Category Archives: Blethering

Questions to get to know your new students

Posted on 12/08/2020 by fabenglishteacher

What’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to you? 2. What would you like to be doing in 5 years’ time? 3. How would your biggest fan describe you? 4. And how would your worst critic describe you? 5. … Continue reading →

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Post-Confinement Thoughts

Posted on 12/07/2020 by fabenglishteacher

I’ve been using the KISS method in my weekly reflections for a while now, both professionally and personally, sounds exciting doesn’t it?! Actually it stand for Keep, Improve, Start, and Stop. Our school term has finished, and although I’m teaching … Continue reading →

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Post-confinement teaching

Posted on 30/05/2020 by fabenglishteacher

I don’t know about you but being plunged into the world of online teaching felt like learning a whole new job and set of skills overnight. I felt like a complete novice teacher again, and in fact I was. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Blethering, Inclusive Practices | 3 Comments

A listening (drawing) & writing activity

Posted on 04/03/2019 by fabenglishteacher

I have this brilliant student called Aurelien, actually I have lots of brilliant students but this boy often comes up with ideas that I use in class or share with other students. The other day Aurelien and his partner came … Continue reading →

Posted in Blethering, Fab ideas, Fab YL ideas | 1 Comment

Whiteboard layout

Posted on 25/01/2019 by fabenglishteacher

This is what my board layout (and the back of my students’ heads!!) looks like, it’s a comforting routine – for the students and myself to fill it out at the start of every lesson, day and date goes in … Continue reading →

Posted in Blethering | 3 Comments

10 reasons to attend a conference

Posted on 20/01/2019 by fabenglishteacher

A day or more surrounded by the most motivated and vibrant group of people you can imagine, I have never attended a conference anywhere that was attended by morose, unmotivated teachers – they all stay home!   2. The chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Blethering, CPD, ETAS, wellbeing | 2 Comments

The Teacher you want to be – Teaching Resolutions

Posted on 18/12/2018 by fabenglishteacher

This was a great workshop given by Colin MacKenzie at the recent TESOL France colloquium. Colin asked some very useful questions and really got me thinking, and is especially useful at this time of year when many of us are … Continue reading →

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Should learning be hard?

Posted on 04/11/2017 by fabenglishteacher

Today my children and I have been hard at work learning, but in very different circumstances. I’m studying an online SENCO course with Leeds Becket university (see top photo), my son is playing a difficult match with his team, and … Continue reading →

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Being a teacher means…

Posted on 17/05/2017 by fabenglishteacher

Recently I asked my students to give an oral presentation on the job of their choice. I was surprised to see how many chose to talk about teaching, but in retrospect it’s probably the job they see the most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blethering, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Teaching Up – what I learnt about teaching in Pilates class

Posted on 22/04/2017 by fabenglishteacher

Photo credit: Robert Bejil Productions via Foter.com / CC BY The first thing I learnt was that I am the stiffest, most un-supple person in the world – it’s amazing I can bend at all. The second thing I learnt … Continue reading →

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