Language Issues Blog
Exploring ideas, sharing perspectives, and giving ESOL professionals a platform to develop their voice and inspire debate.
About our blog
The Language Issues blog is intended as a potential mouthpiece for contributors to the print journal, and to support new writers for the journal in developing their voice and their views before committing to something more formal.
As such, the articles here may express opinions which are not necessarily the views of NATECLA or of the Editorial Team at Language Issues, and is therefore a separate entity to both. Opinions remain those of the named authors, and are intended to stimulate and provoke discussion in the sector, and not to offend.
To contribute a piece to this blog, complete the following submission form or contact the blog editor, Diana Tremayne on ….
You can also respond with comments below the article for a discussion, but if you feel that any personal line has been crossed, please get in touch with NATECLA.
Blog articles
Sustainability in ESOL - A commitment to our planet
Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to deliver several workshops on Sustainability for NATECLA. It is by far the most pressing issue that we need to understand and action.
Hybrid Teaching & Learning: managing expectations
I think we can all agree that the past few years, since the occurrence of COVID-19, have been challenging for those of us teaching ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).
The ESOL Global Learning project
This blog post gives a brief overview of the project. You can find a longer article by Seima Mahmood in the latest edition of the Language Issues journal.
Picture the scene: making sense of Functional Maths
How can I make maths and grammar come alive for my learners? How can I help them really understand what they read, especially instructions? As a teacher of ESOL and maths these are questions I ask myself on a weekly basis. Recently I tried something that shows real promise for answering both of them.
One year on: What can ESOL learn from the COVID-19 pandemic?
It has undeniably been a difficult year for everyone. The concept of inequity – that individuals face unequal levels of challenges – has never been clearer in the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
Online ESOL Provision – lessons from lockdown
St. Augustine’s Centre is a community centre based in Park Ward, Halifax. In addition to offering a range of support services to anyone in the local community, we are Calderdale’s specialist charity working with people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants throughout the borough.
ESOL Students during Covid-19 #InspiredByESOL
Seima reflects here on how she, her colleagues, and the ESOL students at her college adapted to the sudden change to online learning earlier this year.
Lockdown Experience: Connection and Community
A reflection on lockdown by Isla Flood: ESOL teacher, co-ordinator and teaching and learning coach.
‘Come Online with Me’ Food, Connection and ESOL during COVID19 lockdown in the UK - the highs and the lows, and recommendations for others
Heart & Parcel was founded in 2015 by Clare Courtney and Karolina. Two friends with an interest in English language teaching, community work and food.
COVID-19- Reflections on teaching and learning through remote teaching
Last week I attended the first of the NATECLA webinars to support ESOL teachers during this period of online teaching.
The NATECLA #ESOLchat
The first #ESOLchat on Twitter took place at the end of March after lockdown was underway. Teachers (and students) were suddenly having to adapt to huge changes very quickly with little time to plan and often few resources.
Be inspired offline: life-skills projects to stay physically distanced but socially together
Never before have we experienced such an unprecedented time when we had to move the teaching delivery online so suddenly.
Reflections on "The Play's The Thing" Nick Bilbrough's Keynote @ NATECLA National Conference
I admit it, my tank of motivation and ideas was running on empty, my engine was spluttering towards the summer holidays. I thought I needed a break, I was wrong. What I needed was Nick Bilbrough’s Key Note speech about the ‘Hands Up’ project, that he founded.
NATECLA National Conference Teachmeet
Or "shamelessly sharing other people's ideas". The theme of this year's teachmeet at the NATECLA National Conference is around differentiation, and no names, just in case, but credit where it's due none if these are my ideas!
Small Steps Create Big Shifts
Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by step, as we show up for ourselves day after day. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome.
Research, Evidence and What it Means for Teachers.
One of the key features, and purposes of Language Issues is bridging the gap that can sometimes occur between the research community and teaching practitioners.