Oct 15, 2026 Teacher Development and CPD, Trinity CertPT, Uncategorized CELTA or Trinity CertPT? When Trinity CertPT is not for you. For some people there is no choice between a CELTA or a Trinity CertPT. The name tells you what you can and can’t do. The Cert PT is for Practising Teachers. If you have never taught before you can’t do a Trinity CertPT. Instead an initial course like […]
Aug 20, 2026 Uncategorized Grammar at low levels What grammar do low level learners need to know and in what order? I have talked about grammar at low levels in other posts, but a recent conversation with a colleague made me want to revisit the theme. We were talking about Outcomes beginner and their experience of using it. It was a generally positive […]
Feb 14, 2025 Classroom Activities, Core Principles, Teaching lexically, Uncategorized How should I use my coursebook? With principles! It seems that most teachers see the value of using a coursebook, but the bigger question is: how should I use them? That was my conclusion from reading a recent post on LinkedIn by Katherine Bilsborough. She asked for English language teachers who were anti-coursebook to explain why they were against using them. As it […]
Jan 13, 2025 Exploiting Exercises, Grammar, Opinions, Teaching lexically, Uncategorized Meet learners’ needs by following language desire paths If we want to meet learners’ needs, then try following their conversations and teach the language they desire rather than just what we set out to teach. I was out walking the other day and it being somewhat damp and muddy, I decided to stick to the paved pathway rather than take this more direct […]
Aug 29, 2024 Grammar, Grammar bugbears and curiosities, Uncategorized GRAMMAR NONSENSE & CURIOSITIES: can It may seem a bit strange to include can under the umbrella of grammar nonsense. I’m sure few of you have considered the rules for its usage as wrong or find the way it’s presented particularly weird – and n the whole, I’d agree with you! I include it in our ongoing series of ELT shame and […]
