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Teaching Corner

Teacher Stories

Cultural Exchange 

Power Skills

Teacher Life

At EF Teach Online, we provide the technology to connect teachers and students worldwide. Here you'll find tools, tips and teacher stories to power your online classes.

EF Teach Online ‹ EF Teach Online - 3

I am Anju from India. I am from a district called Coorg, in the state of Karnataka, in the south of India. Coorg is well known for its coffee and pepper plantations. In fact, I live on a coffee plantation with my husband, daughter, and pets. When I have spare time, I help on the plantation, applying fertilizer, pruning the coffee shrubs, and tending to the pepper vines, and the vegetables we grow. I feel a sense of satisfaction in the midst of nature. We try to practice sustainable living. To relax, I read fiction and I like to watch period movies.
I was introduced to EF by a friend and I cannot thank her enough for it. At the time, I wasn’t keen on continuing in my job, as an educator and counsellor, at a regular school. I was looking for something more exciting. I tried my hands at a few other similar jobs, but the gratification was mediocre. Therefore, I took my friend’s suggestion and in 2016, was fortunate enough to start with EF.
As a corrector with EF, I have enjoyed my job thoroughly. I look forward every morning to start correcting. In the process, I have gained many skills relevant to this field and improved my all round knowledge too. Moreover, I am delighted that I am assisting people in progressing in their journey to gain proficiency in English. I also enjoy the flexibility of time this job allows, which grants me enough space to attend to my family.
If I were to offer a tip, being a teacher or in general too, it would be, to be determined to enjoy what you do. It usually brings out the best in people, if they value their circumstances. Many situations may seem daunting at first, but one can overcome any hurdle, with determination.
Coffee cheers to you all. Peace.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

I am Anju from India. I am from a district called Coorg, in the state of Karnataka, in the south of India. Coorg is well known for its coffee and pepper plantations. In fact, I live on a coffee plantation with my husband, daughter, and pets. When I have spare time, I help on the …

Let’s meet the teachers – Anju - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Anju ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Anju

Lets meet the teachers anju

Nowadays, Christmas is not celebrated only as a religious holiday, and there are many traditions that people from all over the world have adopted. At this time of year, families get together, eat unique dishes, and exchange gifts. Talking to our teammates at EF Teach Online, we have realized that each family and each culture adds a special touch to the holiday season. So, let’s see what insights they have to share. 
  
Picking the perfect gift – Christine   
I love picking fitting and unique gifts for family members at Christmas time! I keep a running list of gift ideas all year long, so I have many options to choose from at the end of the year. It’s fun to choose a gift that reflects the interests or personality of the recipient. For example, I’ll be gifting my mother-in-law and father-in-law a framed genealogy tree this year. And for my sister, who loves baking cakes, I bought a recipe book for ice cream cakes (hoping to up the challenge for her). For another family member who loves chess, I found a USB stick that looks like a chess piece. Gift-giving is a way for me to show I care and express a little creativity simultaneously!   
  
Spending time with family – Winnie   
On Christmas Eve in Shanghai, I usually take my family to the local Christmas market; we enjoy mulled wine, and chocolates and share interesting things that have happened during the year. Then, in the evening, I quietly place a Christmas gift in my son’s stocking. I look forward to seeing the expression on his face when he finds the present the following day. For us, Christmas is all about warmth, surprise, and happiness!   
  
Exchanging gifts – Matina   
In Greece, we don’t open Christmas presents on Christmas day but on New Year’s day! This is because January 1st is St. Basil’s name day. He was a man who dedicated his life to helping the poor and those in need, so he was the one in charge of bringing presents to the children. Nowadays, things are more flexible, with families opening presents on Christmas or New Year’s, and sometimes, they get two, one for each day!  
  
Unusual holiday traditions – Bea  
Before relocating to Switzerland, I lived in Barcelona, Spain, where they have particular traditions during the holiday season. In Catalonia, different traditions involve the number two (if you know what I mean). One of these traditions is the Caga Tió, which means “Pooping Uncle”. Traditionally it was a piece of wood covered by a blanket and the children ‘feed’ with candies and nougat before Christmas. Then, on Christmas day, they hit the Tió with a stick and sing a song so that it ‘poops’ candies and nougats for them. Nowadays the wood is decorated with a smiley face, a hat similar to that of Santa Claus, placed under the Christmas tree, and ‘fed’ candy. Even now that I’m away, I still keep my Tió under the tree.    
Happy Holidays! 
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

Nowadays, Christmas is not celebrated only as a religious holiday, and there are many traditions that people from all over the world have adopted. At this time of year, families get together, eat unique dishes, and exchange gifts. Talking to our teammates at EF Teach Online, we have realized that each family and each culture …

Gift Giving and Holiday Traditions - EF Teach Online

Gift Giving and Holiday Traditions ‹ EF Teach Online

Gift Giving and Holiday Traditions

Gift giving and holiday traditions

As you may know, meteorologists define winter as the months with the lowest temperatures of the year. This usually corresponds to December, January, and February in the Northern Hemisphere and June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere. This may be the theory, but people live and feel the winter season (and the winter weather) in many different ways worldwide. So, to satisfy our curiosity about what winter looks like depending on where you live, we asked staff members: when is winter, and what does it look like where you currently live or where you grew up? Is there snow? Is it freezing or quite tolerable? Is there winter at all? Let’s see what stories they have to share!  
  
Cassius – South Africa   
If you ask any South African, they’ll say, “This coming winter will be even colder than the last one.” We tend to respond fearfully to the cold, considering we have mostly warm weather. All plants lose their vibrant colours and sport only grey-brown tones during the cold months. Snow is very scarce in South Africa, with only about two places having snow yearly. In my home city of Johannesburg, I only remember one day of snow in 2012 – we were all surprised! Winter days can be chilly, but you only need a good jersey. Winter nights, on the other hand, can be freezing. During the nighttime, you need lots of blankets and heating.  
  
John – Scotland  
I grew up in the North East of Scotland, and it can get pretty chilly – I remember winters growing up when it hit -15 for days on end. The days get short, too, and on the shortest day of the year, it gets dark at about half three in the afternoon. As it’s so cold and dark, snow in the winter is fairly normal, especially in the mountains. The house I grew up in was a big, old sandstone farmhouse, and it was absolutely freezing in winter. Luckily, we had a fireplace — some of my earliest winter memories are of getting warm in front of a roaring fire after playing in the snow.  
 
Bea – Venezuela   
I’m originally from Venezuela, and we don’t really get a winter season there. In most parts of the country, it’s summer all year long! This means you only need one type of clothing (very convenient) and depending on where you live you can go to the beach anytime. The country is very diverse, so in the mountains it’s colder and sometimes you get snow; then you also get the rainy season between May and November, and the “colder” season around December and the beginning of the year. However, in most of the country, you can enjoy warm summer weather all year round. Since I moved to Europe, every time my mom says, “Today is really cold here”, it makes me laugh because cold weather is not the same anymore for me.  
  
Sohail – England   
I grew up in the North of England, where the winter can be very moist and cold. We have gale-force winds (40 mph), ice-cold rain, and very short days. The days are not bright as we have thick blankets of clouds covering the sunlight. As soon as possible (at 21 years old), I left the grey clouds of England for the blazing heat in the South of China. One of the seminal moments of my life was sitting in the mid-summer midday sun in Foshan and feeling as though I was melting! I had never experienced heat like it, and I loved it! 
  
Eduardo – Spain   
Recently I moved to Switzerland, so the whole real winter atmosphere is new to me. I grew up in Valencia, Spain, near the beach, where the temperatures are usually not that low. Seeing snow in the Alps, being able to go to the mountains and ski during the weekends, having a glass of gluhwein (or two, why not?), and experiencing temperatures close to zero degrees is very different from what I’m used to. You can tell by my Christmas presents, which included a pair of boots and a heavy winter jacket. Usually, I’m not a big fan of the cold weather, but there’s no denying that the Swiss winter experience has something special about it. 
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here</a>.

As you may know, meteorologists define winter as the months with the lowest temperatures of the year. This usually corresponds to December, January, and February in the Northern Hemisphere and June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere. This may be the theory, but people live and feel the winter season (and the winter weather) …

From Snowflakes to Sun: A Tour of Winter Stories Around the World - EF Teach Online

From Snowflakes to Sun: A Tour of Winter Stories Around the World ‹ EF Teach Online

From Snowflakes to Sun: A Tour of Winter Stories Around the World

From snowflakes to sun a tour of winter stories around the world

The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, begins on the first day of the lunar calendar and is the most important holiday in China. Before the holiday, many Chinese people prepare for the New Year by cleaning their houses, getting their hair cut, setting off fireworks, making red lanterns, and cooking a family dinner. For those who live far away from their hometown, this holiday is the perfect opportunity to return home to reunite with their loved ones to spend quality time together. 
For this blog, we contacted teachers to ask them to share a fun fact about how they celebrate the Spring Festival with their family and friends. So, let’s see what they say.  
  
Flora – Dinner with the family   
Chinese New Year’s Eve means a feast in a fancy restaurant with my immediate and extended family. Restaurants are usually very busy on this day, so it is important to make a reservation for your table in advance to avoid disappointment. The day before the Chinese New Year is called the ‘small Chinese New Year’, which we don’t take very seriously — we prepare some food for the new year, such as 八宝饭 (Bābǎofàn), 蛋饺 (Dànjiǎo), 春卷 (Chūnjuǎn), 年糕 (Niángāo) and 汤圆 (Tāngyuán). As usual, the food is the best part of this day!  
  
Travis – Lighting Firecrackers   
In my childhood, the most exciting thing was setting off fireworks. I used to live in an apartment with a warehouse downstairs, so back then, I was really into throwing firecrackers onto the basement roof. Well, there was one time when the lit firecracker hit the frame of the window and bounced back to me. Fortunately, it didn’t hurt me, but the moment has remained imprinted in my memory ever since. 
  
Vicky – Celebrating Abroad   
In 2020 I celebrated Chinese New Year at EF in Malta with teachers, students, and friends. It was amazing and one of my most memorable Chinese New Year’s. Making red lanterns and pasting the 福 (Fú) character to symbolize good luck was the best part. On New Year’s Eve, we decorated the whole school lounge and pasted 福 Fú upside down, right behind the front desk to mark our wish for fortune and happiness for the year ahead. Everything was all set, and we waited for the New Year. Teachers and friends prepared games, including throwing a ball and drawing pictures on the board. We also enjoyed eating dumplings and spring rolls. People just loved it!    
  
Winnie – New Year’s Greetings  
Every year during the Chinese New Year holiday, my husband and I will take our son to pay New Year’s greetings to our elders by visiting their homes to wish them good health for the year ahead. The elders prepare 红包 (hóngbāo) and candies for the children in advance. The ‘红包 (hóngbāo) is a red envelope that contains money – we normally say phrases like 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè) which means Happy New Year or 身体健康 (Shēntǐ jiànkāng) to wish people good health. Giving 红包 (hóngbāo) represents the gift of good fortune and the avoidance of bad spirits. The elders hope the children will grow up safely and healthily in the New Year. This is the happiest moment for children, as they can buy whatever they like with the money in red envelopes! 
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here</a>.

The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, begins on the first day of the lunar calendar and is the most important holiday in China. Before the holiday, many Chinese people prepare for the New Year by cleaning their houses, getting their hair cut, setting off fireworks, making red lanterns, and cooking a …

Celebrations and traditions during Chinese New Year - EF Teach Online

Celebrations and traditions during Chinese New Year ‹ EF Teach Online

Celebrations and traditions during Chinese New Year

Celebrations and traditions during chinese new year

Meet Bo!
Bo is currently serving as a Center Supervisor at our JHB center.  In 2016, he started out at EF as an online teacher.  As soon as you meet Bo, you will see quickly that he is a very passionate person who has a genuine desire to help others  grow in their journeys.  I had a great conversation with him about his early days of teaching.  I wanted to know what it was like for him as a new teacher, how he felt when he first started, lessons he learned, and skills that he acquired along the way.
Here are 9 highlights from our conversation about his journey that new teachers may relate to when they are first starting out as online English teachers:
<ol>
<li>
<h3>You don’t need previous teaching experience to be an online English teacher.</h3>
Originally, Bo wasn’t considering a career in education. He studied sociology and social development.  After graduation, he worked in events, marketing, and working on websites.Online teaching came to him by chance.  “I was just looking for something new to do, looking for a new job and then and I applied with a few different companies.”  One of those companies happened to be EF Teach Online.  And the rest… is history.</li>
<li>
<h3>You can “travel” to several different countries all in one day!</h3>
“The thing that immediately jumped out at me was the fact that I could connect with people from all these different countries all at once.  I had never really experienced that much.  A lot of my interaction had to do with either someone coming from another country into my country or me traveling elsewhere, so this was really different, to actually be in touch with students in different lessons, from different places, different cultures.”</li>
<li>
<h3>It’s natural to be nervous when you first start something new 
</h3>
“I was super nervous. We had about two days of training so there was a lot of buildup. They trained us on how to use the interface and what we would expect in class and what we should do if we have any issues so I kind of knew how to approach the whole thing, but I was still really nervous on that first day.  For the first 15 or so minutes, my mic was actually muted, and for the life of me, I had no idea what the issue was. Then, one of the students was like, “Um, Teacher, your microphone is actually muted.  Did you notice?” So yeah, long story short, first lesson, basically a disaster, but everything else was smooth sailing from there.”</li>
<li>
<h3>Nervous about private lessons?  You will be ok!</h3>
“I remember the day that I got my first private lesson. I wasn’t even expecting it.  One of my supervisors was just like, “Hey Bo, please refresh your schedule, you’re going to be teaching a private lesson today.”I was like, “Please just help me out! Is there any special prep that I need to do? Do I need to approach this in any certain way?”  and she’s like, “Wait! Breathe! Relax!  Just relax.  Approach it the same way that you approach every single lesson. You’ll be fine, you’ll be fine.  Just go ahead and do everything that you went through in training for private lessons. You’ll be fine, ok? You got this!”It turned out to be a brilliant lesson.”</li>
<li>
<h3>Your students can become more than just students 
</h3>
“I have some students who I started with years ago and I’m still in touch with them and it’s beautiful because people do grow to be more than just your students. Some of them become your friends, and others have invited me to their countries.  You need to get used to building those relationships.  It doesn’t happen instantly, and you also have to give a little bit of yourself so that they feel comfortable.”</li>
<li>
<h3>The key to building rapport</h3>
“I think the most important thing is to be genuine. I just think because you want to do so well, you almost put up certain walls – you’re holding back everything because you don’t want to be exposed but actually, that’s what makes people connect with you! The more you break down those walls, the more they connect with you.  Throw in the odd joke or two, or a quote that you think will encourage them.  It’s OK if you feel like you need to correct them on something if you really feel like it’s going to help them.  Little things like that show that you are seeing them as more than just a client.  You’re seeing them as a human being, and I think that’s the most valuable thing and that’s how you build a lot of relationships with a lot of different students.”</li>
<li>
<h3>You will get better with practice</h3>
“Getting used to speaking to someone, connecting with them, getting feedback down, and also grading them at the same time; It actually blows your mind in those early days because you’re like, “Am I even gonna manage this?”  Don’t overthink how you multitask.  Just do what comes naturally to you. ‘Learning to balance’ everything properly comes with practice. “ 
</li>
<li>
<h3>You can help make your student’s dreams come true</h3>
“I used to have a student who was from Brazil. He really wanted to get a job in another country, especially in Europe.  He’d been trying for the longest time.  We did lessons for about a year straight every single week.  In the first six months he had gradual progress.  Then I suggested that he started watching more English content, whatever it could be; movies, series, anything like that.  He grew a lot through watching series.  He started telling me more about these series than even I knew.  Then he was reading more.  He was talking to more people in English.  Eventually after that year was over, he was so much more fluent, so much more confident.  He was able to take an interview with an international company based in Portugal.  They didn’t even get through much of the interview, and they said, ‘You’ve got the job.  Please sort out your visa, your kids, we need you ASAP!’  So, that’s just one example of how the more that you work at something and dedicate your time to your students and get creative about how you teach them, they can go far.”</li>
<li>
<h3>Be open minded and leverage any interests or skills that you have</h3>
It’s really important to be as open minded as possible.  Just be open to learn. If you feel you are closed minded, online teaching might be a challenge for you since you have students from all over the world. And leverage as many interests or skills that you have.  It’s important to see yourself as a multifaceted being.  Don’t box yourself in.  You are a teacher but there is so much more to you.  Try to leverage what makes you, you as much as you can!</li>
</ol>
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here</a>.

Meet Bo! Bo is currently serving as a Center Supervisor at our JHB center.  In 2016, he started out at EF as an online teacher.  As soon as you meet Bo, you will see quickly that he is a very passionate person who has a genuine desire to help others  grow in their journeys.  I …

9 Things New Online Teachers Can Learn From Bo’s EF Journey - EF Teach Online

9 Things New Online Teachers Can Learn From Bo’s EF Journey ‹ EF Teach Online

9 Things New Online Teachers Can Learn From Bo’s EF Journey

9 things new online teachers can learn from bos ef journey

I have been working as a writing corrector for more than ten years, and although the time has flown by it has been a huge learning curve. I have learned a lot from the students whose work I have corrected and over time, I have discovered a few strategies that have made this job very enjoyable for me.
In this article, I share some of these tips with you. If you are a writing corrector like me, I think you may find them helpful!
Discipline. As you are working from home you need to motivate yourself and stay focused. Self-discipline is one sure way of staying on track.
<ul>
<li>Try setting a target of how many corrections you are going to do every day and make sure you stick to it. This will ensure that you don’t get into a situation at the end of the week or month where you suddenly realise you are way behind your target. That will make you rush through the corrections to meet the deadline and that is where you start making mistakes.</li>
<li>At the same time, you can’t be too rigid. If you find your attention wandering, or that you have been correcting work with a lot of mistakes, make sure you take a break and start working again only when your mind feels fresh.</li>
</ul>
Organization. To help stay organized, I have built up a corpus in a Word document which covers the meanings of common words, word choice, and all kinds of grammar rules linked to capitalisation etc. All I need to do when I am doing the corrections is to copy and paste the correction in the appropriate place. I constantly add to it as I go along. I suggest that you try building up a corpus with something similar which can help to make your work easier.
Keep your students in mind. It’s also important to focus on the student. I find it helpful to take a step back and think of the students first. For example, you could take a minute to put yourself in the students’ shoes. They are making an effort; we need to do our best to help them. That is why I feel we should always think of the students when we are correcting their work. If we can help even in the smallest way, we should do so.
Enjoy what you are doing. So many times, I have found myself fascinated by the places or events the students describe. It is enriching if you choose to look at it that way. You are learning about different people, cultures, and situations. If you can find ways to truly enjoy your work, it will become more than something that is just routine and this positive attitude will make a huge difference! Personally, I find that this helps me to finish my work faster.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-19937" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sujata_pic-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sujata_pic-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sujata_pic-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/sujata_pic.jpg 568w" width="300">
Sujata D.
Sujata is a Writing Corrector at our center in Bangalore, India. She has been an avid reader since childhood, she loves traveling, and as she is currently learning Portuguese, she is looking forward to visiting many more places in the near future.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here</a>.

I have been working as a writing corrector for more than ten years, and although the time has flown by it has been a huge learning curve. I have learned a lot from the students whose work I have corrected and over time, I have discovered a few strategies that have made this job very …

5 tips for writing correctors - EF Teach Online

5 tips for writing correctors ‹ EF Teach Online

5 tips for writing correctors

We are excited to announce we are hosting our second annual Online English Teacher Conference on 23 June 2023! With sessions throughout the day and an array of expert speakers, this conference aims to start the conversation of how online teaching can be the better normal.
Register for the sessions listed below. You can access the registration form <a href="https://forms.office.com/e/NzEAZMiMwC">here</a>!
 
Opening plenary. 09:00-10:00 CET
Information coming soon
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19969" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo2-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo2.jpg 568w" width="100">
Kevin Clare: Teaching Speaking Skills to Mixed Level Learners. 10:00-10:30 CET
In “Teaching Speaking Skills to Mixed Level Learners,” we explore engaging strategies for enhancing oral proficiency in diverse student groups. This 30-minute session will showcase practical techniques to differentiate instruction, effectively address learners’ varying needs, and foster inclusive, dynamic environments that boost all students’ confidence and competence in English speaking skills.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19970" height="99" sizes="(max-width: 99px) 100vw, 99px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo3-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo3-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo3-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo3.jpg 568w" width="99">
Andrew Duenas: Finding your online voice. 10:00-10:30 CET
Do you have a “teacher voice” in the classroom? Many teachers use physical changes in breathing and articulation, linguistic changes in choices of structures, and also metalinguistic changes such as conveying a certain personality through tone. When the linguistic signal is dependent on hardware and Internet strength, it’s important to put your best voice forward into the microphone! In this workshop, we’ll practice some techniques that professional speakers use to develop and project a strong, healthy, and charismatic voice. By the end, you’ll be able to combine several factors to produce different styles of voices that serve as communicative input for your students.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19971" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo4-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo4-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo4-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo4.jpg 568w" width="100">
Laura Wilkes: Taking Action Towards Your Goals: Making It Happen. 11:00-11:30 CET
In this talk, we will explore the power of goal-setting and how it can help us achieve our personal and professional aspirations. We will delve into what a goal is, and how to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that can be broken down into smaller, manageable steps. We will also discuss the importance of reflection, taking action, reviewing, and adjusting our goals as we progress towards them. By the end of the talk, you will have practical strategies and insights that will help you set and achieve your goals, both in your personal and professional life.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19972" height="101" sizes="(max-width: 101px) 100vw, 101px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo5-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo5-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo5-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo5.jpg 568w" width="101">
Olena Gyrych: Teaching, not testing, spelling with Spelling Journals. 11:00-11:30 CET
The presenter will demonstrate a Spelling Journal which uses various techniques to teach and practice spelling. These techniques move away from just testing spelling and develop learner autonomy. Participants will have the opportunity to try out different practical spelling activities which they can use in their own adult classes.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19973" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo6-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo6-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo6-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo6.jpg 568w" width="100">
Peter Fullagar: Everybody’s normal: LGBTQIA identities in ELT. 11:00-11:30 CET
In this session, we’ll look at the whys, hows, and whats of inclusion in materials and how this can be applied to LGBTQIA+ identities. There will be some interactive aspects to the session as well as signposts to useful resources.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19974" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo7-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo7-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo7-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo7.jpg 568w" width="100">
Karina Zew: The Power of Professional Development: Teachers Toward the Future. 12:00-12:30 CET
Professional development is necessary to keep up with current learning trends in the language classroom. The future is in the classroom here and now because teachers are preparing learners for tomorrow. Teachers need to be the advocate for the students, learn the new technology and ensure their assessment methods are the most up to date to succeed in preparing students for future careers. School administrators can work together with teachers to plant seed for change. Professional development is powerful because it results in less burnout, increased energy, ideas, creation, onus of profession, and overall, it helps with teacher retention. This discussion-based workshop will cover 21st century skills for the classroom and some of the latest trends for Continual Professional Development.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19975" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo8-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo8-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo8-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo8.jpg 568w" width="100">
Natasha Horvath: Choosing and adapting learning materials for adult learners’ needs. 13:00-13:30 CET
This presentation will discuss strategies for choosing learning materials appropriate for our learners. On the other hand, it will provide ideas on how to adapt the materials provided by the language school, so they are more suitable for our learners’ level, learning aims, interests, and learning style.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19976" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo9-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo9-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo9-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo9.jpg 568w" width="100">
Sarah Flores: Challenging Your Students With Free Talk. 13:00-13:30 CET
Everyone needs a good challenge and free talk is an excellent time for the student to put into practice the things they’ve learned. However, this is also one of the most difficult tasks for the teacher since there’s no script. Here’s how to challenge them, keep them happy, and ensure both of you are successful.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19977" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo10-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo10-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo10-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo10.jpg 568w" width="100">
Thu Thu Niang: Planning grammar lessons using AI tools. 13:00-13:30 CET
In this talk, Thu Thu will highlight the benefits and limitations of using ChatGPT and other AI tools. Then she will share her insight and experience on using these tools to plan grammar lessons. Participants will gain practical tips on planning grammar lessons employing these tools.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19979" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo11-1-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo11-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo11-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo11-1.jpg 568w" width="100">
Martine Ellis: Wellbeing-Driven Productivity for Exhausted Online Educators. 13:00-13:30 CET
Martine is a writer, speaker, coach, and educator whose work is rooted in the belief that achieving personal and professional success starts with prioritising your mental and physical wellbeing. Through her expertise in productivity and lived neurodivergent experience, Martine empowers individuals and organisations to achieve their goals and work-life harmony. Martine’s commitment to spreading her message is evident in her work leading professional development and scholarly activity at The Guernsey Institute; she brings a contagious enthusiasm and passion to everything she does. In her precious downtime, you’ll probably find Martine chasing her mischievous dog across one of Guernsey’s beautiful beaches or adding a few stitches to her latest embroidery project.
 
Social Activity: World Picnic. 14:00-14:30 CET
One of the advantages of teaching online is that we can connect with people from all over the world. Let’s take a break from the sessions and have some fun sharing facts about how you like to picnic. In this social activity, participants will be able to enter a raffle. So don’t miss it!
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19980" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo12-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo12-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo12-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo12.jpg 568w" width="100">
Beata Schmidt: Listen Up, Everyone: Bottom-up and Top-Down Listening Strategies. 16:00-16:30 CET
While listening in the classroom often focuses on bottom-up proficiency in grammar, vocabulary, and basic pronunciation, I will suggest in this presentation that top-down strategies such as knowledge of discourse, background, sociolinguistic context, and coping strategies are just as important for successful listening comprehension.
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-19981" height="100" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo13-300x300.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo13-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo13-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Photo13.jpg 568w" width="100">
Rachel Tsateri: Teaching (not testing) writing online. 16:00-16:30 CET
Writing is often neglected in the (online) classroom. We tend to assign written tasks for homework, which means we end up testing students’ ability to write rather than teach them the skill. In this talk, I will share some ideas for helping students improve their writing skills in the online classroom.
 
 
Closing plenary. 17:00-18:00 CET
Information coming soon.

We are excited to announce we are hosting our second annual Online English Teacher Conference on 23 June 2023! With sessions throughout the day and an array of expert speakers, this conference aims to start the conversation of how online teaching can be the better normal. Register for the sessions listed below. You can access …

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