CLOVERLEAF Conference for English Teachers 2018

Vaughan Elliot (Cambridge Assessment English)

Making the leap from B2 to C1 (plenary talk)

We often talk of the 'Intermediate Plateau', but what does this mean in practice? Why do students seem to reach a certain level quite quickly only to grind to a shuddering halt soon after? Why is it so hard to go past B2 level? This talk will focus on practical ways for teachers to help their students make the progression to higher levels. It will focus on all aspects of language and skills from grammar and lexis to writing and reading.

Martin Jelínek (Macmillan)

#shareastory (plenary talk)

#shareastory is a ready-made lesson/talk which focuses on different types of revising, practicing and maintaining the vocabulary or/and grammar structure already acquired by learners or helping learners to remember it better through games, specifically stories that learners create themselves. Each story has a hidden message, and nobody knows how it ends, every story is a different story as we have our own stories to tell. It is aimed at a range of levels, from elementary to advanced. This talk allows teachers to refresh their repertoire without photocopying and preparation and helps us (teachers) react to learner’s needs as they arise. Conversation, Function, Grammar and Vocabulary are in all stories to be told. #shareastory

Martin Jelínek (Macmillan)

Gateway to Gateway

Are we giving learners a clear idea of how they use the structure in real-life situations? Martin will introduce methodology that emphasises the purposeful, real-life use of grammar, not just the focus on form. We will take a look at a variety of contexts or situations in which the structure can be used and then make the structure more meaningful and therefore easier to understand, produce and retain.

Marie Stuchlá (Cloverleaf)

In Short

A hands-on workshop especially suitable for starting teachers who would like to gain more confidence by extending their portfolio of communicative activities with no copies for their students needed. Those who have attended some of my workshops before may find a part of the activities a bit familiar; nevertheless, there will be some brand new ones as wellJ So, if you feel like joining a crowd of talkative enthusiasts, I will be there looking out for you!

Daniela Clarke (ILC)

Reaching Higher

In this session we will look at how we can help upper-intermediate/advanced learners expand their vocabulary range and reach a higher level of language competence. We will explore how effectively to build up topical lexis, starting from individual words and moving on to collocation, phrasal verbs, lexical chunks and functional language, and examine ways to push learners to use newly learned vocabulary in their productive skills. The session is aimed at teachers on both general English and First/CAE exam courses.

Daniela Clarke (ILC)

Ideas for Mixed Ability Classes

In this seminar we will explore the challenges teachers face when teaching teenage classes with mixed learning abilities. We will look at why classes have mixed abilities and at activities that can help the teacher find a balance to keep the strongest and the weakest students on board, addressing the needs of a wide range of learner abilities, sensory learning styles and levels within the class.

Martina Břeňová (Cambridge Assessment English)

Key benefits of Cambridge English certifications

The purpose of this presentation is to give an overview about Cambridge English exams and the process of exam creation. The session will allow teachers to consider various opportunities for exam preparation to support their students and approach parents. The audience will increase their understanding of the main benefits of Cambridge English certificates for candidates.

Radka Malá (Pearson)

To Teach Or Not to Teach?

Should I pre-teach difficult vocabulary or should I let my students guess from context? Should I group related words or should I teach them as they come along? Should I prepare a list of specific phrases I want my students to learn and remember or should I let them choose what they want to take away from the lesson? To teach or not to teach vocabulary in a structured way? In this workshop, we’ll explore the benefits of both vocabulary-teaching approaches using Gold New Edition and Gold Experience 2nd Edition to see what works best for you and your students. Be ready to try out some practical activities as well as to share best practices.

Sabina Pazderová (Oxford University Press)

The (Im)Movables

Classroom furniture often defines the way we teach. Traditional classroom design offers very little opportunity for real communication and active learning. Most activities are desk-based and students sit throughout the entire lesson. However, if we want to engage students in the learning process, we need to get them out of their desks, which should not be associated with loss of discipline or lack of seriousness. In this workshop we will focus on traditional activities which can be adapted to involve movement and more cooperative learning.

Jarmila Tomanová (Pearson)

Video-based case studies

Do you sometimes feel that your business English lessons could be more enjoyable? Use videos as source of authentic material providing us with real-life business situations. Apart from listening experience, students can see gestures, body language and the whole interaction between the involved parties which help them develop their communication and business skills. In this workshop we are going to explore different ways how videos can be used for teaching business English. I am going to share some tips which are beneficial in classes with both experienced professionals as well as learners without any business background who are getting ready for their career.

Vlaďka Skopcová (Macmillan)

Grammar in Games

Are you having a dilemma how to present grammar to your pupils in an enjoyable way so they would have fun and not feel frustrating? Let’s see how to find an interesting context and a playful way to present grammar with blocks to help pupils to visualize the structure and acquire the rules quickly and easily. You will get a lot of ideas for practical activities and games.