English teaching talks – Learning outside the classroom

English teaching talks – Learning outside the classroom

In this series of five short videos, Claudia Rey shares ideas and inspiration for taking language learning outside the classroom, including making visits to galleries and museums, running extracurricular drama clubs, going on nature walks and doing virtual tours. She explains how using English outside the classroom in real contexts helps learners:

• practise and improve language skills
• develop higher-order thinking skills and critical thinking
• be creative
• apply and review knowledge learned in subject areas in the real world
• use language in motivating contexts
• develop a 'growth mindset'
• take more responsibility for their learning.

For each video in the series, there are some questions for you to reflect on and discuss with colleagues if possible. Please note that due to a technical issue, we are not able to share part 3 of this series (where Claudia talks about comics clubs).

Pre-viewing task

Before you watch the videos, think about the questions below. If you are using this resource as part of your professional development in your institution, discuss the questions below with your colleagues. Otherwise, make notes of your own ideas.

• Do you have any memorable 'outside the classroom' learning experiences from when you were at school? What do you remember about them?
• Have you ever had any 'learning outside the classroom' experiences with your classes? What were they?
• Which 'learning outside the classroom' experiences are most popular with your learners?
• Why do they like them?
• What ideas would you expect to be included in these videos?

Part 1: The importance of learning outside of the classroom

In this first video, Claudia introduces practical ideas for taking language learning outside the classroom. She shares her top tips for using extracurricular activities, after-school clubs, visits to art galleries and museums and nature walks to help learners' language development and thinking skills.

Before viewing

Why might you do the following activities with your learners?

• visits to art galleries and museums
• nature walks
• virtual tours
• drama clubs

While viewing 

• According to Claudia, which skills does each activity help learners develop or which benefits does it offer?

Watch The importance of learning outside of the classroom

After viewing

• Which of the 'outside the classroom' activities are you most keen to learn more about? Why?

Part 2: How can school trips support language learning?

In this video, Claudia explores the benefits of educational school trips for learners. She discusses how visiting art galleries and museums can provide opportunities to develop language skills as well as critical and creative thinking.

Before viewing

• Have you ever organised a school trip? What factors do teachers need to consider when organising trips? 

While viewing

• What practical considerations does Claudia mention? Do they match with your ideas?
• What types of questions does Claudia suggest asking learners when they are looking at paintings and objects? What sort of language use do these types of questions encourage?

Watch How can school trips support language learning?

After viewing

Claudia provides alternatives if you can't visit an art gallery or museum, and gives suggestions for activities. Which ideas would work well in your context? Which would you most like to try?

Part 4: How can nature walks support language learning?

In this video, Claudia discusses the many benefits of taking learners on nature walks. She suggests activities you can conduct with your learners to help them practise their language skills and make connections across the curriculum.

Before viewing

• Where could you take your learners on a nature walk in your local area? What would they be able to see, hear, smell, touch or taste there?

While viewing

• Claudia talks about involving learners in creating guidelines for behaving responsibly and respectfully in nature. What are the dos and don'ts that she mentions?

Watch How can nature walks support language learning?

After viewing

• Which of Claudia's ideas would work well in your context?
• She talks about making links across the curriculum. Which activities could you do with your learners that combine other subjects, such as maths or art, with language skills practice?

Part 5: How can virtual tours support language learning?

In this video, Claudia shares ideas for activities to use with virtual tours of museums, art galleries and archaeological sites that promote deeper thinking skills and allow learners to go beyond describing what they see.

Before viewing

• Have you ever used a virtual tour in class?
• Do you think they would be motivating for your learners?
• What would they enjoy about them? 

While viewing

• What ideas for activities does Claudia share that promote deeper thinking and problem-solving skills?

Watch How can virtual tours support language learning?

After viewing

• What sorts of virtual tours could you access that would be interesting and useful for your learners?  
• What activities could you use that combine thinking skills and language practice?

Part 6: How can drama clubs support language learning?

In this video, Claudia discusses the various benefits of drama clubs for learners. As well as helping them develop language skills, drama clubs also help develop learners' self-confidence and sense of achievement, and support their emotional and social development.

Before viewing 

• What is a drama club? What would you need to consider if you wanted to set one up with your learners? 
• How can learners be part of the decision-making process?

While viewing

• Think about how you would answer Claudia's questions in your context: How many learners? How often will the meetings be? How long will they be? Where will you hold this club?   
• What else does Claudia advise doing in the planning stage?

Watch How can drama clubs support language learning?

After viewing

• Do you think the freeze frames activity would work well in your context? 
• What would be challenging for your learners?
• How can you help them reflect upon how well they managed the activity?

 Reflection 

• Which ideas for outside the classroom activities would work best in your context? Why?
• Can you think of any other outside the classroom activities you could add?
• What are you going to do as a result of watching these videos?