The air is getting crisper, the days a little shorter, and your local retailers are already showing off their festive wares and decorations. It’s that time of the year again – the holiday season is upon us! “But, Crystal, it’s only October!” I hear you gasp. That’s right, my fellow teachpreneurs, and we’ve got a…
Introducing Gem, Geo, and Amber:Your Language-Learning Companions! Meet Gem and Geo! “Woof woof!” Oh, and of course, I can’t forget dear Amber! These three lovable brand characters are the Crystal Clear mascots, who are here to take your students on a language-learning adventure! If you’ve ever used materials from the Crystal Clear Kids Curriculum, chances…
If we were all the same, how boring would life be? Diversity truly is the spice of life, and it’s no different when it comes to students! Each student’s learning preferences and personality is what makes teaching an exciting occupation and keeps us teachers on our toes! The human experience and how we interact with…
Effective Use of Realia in the Online ESL Classroom If you’re an online ESL teacher, I’m willing to bet you’ve used realia at some point in your lessons, perhaps without even realising it! Using realia can become like second nature to an online teacher, but what’s the real deal with realia anyway? Is it real-ly…
Are you an online ESL teacher looking to expand your offerings to in-person classes? Maybe you’re a digital nomad itching to pack up your laptop and teaching expertise to travel to foreign lands. Or perhaps you’re a seasoned in-person teacher looking to adapt your skills and transition into the world of online ELT. Whether you…
Gone are the days of monotonous drilling and memorisation! Gamification is taking over the online ESL classroom! If you’re familiar with the Crystal Clear curriculum, you’ll know that we’ve packed our lessons full of fun, interactive games to support your students’ learning adventures. Online classroom games offer numerous advantages to students at all academic levels,…
You’ve taken the plunge and decided to go on your solo teaching adventure! You’re equipped with a TEFL certificate, the essential computer equipment, and a trusted curriculum like Crystal Clear’s. Then, you realise you are missing one essential ingredient in your ESL masterplan… students! Or maybe you’re a seasoned teacherpreneur looking for ways to retain…
Chat GPT and other AI technology are here to stay, and only getting more powerful. So rather thancringe over ‘robots taking my job’, I’m embracing new tech and looking for ways it can make my life as a teacher and a curriculum developer easier. Are you wondering how to make best use of AI for…
The future isn’t quite as Marty imagined. There are no flying cars, hoverboards haven’t quite taken off, and we still don’t have self-drying jackets or sound-effect programmable vests! I remember a scene from Friends where Pete told Monica how the robots of the future will be able to understand commands like, “Wash my car” or…
Much like our students, we learn from our mistakes, and much like our students, we are bound to make mistakes at some point! And guess what? That’s totally OK! Mistakes are unavoidable, even for the most skilled teacher, but I’m here to remind you that mistakes are an opportunity to learn! Here are five mistakes…
