This Saturday 25th January at 6pm CET Nadia is teaching a free online English class using You Are the Course Book Method. All learners are welcome!
She writes:
“This is a demo class on You Are the Course Book Method, developed by Matt Purland, England. Teacher Nadia from Russia will give a mock class using Matt’s method. This a speaking class for English learners, so everybody please get your mics ready.”
To find out more and to sign up for this class please visit the link below:
It was fantastic to be greeted by over a hundred English language teachers at my seminar at Language Show Live last weekend! They attended my seminar at Olympia, London, on how to teach English without a course book, and it was great to see so many people who were interested in trying something new in the classroom – rather than just the usual gap-fills, multiple-choice questions, and reading comprehensions provided by the usual uninspiring ELT course books.
Waiting to do my seminar at Language Show Live 2013. A Penguin Classic, a bottle of still water, and a quiet corner away from it all…!
You can download the PowerPoint presentation that we discussed here.
In the video below I’m discussing Slide 18 and complaining about how with the course book, the writer of the course book gets to be creative, while students are reduced to completing cloze activities or reading in silence. With YATCB Method students get to experience the buzz of creativity; they are able to have ideas and work on them with their partner or group.
Language Show Live 2013 (1)
At the end of the seminar there were many questions from the audience. We discussed using this method within a syllabus and with ILPs; assessment, and how to persuade Directors of Studies to let you deviate from doing the book. This seemed to be the most common problem for the teachers I encountered there. They said that they would like to be more free in what they do in class, but don’t have time to let their students be creative after completing the set course book pages – which they “have to” do. Frustrating! It was great to chat to so many of you face to face after the event. I felt encouraged that there are many teachers who, like me, desire a more creative and productive approach to teaching English. One delegate, Joanna Dudzinska, asked me for the origin of the name “English Banana” and then promptly presented me with a pair of fresh bananas that I could take home! Thanks, Joanna. You can see pictures and read her side of the story in her blog here. She commented:
“The highlight of today was The Language Show at Olympia in Kensington. It was the third and last day of the annual event related to languages: teaching, learning, interpreting, translating and also travelling!
“A friend had told me about the presentation for EFL teachers. It had an interesting title: YOU ARE YOUR OWN COURSEBOOK. I agree with Matt, the speaker. Coursebooks are boring and they do not allow free thinking often suppressing creativity. I could elaborate more on that particular topic, but there is no time… However, I shall definitely be going back to Matt’s website…”
Language Show Live 2013 (2)
Language Show Live 2013 (3)
My heartfelt thanks go to Claire Shilling and the wonderful team who organised Language Show Live 2013, as well as the army of people who ensured that the event ran so well. I really enjoyed taking part – thanks for having me!
If you would like me to speak about You Are The Course Book Method at your organisation, or run a training session, please do get in touch!
Language Show LIVE 2013
I will be speaking on the subject of How to Teach English without a Course Book at Language Show LIVE at Olympia, London on Sunday 20th October 2013 at 1pm.
You can read about my seminar here:
http://www.languageshowconnect.co.uk/page.cfm/Action=Visitor/VisitorID=69698
And register for your FREE tickets here:
http://www.speeddata.co.uk/Forms/Default.aspx?FormRef=LanA3Visitor
Language Show LIVE is “the event for people passionate about languages. Free to attend, it’s your chance to join over 10,000 language learners, teachers, translators, linguists, jobseekers and language professionals for three incredible days.”
At my seminar we will discuss:
“…how you can teach English without a course book in any environment – school, workplace, home, or online. Forget photocopying handouts and cast aside your course books! I will demonstrate You Are The Course Book Method, where your students become the main resource, going from passive consumers to active producers of content.”
Hope to see you there in October!
Matt
We were lucky enough to host a fantastic group of teachers from Saratov University recently at our school – Study English in Ostroda. They joined us for five nights for one of our language holidays.
The visit was a great success with all of the teachers saying that they enjoyed it and learned many new techniques that they could take back to their university – and private – students in Russia.
The group leader Tatiana M. commented:
“The course provided the opportunity for the students to be active and creative at the classes, work together with other students and speak English while performing the tasks. The course integrated all of the aspects of language learning (speaking, reading, pronunciation, grammar, writing and listening) and actively involved students into the learning process. The organisation of the course (flexible schedule, the timing, course materials and accommodation) were arranged and provided on a high level. New things I learned:
Here is a picture of the group hard at work:
…and at play, enjoying a barbecue with some of our local students:
We even got an article in the local paper!
If you would like to join us for a language holiday – to improve your English language skills, or to brush up on your teaching practice – you are more than welcome to join us! Please click here to find out more about our offer.
Last Friday saw the first class in a new free 8-week English course taught by Matt Purland in conjunction with Myschoolo.com. You can find out more details and sign up for this free course here:
http://myschoolo.com/elearning/matt-purland-1/
In the meantime, why not enjoy the video recording of the first class, which was on the topic of The Environment (Studying Language):
You are very welcome to join me for my next FREE online lesson on WizIQ.com next Tuesday evening at 8pm CET:
For full details, please click here:
Our “Big Sky” fundraising event went really well on Saturday night. Thanks to everybody who took part, including the performers Big Sky Choir, storyteller Hugh Lupton, and wildlife photographer David Tipling. Thanks as well to the hard-working team of people who made it possible, including the English Banana Trustees, other volunteers, and the professional, kind, and helpful staff at Cathedral.
A packed crowd gathered in the new Hostry centre at Norwich Cathedral to be enthralled, educated, and above all entertained! First we heard all about David Tipling’s recent visit to Papua New Guinea, and how the relationship between people and birds there is really quite unique. After a short break we were thoroughly spoilt by the wonderful singing of Norfolk choir Big Sky and the amazing, mesmerising tales of Hugh Lupton. A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all, and money was raised towards this year’s English Banana Trust Free Summer School for English teachers.
Norwich Cathedral.
David Tipling's Presentation
Big Sky Choir - warming up!
Eastern Daily Press - 10th March 2012
Norwich Evening News - 16th March 2012
You can still catch a recent interview with EB Trust Chairman Glyn Purland, which took place on Friday 9th March 2012 at BBC Radio Norfolk in Norwich. Click the link below and fast forward to around 37 minutes in:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00p6b2h
Glyn spoke about the upcoming Trust concert at Norwich Cathedral and also about the Free Summer School for English teachers, which is planned for August this year. Many thanks to presenter Mark Matthews and all at BBC Radio Norfolk for their kind hospitality.
There are still a few tickets left for our very special concert in aid of English Banana Trust. Check out the details below! Hope to see you there.
Tickets are available from the venue here:
http://www.greshams.com/About-Us/Auden-Theatre.aspx
English Banana.com ESL Blog 