A web of wealth

I recently held a teacher training session titled “How can the internet help us as teachers?” In planning for the session (which was aimed at teachers with little or no prior knowledge of teaching with online tools), I thought about how best to introduce the wealth of information and resources now available online in a non-overwhelming way.

I explained that the internet can help teachers in three main ways. Basically, there are websites which:

1. provide learning resources;
2. provide teaching resources;
3. provide opportunities for professional development (PD).
   

These three elements are not mutually exclusive. Many websites provide two or even all three of these features.

The Business Spotlight website, for example, provides learners of business English with the means of practising and improving their knowledge and skills from the comfort of their own homes or mobile devices. It also provides teaching resources in the form of downloadable worksheets and lesson plans for use in class. And it provides the opportunity for the professional development of the teacher: I, myself, have learned a lot from the articles and blogs, and especially from Robert Gibson’s intercultural blog. I would like to think that many teachers have learned something from reading my blog, too.

In my training session, I asked the participants to look at some websites and to share their findings with the rest of the group by answering some questions. You can do the same with the Business Spotlight website by answering these questions:

1. What does the page contain?
2. How could you use it as a teacher?
3. How could your learners benefit from it?
   

To help your learners, look at the pages on business skills, grammar and the Word of the Day (also available as an app). Look also at Bob Dignen's videos and at Deborah Capras' blog.

For teaching resources, go to the activities section in the Teachers'  Zone and click on the tabs for a range of activities and worksheets for use in group and one-to-one classes and for ideas on exploiting the short stories in the magazine. 

For your own professional development, check out the blogs and keep up to date with the latest workshops and conferences.

Why don't you apply the same questions to other sites you may want to use in your business English teaching? Happy surfing!