have you helped your learners to make the world a better place? Which ideas from this post would you like to use?&nbsp;

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

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<section>
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.

<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>

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.

In Part 1, the group explores the why 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.

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.

🎧 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.

Make sure to subscribe to The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast so you don&rsquo;t miss out on the Part 2 drop!
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🎙️&nbsp;Listen now on your favorite platform:

<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>

🔗&nbsp;Follow The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast on social media for more updates:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/teacherthinkaloud" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li>
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</section>

The Reflective Educator: A Conversation on Growth & Transformation

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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;

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!

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;

<h2>Processes &amp; problem-solving</h2>

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;

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;

In class, have students work in groups. Give them some post-its and have them work together to describe a process.

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;

<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" />

<h2>Brainstorming &amp; ideation</h2>

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;

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;

<h2>Forehead stickies game</h2>

This game is a classic. It&#39;s a great way to practice asking and answering closed questions and various vocabulary items.&nbsp;

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;

For example:

<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>

Once the first student has guessed correctly, move on to the next learner so that all students have a turn.&nbsp;

<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" />

<h2>Container activities</h2>

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;

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;

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;

<ul>
	<li>videos</li>
	<li>podcasts</li>
	<li>online&nbsp;</li>
	<li>books&nbsp;</li>
	<li>radio</li>
	<li>apps</li>
</ul>

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;

<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" />

You can find more container activity ideas and other&nbsp;examples in these blog posts:&nbsp;

<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>Post-it note prompts&nbsp;</h2>

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;

<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" />

<h2>Visual storytelling (aka &quot;stickytelling&quot;)</h2>

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;

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;

<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>

Here are some more storytelling themed posts:&nbsp;

<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>Visual check-ins</h2>

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;

<h2>Post-it progression walls</h2>

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;

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;

Here are some other blog posts that you might be interested in:&nbsp;

<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>

&nbsp;

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