Date: 28th March 2013

Theme: English teachers working with young learners recognize that such learners think and behave differently than those from previous generations. Welcome to Generation Y! These students were born into a world of information technology; they regularly multitask… and they trust the ideas of peers and web videos more than their teachers.Generation Y is significant: it constitutes 20 percent of the world’s population. As Gen-Y occupies the young end of the population demographic, we can assume many second language learners belong to this group; it demands our attention and understanding.

Contemporary research on Gen-Y originated in developed nations, although examination is increasing throughout the world. Whereas Gen-Y has received much attention in the academic literature of many fields, this is not yet the case in ELT research. This lack of consideration is regrettable, as most Gen-Y'ers are currently English language learners. Adam's workshop addresses this shortcoming by explaining the nature of Gen-Y, while presenting teaching strat¬egies aimed at engaging such learners.

Watch a recording of the webinar: 

https://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/_a917587435/p5ko711n4a0/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

• 5 comments
• Read more

Date: 27 February 2013

Theme: Story writing gives children the opportunity to be creative and enthusiastic about using English. Sharing the stories with their peers can also bring a strong sense of personal achievement. However, without adequate support producing stories can become an onerous task for early writers.

Providing scaffolding is one way to ensure that the children are able to complete the task while allowing their imaginations to thrive. Many people who did not receive the encouragement to write as children still struggle with their writing skills as adults. Therefore, it is important to build confidence in these early development stages.

In this webinar I will look at some ways to ensure that all children can contribute to the best of their ability. I will look at both hi-tech and low-tech ways to introduce creative writing to your classes, through materials, TPR activities and websites.

I also hope to hear about some of your successes – let’s share our ideas together!

Watch a recording of the webinar: Please click on the link below to watch a recording of the webinar

http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p1guuaw898f/

• 6 comments
• Read more

Date: 16th January 2013

Time: 12pm UK time (check what time this is in your country)

Theme: In our January webinar, Willy Cardoso will be looking at the following aspects of classroom-based teacher development:

• Approaches to teacher development that start from inside the classroom

• How to involve learners in our development

• Self- and peer-observation tools

• How to increase the validity (and currency) of our classroom-based knowledge

• Critical teacher development (or ‘beware of TEFL slogans’)

Watch a recording of the webinar: Please click on the link below to watch a recording of the webinar

http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p8bx6vlw10m/

• 5 comments
• Read more

Date: 18th October 2012 

Time: 12pm UK time (check what time this is in your country)

Theme: Current coursebooks have moved away from the 'describe your house/last holiday format of earlier materials as content/culture-based learning and model texts take pole position. The content may be more challenging, but is it memorable? How do we personalise it all? Where do the 'Me Moments' come in. Fiona's webinar will look at a wealth of creative, learner-centred activities to the put the 'Me' back into memorable and meaningful lessons for teens and adults alike.

Watch a recording of the webinar: Please click on the link below to watch a recording of the webinar

http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p6z0512ypbl/

About the speaker: Fiona has been working in ELT for 25 years. She is a teacher, teacher trainer and materials writer based in Cáceres, Spain. She regularly trains teachers in Spain and has also trained in Italy, France, Palestine and Turkey. She has published courses for Secondary with Macmillan and Edelvives, she manages 3 blogs (including macapella for teachers of teens) and co-curates #ELTpics. You can follow her as @fionamau on twitter.

• Login or register to post comments
• Read more
• 1 attachment

Date: 29th November 2012

Time: 8pm UK time (check what time this is in your country)

Watch a recording of the webinar: click on the link below to watch a recording of Chia's webinar

http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p8uphzoqspd/

Theme: As we walk down the memory lane of English language teaching, we can see a correlation between the trends in the most popular language acquisition theories of its time, and the application of such assumptions into the language classroom. Whether it be Krashen's 'affective filter' hypothesis translating into humanistic approaches, such as suggestopedia, or Searle's speech acts giving rise to the functional syllabus, practitioners have tried to apply theory to practice in a way that best helps learners to best acquire the language. But we don't always get it right.

• 4 comments
• Read more

Theme: Perhaps one of the most important aspects of teaching young learners is classroom management. With a working system in place and a good class atmosphere, children can develop their language skills with confidence and enjoy their learning. Without such a system, lessons can be a struggle for teachers and students alike.

This session will look at ideas for establishing ground rules and a rapport with young learners from the very first lesson as well as ways to keep the momentum going throughout the school year. Drawing on his own experiences, the presenter will demonstrate the importance a student-centred approach incorporating their input along with their interests to help create a positive learning environment.

Watch a recording of the webinar: http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p4al6yhtb7m/

• 8 comments
• Read more

Date: Wednesday 18th July

Time: 8:00am UK time (check what time this is in your country)

Theme: Many teachers are beginning to experience the benefits of using Computer games in the classroom. This talk aims to build on this and share insights, experience and knowledge of this ever expanding field. Drawing on my experience as an English Language Teacher I would like to talk about how easy it is to take authentic computer/ video games and adapt them for our pedagogical purposes. I hope to prove that you don't have to be a gamer to be using such games with your learners.

Watch a recording of the webinar: Please click on the link below to watch a recording of the webinar.

http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p53aritea99/

About the speaker: Kyle has been teaching English for nearly 20 years. An award winning author in the field of computer games in TEFL, he is currently teaching English and providing ICT support for the Young Learner British Council centre in Barcelona.

• 2 comments
• Read more

Date: 28th June 2012

Time: 1200 UK time (check what time this in your country)

Theme: Every teacher - and every learner - can probably recognise a great lesson when they experience one, but what exactly are the qualities that, when added up, make an everyday experience into an extraordinary one? Taking this further, can teachers do anything deliberate to make GREAT lessons, or are they simply a matter of luck? Anthony will suggest five characteristics of GREAT lessons that he thinks are not only central to lesson success, but are also things that teachers can develop with some simple strategies that he hopes to share.

Watch a recording of the webinar: You can watch a recording of the webinar by clicking the link below

http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p3hvhheb9a1/ 

About the speaker: Anthony Gaughan has been involved in English teaching for over 17 years in the UK and Germany. A state-qualified teacher in the UK, he is currently Head of CELTA training at the Hamburg school of English, where he is busy with an ongoing experiment to unplug initial teacher education by applying Dogme ELT principles to the CELTA.

• 8 comments
• Read more

Date: 28 February 2012

Time: 1200 UK time (check what time this is in your country)

Theme: Using literature - in particular short stories and poetry - as a tool for language learning has opened up new paths and opportunities for the language teacher and student. Using the BritLit model Fitch will trace how the creative aspects of using narrative texts have influenced classroom practice and processes and have helped to challenge the rightful place that literature has in English as a Foreign Language. He will also trace the development of the project and its application and examine some of the results that occur when we tap into the creative reserves of our students. 

Watch a recording: You can see a recording of the webinar here: http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p7brfa63vk9/ and the presentation only here: http://britishcouncil.adobeconnect.com/p3540z14a25/

About the speaker: Fitch O'Connell has been a teacher for longer than he cares to remember. He works as an editor, materials writer and teacher trainer. In 2003 he set up the acclaimed BritLit project for the British Council in Portugal, and has worked since then to help establish a new place for literature in English language teaching. He also contributes to the WordPowered website, which brings together teachers of English by using short stories, poetry and film. He now works as a freelance consultant and is based in Europe. 

• 3 comments
• Read more