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Learner Agency: The Key To A Growth Mindset In The ELT Classroom

Learner Agency The Key To A Growth Mindset In The ELT ClassroomWhat is a growth mindset?

There are many benefits to teaching learners with growth mindsets. Students with a growth mindset believe that they are in control of their own ability to learn and improve. They are not afraid of challenges, viewing them as opportunities that can help them grow. Students are more confident, as they believe that they can learn from mistakes. They are not easily defeated by failures, as failures help them identify where they should invest efforts for success. They are resilient and will persevere in difficult learning conditions. Continue reading


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An Introduction To Learner Agency

An Introduction To Learner Agency: a hand climbing a pile of books one finger at a timeIf I am asked what language teachers should do to prepare students for a world full of uncertainties beyond the classroom, I will say without hesitation that we should help them become agentive learners. In other words, language teachers should create opportunities for students to enact and grow their agency, as we explain in our comprehensive guide to Learner Agency. Continue reading


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5 Fresh Games For Teaching English – Using Dice!

Do you use dice in your English classes? I love using dice to create games for teaching English, as there are so many things you can do with them. You don’t even have to have two of them, one die can be enough. I love the look on the students’ faces when they are waiting to see what number they get. This tension creates a commitment to learning, as games help students to take an active role in their learning processes by creating situations where they have the chance to use the language effectively in a meaningful context. Also, playing games is fun and who doesn’t love to have fun? Continue reading


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The Perfect Primary Graded Readers For Reading With Parents

Holiday reading for young learnersDid you know reading for ten minutes a day can help improve memory and concentration? Reading is also a great way for children to relax. But there are hundreds and thousands of books to choose from, so how do you decide what to read with your students or children? It can be tricky.

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Q: Skills For Success Question Time! Answers From ELT Teachers

How would you answer these critical thinking questions? Q Skills For SuccessEach unit in Q: Skills for Success begins with a question: What is the best kind of vacation? Does taking risks change our lives? What inspires innovation? Q: Skills for Success is renowned for helping students to achieve academic success in English. The Third Edition helps students to develop the techniques and critical thinking skills they need for academic study with new Critical Thinking Strategies, updated texts and topics and 100% new assessment.

Each unit builds on activities and techniques to develop your students’ critical thinking skills as they answer the unit opener questions, but the questions are directed at the students – and we wanted to hear how you would answer them!

So we asked, and for four weeks, your fellow teachers submitted their responses to a few of the questions. Read on for some of the answers! Continue reading