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As English Language Teaching (ELT) has become more globalized, the demand for high-quality educational content has increased exponentially. Typically, textbooks and academic journals have served as the main sources of inspiration of new ideas in the classroom. But for some time now, ELT professionals have taken to blogging to provide valuable insights, tips, and resources to fellow teachers.
As English language teachers, we know that writing is a critical skill that requires continuous practice to develop proficiency. We also understand the importance of specialized writing, where specific knowledge and terminology are required to communicate effectively within a particular field or industry. In today's digital age, blogging can be an effective tool to advance specialized writing competence in the English language.
Looking Back
So far we have completed some really great writing activities this year starting with journaling back in January as a way to reflect on what we achieved, where we want to go, and, most importantly, how we are going to get there. I prepared some writing prompts for teachers to use with their students and even some prompts for teachers to reflect on their own personal and professional situation and development. Find time to check them out.
Creativity - Where Are You?
I would usually describe myself as a ‘creative’ person. But, currently, I am feeling somewhat stuck, somewhat lacking in ideas. So, it got my thinking - where does creativity come from?
The What: Digital Storytelling
At this point, the case has been made for developing Creative Fluency through critical reading and creative writing. And more specifically, we have even touched on the importance of English Language Teachers (ELTs) writing and sharing their own stories in the classroom. But if we really drill down, writing a story or speaking/telling a story are not the only options for expressing ourselves in a creative way. There is a third way. And that way is Digital Storytelling - a technique that combines storytelling with multimedia elements such as images, videos, and sounds.
Simple Activity to Get Your Learners Writing Creatively
This activity is a great way to weave creative writing into your lesson. It does not require a lot of prep and you can control the amount of time it takes by setting a limit.
Here are some web links to pictures that may be suitable as prompts for lower level, intermediate level and advanced level users of the English language.
Benefits of Telling Your Story
It is important for English language teachers to write and share their own personal stories in the classroom for many reasons.
The Benefits of Short Stories in the English Language Classroom
Without doubt, short stories can be an effective tool for English language learning and teaching. They offer a manageable amount of text for students to read, understand, and discuss, making them ideal for language learners at various levels of proficiency. Following on, reading short stories can also help improve vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills, as well as develop critical thinking and analysis skills. Additionally, short stories can provide a window into different cultures, helping learners expand their cultural knowledge and appreciation for diverse perspectives. For teachers, using short stories in the classroom can be a dynamic way to engage students, enhance language development, and bring literature to life.
Time to Reflect
With a heavy workload and myriad of online distractions, it’s important to reduce time scrolling our mobile phones and reflect on personal and professional developments. Here are some self-reflection prompts to get you started:
Journal It
At the beginning of the new year, we are actively looking to start something new. Motivation is high, the goal is ambitious, and we may have made a good plan. But how likely are we to stick to the plan? Maybe 50 per cent? I don’t know. But I do know when we also include a way to hold ourselves accountable, the success rate sky rockets. Hence, I would like to suggest some journaling activities that you can run to support your learners develop and maintain a new writing habit.
The Value of Journaling
It is very common at this time of year, to start reflecting on what has gone before and look toward what is to come. It is a time to take stock, consider what went well, what didn't and what changes can be made in the immediate future to achieve a form of contentment and well-being going forward. Now is the perfect moment to start journaling and use this powerful tool to uncover your authentic self and ensure that you are living in alignment with your values and priorities.
Creative Writing Challenge - October 2022
An online event for English Language Teachers to find their voice, build a writing habit and gain inspiration for writing lessons, materials, blogs and more.
Join us and take your first steps towards Creative Fluency.
Are you an English language teacher looking to advance your language skills AND boost your creativity in the classroom? Working towards Creative Fluency can help you achieve this goal!
Through a series of interactive workshops and exercises, you will acquire the tools and techniques you need to bring new ideas and fresh approaches to your teaching. You'll learn how to tap into your own creative potential, as well as how to encourage and nurture creativity in your students.
Learn English Together 2022
23-25 June 2022
An online event for English learners, organised by English teachers.
The mission/theme of the event is 'Discover your path to English fluency'.
About the Club
The aim is to build confidence around reading and writing in English, and a sense of community among the Club members. The focus is on developing analytical skills through reading and discussing short stories, and practising creative writing skills by mirroring the structures we encounter.
Fairy Tales
We all read fairy tales as children. Or at least they were read to us. Like all stories they are a form of escape and excitement. They are enduring because they represent the most common events in our daily lives, such as love, regret, adversity, and so on. But what stands out is the moral lessons that are embedded in the narratives. Not just entertainment, but a sort of Life Skills 101 - don’t go with strangers and definitely don’t let strangers climb up your hair. ;)
Digital tools for creativity
So many tech tools out there, so little time to explore them. I’ve done the hard work for you so you can just sit back, read, enjoy and hopefully be inspired to try out these digi-tools that can push your creative reading, creative writing and creative thinking to the next level.
About the Club
The aim is to build confidence around reading and writing in English, and a sense of community among the Club members. The focus is on developing analytical skills through reading and discussing short stories, and practising creative writing skills by mirroring the structures we encounter. By deconstructing the creative process we carve out space for inspiration, to generate ideas and tease those ideas into something truly wonderful. If you are feeling ready to share, there is an open invitation to read your writing to the group or bring a piece of writing you admire for us to enjoy.
About the Creative Practice Series
As you know, we are an international group of teachers with a passion for creativity who love learning with and from each other. As such, one of the main aims of this community is to spotlight and give a platform to our members. So that's where the idea of the Creative Practice series has come from - and that’s why I invited SYSWC member Charlynne to share her creative practice with you.
About Troika Xperience
Every year, they organise a special event called Troika Xperience, an online conference with the Troika ethos. There are round tables, micro-courses and webinars. And it was through teacher friend and SYSWC member, Talita, that I had the chance to co-present a webinar at this brilliant event. It did not take long to decide what we wanted to share with the Troika community: We chose to talk about sharing stories and diversity.
Capturing Ideas in Photos
There are many ways to capture and share your observations of the world: not only on paper, but also through film and photos.
Photos. Cameras. A seperate flash. These all seem so old school and very much relics of the past. Yet, they seem so familiar and worthy of re-discovery.
And that’s what we will be doing this month - dusting off an old technology, locating important data hidden within and re-interpreting it for a modern audience.
Getting Back To Teaching Creative Reading & Writing
Due to the arrival of my daughter 2 years ago, and the Pandemic, my regular English language teaching practice all but disappeared. It’s only been since the beginning of the year that I have started back again, but only with one private student at a time.
Getting Started With Creative Writing
Typically, before creative writing comes non-creative writing for most of us. Certainly when we learn and teach a language, listening and speaking takes precedence over reading and writing. And even when we get to writing itself, we tend to begin with formal styles and later focus on academic versions.
Growing Stories
In order to grow stories we need seeds of inspiration and a practice that allows us to capture that inspiration.
If we dig deep into the heart of our favourite stories we find that certain elements resonate with us. You know the situations and phrases I mean - the ones that lead us to nod our heads and smirk in agreement with what we have read? What makes those elements so satisfying and special? Well, they contain specific details that reflect certain aspects of our own lives, helping us make real-life connections with the text, which in turn allows us to enjoy the story. Those small, quirky details link the story world with our real world creating a wonderful, immersive experience. In this way, seeds of inspiration, and the key to successful stories, are rooted in our every day interactions.
About the Book
Beyond Expectations is an 80-page short story about one person’s reflections before, during and after 6 days walking on the Camino Portugues. The Camino is a pilgrimage to northwest Spain undertaken by people from all around the world, on their own, with family or friends.
About the Club
The aim is to build confidence around reading and writing in English, and a sense of community among the Club members. The focus is on developing analytical skills through reading and discussing short stories, and practising creative writing skills by mirroring the structures we encounter. By deconstructing the creative process we carve out space for inspiration, to generate ideas and tease those ideas into something truly wonderful.
The Importance of Play
There is a belief that play is only something children do, and that it is certainly not for adults. Yet, there are so many benefits to it, I believe there is a lot we older folk can learn by adding some play into our everyday lives. Indeed, taking time out to play allows us to switch off the logical side of our brain for a while and simply be imaginative. This so-called right-brain thinking frees us to think outside the box, and in doing so, come up with new ideas and possible solutions to problems.
My Twist On A Tale 2020
My Twist On A Tale is an annual competition organised by the publisher Pearson, that provides an opportunity for British schoolchildren to write their own stories. The theme for 2020 was Everyday Heroes, and participants were encouraged to write about those people who made a difference to them, especially during the lockdown period.
Talita’s CW Experience
Having previously invited community members to introduce themselves through text, I thought an alternative way to get to know each other better, would be through video. This time we will be hearing from participants in the online course in creative writing that I designed for my Master’s dissertation project last summer. And here we have Talita!
Our senses play a crucial role in how we experience and interact with the world around us. From the scent of freshly baked bread to the vibrant colors of a sunset, our senses provide us with a wealth of sensory information that shapes our perceptions, emotions, and memories. Engaging the senses is not only a powerful tool for enhancing our experiences but also a valuable approach to teaching and writing in English.