Beyond Words

  Why Differentiation?  I came across this term for the first time, several years ago during an inspection; the suggestion to include differentiation in my lessons left me feeling overwhelmed with lots of questions and few answers: does it mean that I have to prepare several different tasks for each stage of the lesson? How do I monitor students’ progress if they are doing different things? What about my preparation time? So, what is it? The main aim of differentiation is to create an environment in which all learners reach their full potential: this means students increase their mastery of content and skills. This happens when teachers build trust, ensure learning tasks fit learners, strengthen students’ voice, and develop awareness.  What is differentiation? Differentiation is more of a mind set than a technique but please don’t be put off! Differentiation can be super simplified in 2 stages: Building your students’ profiles: it all starts by looking at...

  Are they any good? Can you really become fluent using just an app? What are the best features of these apps? These apps are very easy to use, most of them offer a free service, and they all have courses for complete beginners. The exercises are easy to understand and they are all based on a simple formula to help you memorise words. Some are supported by visuals, which make understanding easier; some instead, are supported by translation in English. Do they offer a sense of achievement? Most of them have cute ways to celebrate completion of activities or levels: for example a growing plant in a pot or a little character celebrating your new level. Do these gimmicks work? Actually, they do! Being celebrated for completing a level is very nice and it energises you, you feel you want to do more. Positive reinforcement is very powerful.   What are their common pitfalls? The most common pitfalls, in the free versions, are linked to gaps in grammar clarificat...

  8 classroom activities to teach your students how to approach challenge and pressure with positivity In this article I will explain how these 8 simple activities, if included in your lessons, can help your students develop long-term strategies to cope with challenge and pressure. Let’s see how we can develop positivity and a proactive approach to pressure in our students.   The past 2 years forced educators to look further afield for different tools to engage and support students. I took inspiration from Terry Orlick’s work “In Pursuit of Excellence”: Terry Orlick is an internationally acclaimed sport psychologist, who helped hundreds of Olympic and professional athletes maximise their performances and achieve their goals. Why is mindset for learning important? Mental skills help students when facing challenges like learning new things or performing under pressure during an exam. All students are required to learn a set of knowledge during their studies; including ...

Is it possible to learn a new language in the first few weeks of arriving in a new country? Absolutely! Focusing on the basics from day one allows you to build a strong foundation and quickly advance. Some of our clients even use quarantine time for language lessons to make the most of their stay. Language courses go hand-in-hand with cultural awareness, making them the perfect way to immerse yourself in a new environment. Whether you're moving abroad or just seeking a change, learning a language opens doors to new experiences and friendships.  Want to know more? Get in touch!

Thinking about diving into private, one-on-one language lessons? Let’s break down the key advantages and a few potential downsides to help you decide if this personalized approach is the best fit for you. Advantages of Private Lessons One-to-one lessons come with several unique benefits tailored specifically to your needs: - Personalized Learning : the course is designed around your language goals, interests, and learning style. Every lesson is tailored to cover exactly what you need, on topics you find engaging, with activities that maximize your learning potential.    - Customizable Pace : the pace of each lesson is based on your own learning speed. Whether you need extra time with a concept or are ready to advance quickly, your course adapts to you.    - Flexible Structure : as your goals evolve, so can your program. If you discover new language needs along the way, the curriculum will be adjusted to meet them. - Convenient Scheduling : lessons are scheduled to fi...

One of the most common questions people ask me is, “ How long does it take to learn a language? ” If only there were a simple answer! But there is an effective way to approach this question: by thinking about the number of words you can actively use. A Reliable Approach Many factors impact the time it takes to learn a new language—motivation, consistency, environment, and more. But a practical way to gauge your progress is to focus on the vocabulary you can actually use in conversation. Language Levels and Vocabulary Milestones Language proficiency frameworks give us a clear roadmap. Here’s a general guide for European languages: - 500 words : at this level, you can handle simple, everyday conversations—think basic greetings and daily needs. This aligns with A1: Basic User . - 1000 words : you’ll be able to talk about slightly more complex daily topics, moving into short conversations. This is A2: Basic User . - 2000 words : now, you can handle work-related conversations, enough to app...

Loss is an inevitable part of life, yet each experience of it feels deeply unique, a personal journey shaped by who or what we have lost. Whether it's the passing of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a change in life circumstances, loss often triggers profound emotional and even physical reactions. Navigating this journey isn’t straightforward, but with self-compassion and patience, we can find a way forward. Eight years ago, I lost my father—an incredible man with a brilliant mind and an endless curiosity about the world. He wasn’t only my father but a role model with a passion for social change, a sharp sense of humor, and an impressive intellect. I miss him daily, but in that loss, I've also learned valuable lessons about life, identity, and resilience. The Nature of Loss From an early age, we begin to understand that things in life are not permanent. This cognitive development, known as reversibility, helps us realize that objects, people, and situations can change...