In praise of Portable Apps

For almost all of the time I have been teaching, I have been spoilt. Of course I didn’t realise this until things changed but having one’s own teaching room is an enormous advantage in a teacher’s pressurised working day. Working from one room means there are a vital few minutes between one lesson and the [...]

Audacity

Ah, it must be Monday again and, ensconced in my comfy thinking chair, I thought it would be a good time to share a few practical tips on using audio in lessons.
Firstly, if you haven’t already done so, investigate the wonderful computer program, called Audacity. Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing [...]

Yes, I know it’s been a while.

Okay, okay – yes, hands up, I know I’ve been neglecting my blog but I have news dear faithful readers. You see, changes are afoot. Having worked at my school for the last 14 years, I have decided that a change is in order. This, among other things, will mean more time to write which [...]

Bleak Expectations

Seldom have I laughed out loud more at a radio programme than at BBC Radio 4’s Dickensian parody, Bleak Expectations.

For those of you that haven’t heard it, hurry along to the BBC’s ‘listen again’ service and enjoy half an hour of silliness at the expense of Mr Dickens. For a flavour of what to expect, [...]

Bangs, pops and oohs

Thanks to BBC’s Click I spent an hour this morning watching Science videos. Yes, gone are the earnest, bearded men in corduroys: science videos are coming out of that dusty prep room and on to the net. Even better, the students are doing it for themselves.
Each video is accompanied by a detailed explanation of both [...]

Grammar of TV and Film

If you are teaching Media and want an excellent glossary of the conventions of film and television look no further than Daniel Chandler’s excellent web page.
All shots and camera angles are illustrated by a series of photographs and the text is clear and concise.
Link below:
www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/short/gramtv.html

Teaching Visual Comedy

Teaching English post-SATs feels great. Gone is the immediate pressure of a series of examinations; GCSE does not begin for a while. Here is a small space in the curriculum where the teacher can once again explore language in an organic way and allow students a little choice and, dare I say it, a little [...]