Ten things to do with a text
Resource Activity Reading Encouraging students to enjoy and benefit from reading texts in class is not always easy, and lessons based around reading can become repetitive. Heather Humphreys, a experienced teacher in Japan and Kazahkhstan, gives some ideas of how to inject some variety into this very valuable teaching technique. A taster is below, […]
101 Ways to use a Dice
Resource Activity General Dice – teacher’s best friend? Did you know there are 101 ways you can use a dice in an English classroom? Big ones, small ones, squishy ones or homemade ones – every teacher should have a bag of them in their classroom. Anka Zapart, who has taught in Poland, the UK, […]
Mastering the Mingle
Resource Activity General What is happening when students are walking around the classroom speaking to each other seemingly at random? It’s OK! This is a “mingle” – a common technique in teaching in general, and a very popular activity in the ELT classroom. Whether you’re a new teacher or a teacher with many years of […]
Ten things I wish I had know about teaching Exams
Resource Activity General It’s almost inevitable that as an English teacher you’ll be teaching exams, whether it’s IELTS or Cambridge Exams. There is a strategy to successfully tacking exam classes, making it an enjoyable experience for you, and helping your students get the best marks possible. Phoebe Gomes has taught in the UK and […]
Ten things I wish I had known when I started teaching VYLs
Resource Activity General If you haven’t spent much time with pre-school kids before, you may fear a timetable full of classes with them. But don’t worry! Claire Elliott (with experience teaching in UK, France, Spain and Switzerland) gives her ten things she wishes she had known when she started. A taster is below, but […]
Six top tips for new younger learner teachers
Resource Activity General Teaching young learners can be a delight – they are enthusiastic, funny, and eager to take part in whatever activities a teacher plans. But it can also be a challenge to manage kids lessons. Amy Gowers (with experience teaching kids in Japan, Poland and the UK) has written an article in the […]
Making English Real
Resource Activity General As teachers our native habitat is the classroom, yet our students want to learn English to use it out in the real world. If all the examples we use are in the classroom, we lose authenticity. Glenn Standish has been a teacher and academic manager for many years, and shares some of […]
11 Useful online resources for ELT teachers
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! And the world of education has leapt right into lemonade making the move to teaching online. With Covid-19 rearing its ugly head, teachers and Academic Managers worldwide have had to completely switch their teaching around to move to digital. The International House community of teachers and Academic Managers […]
Sharing kindness in the classroom
Random Acts of Kindness Day takes place every February 17th in the USA, but there is no reason why we shouldn’t take some inspiration from this and share the love around the world! Especially during such difficult times, a day dedicated to kindness will give us all the opportunity to show appreciation and spread generosity to […]
Eight Incredible, Inclusive Icebreakers for the ELT Classroom (Part 1)
Whether you’re starting a new school year, or simply starting a course with new students, it’s always handy to have some activities up your sleeve to help you and your learners get to know each other and, like the overweight polar bear, break the ice! In this two-part series, we’ll be suggesting a total of […]