Since launching last year, our online E-moderating training has become one of our most popular short online teacher training courses. The course is designed for CELTA
Tutors who wish to become Online Course Tutors on the new Online CELTA
programme - or for any ELT professionals who wish to develop their
skills and awareness of how to teach online.
This week is the 46th Annual IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland. After the first morning of pre-conference events Twitter is already buzzing with reports from delegates about some fascinating sessions (search for #iatefl).
So far, we've been especially proud to see lots of praise for IH London teacher and trainer Chia Suan Chong who is part of the Business English Special Interest Group. We're looking forward to catching up with her about her research and presentation on 'English as a Lingua Franca – what should we be teaching?' after the conference.
With a whole week of TEFL talk to come, here's our guide to IH London at IATEFL.
IH London teacher Caroline's Study Skills class have been looking at the best website for English self-study. Their latest reviews are about TED.
Have you ever heard about TED? I never
hesitate for choosing TED.com as the best English learning website. This
website is for everybody who uses English as a mother tongue or a second
language. It is a non-profit website which spreads information about every sort
of subject.
Many students learning English at IH London also spend time after class improving their language skills. This month, we're sharing some reviews of the best websites for self-study all written by teacher Caroline's Study Skills class.
Let's start with their guide to self-study resources from the BBC.
BBC Learning English website
BBC Learning English is a site dedicated to teaching English language on line. The site is for all people that want improve their English without traditional methods. There are a lot of positive aspects about this kind of self-study.
There's still time to apply for the Blended Cert ICT course at IH London starting on 15 October. Leading up to the course, we're sharing tips and advice to help you use ICT more effectively in the classroom.
One of the many great things about this course is that each week’s tasks, and the tools you are introduced to, are built on the skills you’ve learned in previous sessions.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll learn how to do during the first half of Module Two, which is also delivered in the F2F classroom:
How to supercharge your Internet searching skills, allowing you and your students to find the right resources for what you need more quickly
How to make quick and easy podcasts that add value and fun to your teaching
How to make the most of Web 2.0 tools such as social bookmarking, social networking (even if you’re not already using it, your students probably are!)
How to create WebQuests that will have your students practicing their language skills as well as getting valuable “real world” online experience
How to use various types Blogs and Wikis with your learners
All about Wikis
Wikis are a great tool for collaborative and process writing, and are easily one of the most popular “I’m so glad I now know how to use them” tools of the course. Not sure what a wiki is?
Here’s an essential overview …
Wikis are easy to set up, a doddle to administer, and are arguably one of the most versatile tools that you’ll end up with in your ICT toolbox. They end up being a one-stop shopping place where teachers can collaborate with students: delivering information and having learners produce (and hone) their own language, keeping a record of first drafts, edits and corrections (from the teacher and/or peer correction).
In case you didn't make it along to our session taster this week, here are some of the essential facts we learned about the upcoming Blended Cert ICT course at IH London:
It's currently the only teaching with technology course certified by Trinity College.
Teachers who take the course range from recent CELTA grads looking to continue their education to Directors of Studies who want to implement more technology in their schools. There is truly something for everyone on this course.
You don't need any previous technical knowledge, and even IT wizards who take it have always ended up with some new tricks up their sleeves.
There are three modules to the course, the first of which is taught completely face-to-face. Module One includes:
Keeping your computers safe (nobody likes a virus)
Understanding different kinds of file formats (do you know your MP4s from your WMVs? your JPGs from your GIFs?)
Working with images (how do you get that high-res picture off your digital camera to fit on a web page?)
Using audio (hey, that might come in handy for pron practice ... hmmmm)
Video (can I really use free, low-tech tools to teach in my classroom? -- Yes! See below)
Get your teaching toolbox ready!
The above animation is just one of the many free, easily accessible tools you'll have in your "teaching toolbox" at the end of the course, and that toolbox gets a little more full after every session. One of the best things about the Blended Cert ICT is that it's very practical and very hands on. Every week you'll have new ways to quickly and easily add a little technology to your teaching, whether it be to spice up an existing lesson or keep a running online record with your students of what they've covered over the duration of the course.
More tips and examples from the course coming over the next few weeks.
Our Blended Cert ICT course begins on 15 October and applications are open now. Over the next few weeks we'll be posting tips and advice about using ICT in the classroom to give you an idea of what the course involves.
If you're thinking of applying, don't miss thefree taster session tomorrow, Tuesday 6 September at IH London, when you'll have an opportunity to find out more about the Blended Cert ICT course and qualification and ask your questions.
Your introduction to the course
Check out the Voki below to find out some more about the course and what's happening over the next few weeks:
The course will introduce you to blogs, wikis and podcasting while you also learn how to use other simple, easily accessible, and FREE technology tools (eg, WebQuests, electronic assessments, videos, social media) that you will be able to immediately incorporate into your lessons.
The course is designed for both the novices and those with a more technical know-how who want to add to their toolboxes of classroom tips and tricks.
The blended CertICT is a brand new online and face-to-face international qualification for language teachers who want to incorporate technology into their lessons.
Validated by Trinity College London, the course is delivered online by the Consultants-E and face-to-face at IH London. Advantages of blended learning
Nicky Hockly, pedagogical director of The Consultants-E, designed the original online CertICT and has been delivering it since 2008. In a Guardian Weekly article, she explains the benefits of a blended learning approach:
"What you get out of an online training programme is valuable in terms of the information and the tutoring, but I still think that there is an element of a person’s opinions and approach to things that can only be fully mediated by the face-to-face interaction."
The blended CertICT is a great option for teachers who like to work collaboratively. The face-to-face segment focuses on the practical elements of the course, such as creating blogs and using software, while the online component is reflective with more theoretical work.
Course overview
The blended CertICT is for qualified teachers and trainers of English and other languages. It will enhance your skills and expertise using ICT (Information and Communications Technology) in the classroom, and give you lots of ideas, tools and techniques to use with your students.
Of the 120 hour course, 50 hours are delivered face-to-face over a two week period. You can take the face-to-face component in Seville from June, in Bonn from August and in London, at International House, from September.
