elttraining – Page 21 – Katherine Reilly

August 4, 2022August 4, 2022

Teaching Adult Classes? No Way!

By Katherine Reilly, Author, Teacher Trainer

Originally Published in ELT NEWS Magazine.

Throughout our professional teaching careers, we have at some point received a form of criticism as regards our efficiency in class. Be it the quality of our work or even a comment which could be misinterpreted. Such was the case during my early years as an educator, as I was still wet behind the ears and was assigned to teach my first adult class. Admittedly, I had my reservations as I was already aware of the fact that the mindset of an adult differs dramatically to that of a young learner as regards motivation, dedication as well as commitment to one’s duties. One of my adult students had a tendency to arrive late in class and on most occasions, failed to deliver the tasks assigned.

June 5, 2022June 5, 2022

Don’t Panic! It’s Just an Exam!

By Katherine Reilly, Author, Teacher Trainer

Originally Published in ELT NEWS Magazine.

Is it that time of the year again? My, oh, my, how time flies! After months and in many cases years of preparation, it all comes down to that final exam which will reward the test taker for all his hard efforts. It would be futile to debate the effectiveness of tests or question what the best way to assess a student’s skills or knowledge is. Tests are here to stay and whether we like it or not, we have to comply with this designated method of evaluation. Το make matters worse, students are more often than not hindered by the prospect of evaluation. Negative emotions of anticipation and frustration overwhelm them, rendering an inability to exhibit their true potential. As educators, the responsibility falls upon us once again to lighten the burden of anxiety and alleviate their suffering during those last few moments before their exams. Here are five essential approaches to test taking that you can share with them.

June 5, 2022

Do We Really Need Language Certificates?

By Katherine Reilly, Author, Teacher Trainer

Originally Published in ELT NEWS Magazine.

Yikes! Are we actually going there? In a market that is constantly changing, one would question the necessity of acquiring a certificate which would proudly adorn our wall, only to have it sidelined by most employers. Many a time, I would converse with students who have landed a job, only to tell me that they were never asked for their language certificate as a prerequisite to their hiring. “They just asked for my university degree and proof of previous experience,” is the answer I get out of most of them. Why then have we stressed the significance of acquiring proof of knowledge of a spoken language, only to have it disregarded by most?