Author Archives

Teacher and Materials Writer

• Useful links: Project-based learning

  By Pete on April 19, 2020 • ( 3 )

  

  I’ve been reading a bit about project-based learning (PjBL) recently. I had to write a critique of an approach used in my context as part of the PGCEi. Our Secondary course now follows a PjBL approach*, so I thought it… Read More ›

• Bottery’s Educational Codes

  By Pete on April 13, 2020 • ( 5 )

  

  During the face-to-face component of our PGCEi were introduced to Mike Bottery’s Educational Codes and Values (from The Morality of the School, 1990). Bottery outlined four codes which underlie approaches to education in schools. Here’s a grainy snapshot from Bottery… Read More ›

• App review: Studycat

  By Pete on March 31, 2020 • ( 6 )

  

  Studycat is a language learning app for young learners. It aims to ‘revolutionise the way kids learn a foreign language, by making it fun and engaging’. According to the Studycat website, the app has been downloaded by 11 million families,… Read More ›

• Parents and online learning

  By Pete on March 26, 2020 • ( 2 )

  

  Soooo much training! In the last 10 days at work I’ve completed five modules of mandatory training on Zoom, had two webinars on using EtonX with YLs, got up to speed quickly with Microsoft Teams (which I had previously neglected… Read More ›

• Learn Thai Duolingo-style

  By Pete on March 19, 2020 • ( 1 )

  

  Just a quick post for any Thai learners out there. I’ve just subscribed to the Ling app. It’s basically Duolingo for Thai. If you like that format then is well worth getting. There are 50 units to study, 10 units… Read More ›

• Materials writing news and views, March 2020

  By Pete on March 11, 2020 • ( 0 )

  

  One-year anniversary of these posts. Cool! New releases Congrats to Billie Jago, who has authored these practice tests for Cambridge C1 Advanced: This is the first time I’ve come across the publisher Prosperity Education. Looks like they are mainly exam-focused,… Read More ›

• How to get a DipTESOL Distinction

  By Pete on March 2, 2020 • ( 4 )

  

  Oh, come on! There’s no secret formula to getting a Distinction in the DipTESOL. You know that. I know that. But people are still gonna google ‘get a DipTESOL distinction’, and someone’s gonna top the search list. It might as… Read More ›

• Hirameki with young learners (via Emily Bryson)

  By Pete on March 1, 2020 • ( 0 )

  

  A very quick post to say thanks to Emily Bryson! She recently shared this interesting post on using the Japanese art of Hirameki as way to teach life skills and encourage creativity. This worked a treat with my 6-year-olds! We… Read More ›

• ELT Publishing Professionals – is it worth signing up?

  By Pete on February 21, 2020 • ( 2 )

  

  A question I’ve been asked on LinkedIn by a writer (post for writers/editors, not publishers)… Is it worth joining the ELT Publishing Professionals database? Anonymous Bit fiddly to answer on LinkedIn, also the answer might be useful for others. So…… Read More ›

• 12 conversation strategies worth teaching

  By Pete on February 21, 2020 • ( 1 )

  

  One thing my CELTA course skimmed over was how to develop learners’ conversation strategies. There seems to be a good amount of focus on conversation strategies in recent coursebooks. However, at times I find these can be problematic. Models of… Read More ›