Author Archives

Teacher and Materials Writer

• AI experiments: Creating an ESL resource website

  By Pete on July 24, 2026 • ( 0 )

  

  Until a few months ago, most of my AI experiments had been quite basic – help with lesson planning, creating teaching resources, instant infographics, stuff like that. So I decided to set myself a challenge to help me learn more… Read More ›

• EAL Digest July 2026

  By Pete on July 22, 2026 • ( 2 )

  

  I never really got this update off the ground a few years back. Feels like I need to keep track of different things I come across so I’m starting it again. New releases Oracy strategies for all ages and phases… Read More ›

• Interview task: driving forward multilingualism as a strategic goal 

  By Pete on May 30, 2026 • ( 1 )

  

  I’ve just been through a worthwhile interview process with a school network called ISP (International Schools Partnership). I didn’t get the job, but I enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot about the company (and myself) through it.  ISP network… Read More ›

• Webinar: Jeffrey Boakye on oracy

  By Pete on May 6, 2026 • ( 1 )

  

  This week I attended a live CPD webinar at my school on oracy development, led by Jeffrey Boakye. He’s an ex-teacher, oracy specialist, and author on race and identity. Find out more about him here. There’s been a real push… Read More ›

• More thoughts on using the CEFR in EAL contexts

  By Pete on April 20, 2026 • ( 1 )

  

  I wrote about the CEFR framework a while back, explaining how I thought it was misused in many EAL contexts. It’s been on my mind again recently, so I just wanted to reiterate some points and add a few more…. Read More ›

• Teach Meet: developing listening skills

  By Pete on April 11, 2026 • ( 0 )

  

  In my previous school we did ‘Teach Meets’. Once a year, each teacher would share some research or teaching ideas related to their own practice. We’d come together once a term for some teachers to present (gallery walk style) and… Read More ›

• Effective questioning

  By Pete on April 11, 2026 • ( 1 )

  

  Jane Maria Harding da Rosa at EELT asked if I had any tips regarding effective questioning. She felt that effective questioning is not covered much on initial teacher training courses, so is planning some input on it for her blog/channel… Read More ›

• Adaptations: Follower (Year 7 poetry)

  By Pete on April 9, 2026 • ( 0 )

  

  The assessment for our Year 7 poetry unit was on how Seamus Heaney portrays his relationship with his father in the poem Follower. It didn’t require a super-detailed analysis, mainly recognizing the main themes and the time shift, but some… Read More ›

• Information gap activity: Endangered animals

  By Pete on April 4, 2026 • ( 0 )

  

  I did an info gap activity with my Year 9 class the other day that worked well. It’s pretty similar to others I’ve done, e.g. this one about Kenya, but if it ain’t broke… Topic: Endangered animals in Thailand. The… Read More ›

• Teaching EAL learners: talk for iQTS candidates (Uni of Sunderland)

  By Pete on April 2, 2026 • ( 1 )

  

  I was invited by Uni of Sunderland to talk to their iQTS candidates about EAL teaching strategies. I had an open brief, so I opted to share some more general tips for early careers teachers. I talked about: Teaching with… Read More ›