Simple teacher-student interactions for English classes online

/ Digital Learning Associates/

Teaching English language demands high levels of student-teacher interaction. Online, it’s possible to create rich patterns of feedback between learners and instructors on the most basic common devices, using some simple and universal tools. Ready to Run launches its low-tech ELT advice channel: a set of basic tips for online ELT teaching. 

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Today the Ready to Run authentic video channel, winner of the ELTons awards 2019, launches its free advice series for teachers:  simple technology workarounds to get better online class interactions for ELT teachers. These approaches to online ELT classes don’t require sign-up to any platform or service, and there is no special kit. The whole class can work interactively using just the free tools available on any connected device, whether the channel is  Zoom, Teams, Google, Skype, or Facebook; and whether the hardware is Windows/PC/Android or Apple/IoS. 

Ready to Run’s ELT Editor Elena Deleyto La Cruz presents the advice videos in the Ready to Run blog pages. For example, the post “Completing worksheets remotely” shows how an online class can use a paper worksheet for an exercise like gap fill or writing. Elena demonstrates how the “sticky notes” and annotation functions on any default PDF reader allows the teacher to send out a worksheet, perhaps made by taking a picture of the page by phone, and receive back a file with the student’s answers for feedback or assessment.

Ready to Run is the ELT video catalogue created by Digital Learning Associates. Co-founder and director Adam Salkeld said: “Students and teachers are facing big challenges -  they need ways to keep their online classrooms dynamic and interactive. Pricey LMS systems often claim to be an answer, but we think great content matters more. The free interactions you can have in the universal tools of video and phone are just fine, and we’re sharing that.”

Free access to the Ready to Run Video Pro package is on offer during the Covid-19 crisis. Each unit comprises a graded authentic video with core topic vocabulary and levelled grammar, transcripts, a student worksheet and a lesson plan. High quality video is a source of sharing, emotion and motivation during home based learning.

For further information please contact info@digitallearningassociates.com