We got off to a great start this week, with 47 learners now enrolled! There is still time for you to join this free teacher training course. It is suitable for any English teacher or trainee teacher who would like to learn how to teach without the *boring* course book!
You can find out more and enrol for free below:
http://www.wiziq.com/course/36615-free-teacher-training-course-for-english-teachers
The next class will take place on Monday 11th November at 8.15pm CET.
From next Monday 4th November 2013 Matt Purland will be running a free on-going teacher training course for teachers of English and ESL. Enrolment is now open so you can sign up from today! You can get all of the details here:
http://www.wiziq.com/course/36615-free-teacher-training-course-for-english-teachers
Title: Free Teacher Training Course for English Teachers
Goal: Learn how to teach English without a course book
Live classes: Mondays at 8.15pm CET & Thursdays at 10am CET
Main Benefits:
* FREE live classes twice a week
* Learn with an experienced English teacher and teacher trainer
* Professional development certificate when you attend 10 live classes
* Learn techniques that will help your students be more productive
* FREE access to recordings and group material (pdf, ppt, doc)
This is a course for English teachers; if you are studying to become a teacher, you are also welcome. This course is for teachers who want to learn and discuss ways of teaching English without formal material, e.g. a course book or handouts.
This course is on-going. You don’t need to attend every class – attend when you can; if you attend 10 live classes you will receive a FREE professional development certificate.
This course is based on You Are The Course Book Method. You can find out more about it and download the FREE material here: http://englishbanana.com/resources/free-books/teacher-training/
Hope to see you there!
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!
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.
Math Worksheets Land
Math Worksheets Land provides a large amount of helpful math resources for students and teachers. The entire collection is aligned to the National Core Curriculum making it easy to include in your lesson planning.
You can find the site at: http://www.mathworksheetsland.com
Glyn Purland, Chair, English Banana Trust, writes:
The Opportunity of a Lifetime for English Teachers Using English Banana Materials!
Free Teacher Training in the UK!
You are warmly invited to attend English Banana Free Summer School 2012
English Banana Trust (founded in 2008) aims to support teachers who are helping people to find a route out of poverty through learning English.
We are currently inviting applications for the first English Banana Free Summer School, which will be held at the prestigious Gresham’s School in Holt, Norfolk, England this summer from 13th to 17th August 2012.
This summer school gives you the unique opportunity to learn how to get the most out of English Banana worksheets and books with the author of the material – English teacher and writer Matt Purland. As you improve your teaching skills through a series of practical, hands-on sessions, you will learn a wide range of valuable and effective teaching methods that you can take home with you and share with your colleagues. The programme will also include other expert educational input and a range of activities designed to support you in your work environment after the school has finished.
If you are accepted as a delegate to the Summer School, all residential, travel and teaching costs in England will be paid for by the Trust, together with a contribution towards travel to the UK and associated costs, of up to £400 sterling.
Who is eligible to apply?
Professional English teachers (including ESL, EFL, TEFL) aged 21 or over, living in the UK or overseas. You must be able to demonstrate that you are using English Banana materials in your school and have a strong interest in learning how to use them more effectively.
If you would like to find out more, please email the following information to
1) Your current CV
2) Your name, postal address, telephone number, and email address
3) A short summary of which English Banana materials you are using/have used and how you are using them (e.g. group size, age, level, frequency, etc.)
4) A description of your current teaching situation, e.g. self-employed, private lessons, language school, college, university, state school, etc.
5) A short note explaining why you think you would benefit from a place at the English Banana Summer School 2012 (minimum 100 words)
The closing date for receipt of your email is Saturday 31st March 2012
We look forward to welcoming you!
We’re delighted to announce that our free printable Big Grammar Book is now the most recommended teaching resource at the Guardian Teacher Network – out of 5,500+ free resources!
It is clear that the Big Grammar Book has wide appeal too, because it is the number one recommended resource in 5 out of 6 of the age categories:
You can download YOUR free copy of the Big Grammar Book here: Big Grammar Book – Free Download.
Visit the Guardian Teacher Network here: Guardian Teacher Network.
I’ve found a really useful video on the topic of chunking from Meylysa on YouTube. Thanks Meylysa! Don’t forget to check out my free lesson this Saturday on WIZQ.com, where we’ll study more about chunking!
About the Class:
Practice Parts 1-3 of the IELTS Speaking Test and get personalized help and advice with an experienced Teacher of IELTS! Click below for full details!
English Banana.com ESL Blog 