Vibrant vector illustration is showing a teacher and adult students in the middle of the process of facilitating learning. On the bottom part of the illustration there are students and teacher; above them there are different speech bubbles randomly filled with different elements/icons related with education, learning and teaching. Those elements are: light bulb for new knowledge and ideas; gears and wheels for thinking and processing; question mark for questioning; magnifying glass for looking the right solution or to look closer to the problem; brain for thinking and intelligence; speech bubbles for communication ect. Illustration is nicely layered.
Interview: Nik Peachey
How did you get into the ELT world?
I kind of fell into it by accident. I had just finished a degree in music and wanted to earn some money so I could do a masters in composition. I thought I’d do a teaching certificate to earn some money. I did a CELTA course and was just blown away by the methodology. For the first time I realised why I hadn’t been able to learn a language at school. I got really hooked on teaching and really enjoyed the classroom experience and learned so much myself from the interaction with and between students. That was in 1992. I still haven’t done the masters in composition and haven’t saved any money either.
With so many digital teaching resources nowadays, how do you separate the good from the bad?
What is something about working as a freelancer that people might not expect?
It’s very hard to book a holiday. When you are being offered a lot of work you feel you have to do it, because you never know how long it will last, and when you are not being offered work you have to go out a look for it. Also, many people become freelance because they don’t want to have a boss, but instead of one boss you end up with lots, because every customer becomes your boss.
What are you currently working on?
What do you think will be the main developments in ELT over the next ten years?
Well, in terms of technology in the classroom, when I look back over the previous twenty years I’m actually stunned by how little has changed. Teachers are using projectors and flat screens instead of OHPs and VCRs, IWBs instead of whiteboards, but the things they are doing are pretty much the same and I don’t really see that changing very much, though I would love to be proven wrong. Really the main changes have taken place outside of the classroom with lots more students accessing media rich interactive materials online, having live online lessons in virtual classrooms and taking much more control of their own learning potential, and I think that’s how things will continue. Learning opportunities, experiences and materials that are delivered directly to the student wherever they are will continue to grow and this will have an impact on publishing and on schools.
What does a perfect 21st century ELT classroom look like?
For me, in the perfect 21st century classroom, technology is invisible for most of the class and so are course books and rows of desks. Instead, students are working together to develop skills and use the knowledge that they have already picked up outside of the classroom through online materials. Lessons go beyond learning and practicing language items and they focus much more deeply at helping students to understand the nonlinguistic elements of communication and a range of skills that will help them to be more creative, innovative and empathetic people. The technology element will be available to students and teachers to support these classes as and when it’s needed.
You've lived in many different countries; where did you enjoy living the most?
That’s difficult to say. The place that had the longest lasting impression on me has been Cairo. It was the first place I lived outside of the UK and was so incredibly different and it hardly ever rained! I still dream about it. I loved Barcelona too, but every country has really been a unique and interesting experience.
Quick-fire Questions
About the author
Nik Peachey is: Co-Founder https://peacheypublications.com/ Editor - Edtech & ELT Newsletter: https://tinyletter.com/technogogy/ You can find and follow his work on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikPeachey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikpeachey/ Tools for Teacher & Learners: https://www.scoop.it/t/tools-for-learners Learning & Technology News: https://www.scoop.it/t/learning-technology