AI for CELTA, Scholarship winner, Vocab review and more...

Coming at you from the Sunshine coast in Queensland today, where it's doing exactly what it says on the tin! I do like the climate in this country...

I'm also excited because I've got someone to introduce- the winner of the VoiCE Scholarship this time is Ajoke David, a Montessori teacher from Nigeria. She's got great ideas for how video can help her existing business and her community so watch this space! The competition was really stiff and if you're reading this and feeling disappointed, please feel free to apply again next time I run the programme in October.

Something old

My something from the archives today actually isn't very old. I only put this video out about three months ago, but I think it's really useful. I decided to put it up again because a teacher I know got feedback from her high level learners that they wanted more revision of what they'd learnt in previous classes and she was asking me for ideas.

It's really easy, especially with more advanced learners, to over-estimate what they'll remember. Maybe you're so busy trying to ensure that they have sufficient challenge and feel they're learning something NEW that you let the recycling slip..... If this sounds like you, let me offer you some useful Vocabulary Box activities (great at all levels- not just advanced!). Enjoy.

Something new

My new videos for you today (yes, there are two...) are particularly aimed at you if you're a CELTA trainee or a CELTA trainer... Read on...

AI is the elephant in the room in every education setting at the moment and there's been talk in CELTA circles about how this could/ should/ might be used by trainees in lesson planning and assignments.

Obviously, AI can't and shouldn't be doing the all work and it needs to be cited and referenced, just like any source, but it seems to me there's no point in trying to pretend it doesn't exist. So, with this in mind, I've been playing around with some ideas and I've made some videos on the subject of the CELTA assignments and AI.

The first two are here for your delight and edification! The first is a bit of an introduction to the subject- some DOs and DON'Ts according to Cambridge, and the second is an overview of how AI might be helpful with the Language Skills Related Task (the Skills assignment). There's more coming on the other assignments over the next couple of weeks but I'm really interested to know what you think, so do hit reply and let me know, whichever end of things you're at!

PS. While we're on the subject and whatever stage of teaching you're at, if you still feel you're not getting the best you could from AI, my AI Powered Language Teaching course will give you FAB, REUSABLE ideas - check it out.

Something borrowed

Finally, my offering from my internet trawling this week is a bit off my usual topic and is mainly aimed at those of you who have your own students BUT I think it's potentially really useful to anyone and may be the push you need to start having an independent side-line, even if you work in a school.

I've known Ola Kowalska for a while now and I really love her energy. My brother(who often has a very straightforward view of things) tells me that there are two types of people in this world - radiators and drains - and Ola is definitely one of life's radiators. I'm sure you can imagine what I mean.

This week (from 1st-4th July), she's running a four day challenge that she's calling Language Gold and it's to help you to generate ideas to produce a group programme for language learning that can earn you money. It's FREE, so what have you got to lose? You can sign up here and who knows, it could be the start of something unexpected.

OK- that's it for me today. Have a great week and I'll see you next Sunday

Best

PS. You can view all my resources for CELTA here and for teachers here.