It’s no secret that successful English educators must have expansive skillsets. In recent times, perhaps no skill is more important than the ability to be flexible. Between 8th–11th November, we explored how teaching with Interchange equips English teachers with the tools to thrive in virtual and physical classrooms.
Over the past 18 months, you’ve been asked to swiftly adapt to changes in how and where you teach. You’ve had to handle the quirks of modern technology and manage shifting dynamics in online and offline classes – no mean feat!
Our expert teams work hard to deliver dynamic materials that are responsive to the changing teaching landscape. Watch the presentations below to see how Interchange equips teachers with the tools you need to thrive in virtual and in-person classroom environments and empowers students to achieve their goals. Throughout this short series, learn more about how Interchange has supported educators through changing times, and how it can do the same for you.
Adapting to the online learning environment with Interchange
With the onset of the pandemic, oral communication classes at many universities in Japan switched to being online – a challenging set of circumstances faced similarly by teachers around the world. Join Paul Nadasdy as he explores how English communication classes at a technical university in Tokyo went through several transformations over a short period of time, and how Interchange materials were successfully adapted and utilized. He talks about how high levels of communicative practice were maintained, how the course materials kept students engaged and motivated in an online environment, and how Interchange may continue to be utilized in combination with the technology once classes return to the normal setting.
Paul Nadasdy is Associate Professor and lecturer of English at Tokyo Denki University. His main research interests are in vocabulary, with a specific focus on testing and acquisition, and learner psychology, with a specific focus on learner needs, group dynamics, motivation, and how self-belief affects foreign or second language learning.
Breathing life into your classes – the perks of being creative
The words “Teaching” and “Creatively” together always sound a bit redundant to me. Is it possible to teach without being creative? As teachers, we are always adapting content based on students’ needs, choosing the best possible ways to present information. In addition, we have gone through several changes in recent times – from face-to-face classes to remote teaching and/or hybrid classes, and then back to the classroom. During this session, we look at some examples of how a simple on-page exercise can offer up different possibilities, from the way we deliver the material to the varying skills students need to develop.
Tereza Sekiya has a BA in Languages and Literature from the University of São Paulo. With solid experience in school coordination and teacher training, she worked for major publishing companies in the ELT business, presenting workshops and trainings all over Brazil. Tereza is also the author of 8 readers from the series Readers for Teens – published by Cambridge University Press, where she is currently working as an ELT Academic Consultant.
Interchange on Cambridge One, your new home for digital learning
You asked, and we listened. You can now find all Interchange resources on Cambridge One, our new learning management system. Whether in the classroom or teaching remotely, this mobile-friendly platform provides the Interchange resources for you in one place. We take a tour through the Interchange Fifth Edition Cambridge One site, explore the teaching resources, and learn about the Teaching with Interchange video.
Glenn Mathes has been a teacher, teacher trainer, program coordinator, writer, and editor. He is currently a publishing manager for Cambridge University Press ELT based in the New York City office. He is responsible for publishing the courses Interchange, Passages, and Four Corners.
Ask Us Anything: teaching adults and young adults in changing times with Interchange
Glenn Mathes and Tereza Sekiya joined us live to answer your questions on how to deliver flexible English lessons, both offline and online, that engage and motivate your students.