Modern English Teacher blog

The last few months have brought unprecedented challenges and changes to the way we teach and learn. In this month’s post, blogger David Dodgson reflects on some of the successes and difficulties of this term and how they might affect his future teaching.

Even as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions ease, many students still face a gap of several months without face-to-face language learning contact. In this month’s post, David Dodgson shares some ideas for independent language learning ahead of a (hopeful) return to class in September.

Remote teaching has impacted class dynamics around the world. Communication may be limited to written comments and the occasional interactions possible in live lessons. So, I reflect on how using a variety of feedback has been key to maintaining class relationships and improving online lessons.

Many teachers across the world are facing a drastic change as schools close and learning shifts online due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Here, David Dodgson shares 7 tips on managing your online workload and taking care of yourself while doing so.

We live in an age when technology opens up all sorts of beneficial learning possibilities: access to multimedia materials, instant file or note syncing, collaboration that knows no borders... and yet, the humble notebook remains a classroom staple.

Love it or hate it, assessment is part of almost every language course. Here, David Dodgson explains why he's learned to love it - and how he uses test scores to track progress, support students, and keep stakeholders focused on the bigger picture.

20 years is a long time in English Language Teaching. To mark two decades since taking his Trinity Cert TESOL, David Dodgson shares 20 ideas and reflections he has had in that time. From the need to experiment and reflect to the importance of considering different points of view and challenging established ideas, whilst not forgetting some classroom basics, he has compiled a thought-provoking list. What would you add?

As the festive season draws nearer, our usually jovial MET blogger David Dodgson, goes all grinchy on us with a rant against superficial Christmas-themed lessons to finish off the year. He then explains why in their place he prefers either more reflective activities or simply regular lessons.

Having looked at useful study skills and habits to encourage amongst secondary students in October’s post, this month our MET blogger, David Dodgson, shares with us some of the work he has been doing in collaboration with other academic departments in his school: Developing Effective EAL Support. Rather than focus on finding thematic links, he describes how identifying common skills across subjects has resulted in improved performance from his EAL learners.