Understanding writing assessment: what every teacher should know

Posted on by Cambridge English Languages
Join us for the third in our series of six webinars on Understanding Assessment: 

Understanding writing assessment: what every teacher should know

on Monday 12 December 14.00 – 15.00 (UK time*)
and Wednesday 14 December 10.00 – 11.00 (UK time*). 

*Check the times of the webinar where you are: Monday and Wednesday

 

Overview

Looking at written work is a common method of assessment familiar to many teachers, but when we think about writing assessment more carefully, there are many questions to address. What kinds of writing samples should be assessed? What should be done with writing samples once we have them? What criteria should be used to assess writing? We address these issues in this webinar, and show how thinking about the purpose and context of assessment can help us to answer these questions.

Register

Understanding speaking assessment: what every teacher should know

Posted on by Cambridge English Languages
Cambridge English invites you to join us for our new webinar:

Understanding speaking assessment: what every teacher should know

on Monday 24 October 14.00 – 15.00 (UK time*)
and Wednesday 26 October 10.00 – 11.00 (UK time*). 

*Check the times of the webinar where you are: Monday and Wednesday

 

Overview

What’s the best way to assess speaking?  What criteria should I use when assessing speaking?  What is the difference between face-to-face and computer-based speaking tests?  These are some of the questions teachers face in their jobs.  This webinar will address these (and other) questions and will focus on key aspects of speaking assessment, such as test tasks and the skills they tap into, scoring speaking tests, and how speaking tests can benefit learners.

 

 Register

Understanding speaking assessment: what every teacher should know

Posted on by Cambridge English Languages
 

Cambridge English invites you to join us for our new webinar:

Understanding speaking assessment: what every teacher should know

on Monday 24 October 14.00 – 15.00 (UK time*)
and Wednesday 26 October 10.00 – 11.00 (UK time*). 

*Check the times of the webinar where you are: Monday and Wednesday

 

Overview

What’s the best way to assess speaking?  What criteria should I use when assessing speaking?  What is the difference between face-to-face and computer-based speaking tests?  These are some of the questions teachers face in their jobs.  This webinar will address these (and other) questions and will focus on key aspects of speaking assessment, such as test tasks and the skills they tap into, scoring speaking tests, and how speaking tests can benefit learners.

 

 Register

 
 

Open Badges

 

This webinar is the first in a series of webinars on Understanding Assessment.

Throughout this series we are trialling a new way to officially recognise your attendance. By attending each webinar in this series you will earn a digital Open Badge as proof of your professional development. It’s the 21st century equivalent of a certificate of attendance.

We need your help to measure your understanding of Open Badges. If you’re a badge expert or you’ve never heard of them, please take our short survey – it’s just 8 questions and will really help our research in this area.

 

 Survey

 
 

Missed a webinar?

Previous webinars include:

Understanding assessment – what every teacher should know

Exam preparation and support for learners with special educational needs

Preparing learners for the 21st century

 

Cambridge English Day 2016

Posted on by Cambridge English Languages

Dear teachers,

We are delighted to invite you to our Cambridge English Day 2016 on Saturday 19th November in Berne.

Take your pick from our wide range of workshops.

To register please email eltswitzerland@cambridge.org and include the following information:

  • Your full name and surname
  • Full name and address of the school where you teach
  • Your workshop choice for session A, session B and session C (you can only attend one workshop in each slot – one A, one B and one C)

Please note that we cannot process any registration unless it includes the above details. You will then receive your confirmation by email.

We very much look forward to welcoming you in Berne!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY for Writing and Speaking A2 – B2. 29 October 2016

Posted on by Cambridge English Languages

Date – Time

When: Saturday 29 October 2016
Where: Sekundarschulzentrum Thomas Bornhauser
Address: Zeichnungssaal, Thomas Bornhauserstrasse 18, 8570 Weinfelden
Directions: To find where the event is, please click here
Time: 09:30 to 16:30
Fee: CHF 90.00
Lunch: A complimentary lunch from Cambridge English Exams Centre St. Gallen.
Raffle: A chance to win a set of methodology and photocopiable titles from Cambridge English.

Event Description

Focus on Writing: We will be exploring innovative ways to improve and develop your learners writing skills from A2-B2 through the different writing tasks which reflect the mixed ability nature of our classrooms. How do we deal with developing writing when confronted with so many different levels in a classroom?  To answer this question, we will be looking at ways our learners can be supported in developing key transferable skills required to perform effectively for the exam.  Additionally, we will explore ways that writing can be used as a formative assessment tool to inform and support learners in their progress towards preparing for the exam.

Focus on Speaking : After focusing on writing, the afternoon session explores the other productive skill – speaking. What difficulties arise and how do we overcome them in a mixed ability classroom? How can we support learners in developing their speaking skills so they can perform effectively in the exam?  In order to answer these questions, we will be exploring the different speaking tasks and look at ways we can develop key transferrable skills to support learners in preparing for the different levels A2-B2. Through the use of formative assessment tools, we will  be looking at ways these can support our learners  develop their speaking skills in preparation for the exam.

Presenter’s Biographical Details

dina

Dina Blanco-Ioannou moved to Switzerland in 2000 where she continued her ELT career. Having realised there was still so much to learn, she decided to pursue a BA (Hons) and then a MEd in ELT from the University of Manchester. She has taught in many different contexts (primary, secondary, tertiary and private sectors) and courses including GE, BE, ESP, YL and the whole suite of Cambridge Exams. In addition to teaching, she is a teacher trainer and educator for Secondary education. Dina has been in this position since 2009, where she is also involved with curriculum course design and development.

Her professional and personal interests lie in effective and affective ELT approaches. Particularly, Dina is interested in methodologies that embrace a more creative approach to language teaching and learning. Approaches which aim to transform and promote innovative English language teaching education that is fit for the 21st century.

REGISTER

Web Resources for Language Skills & Skills Development with John Potts – 10th September 2016

Posted on by Cambridge English Languages
Date – Time
Saturday 10th September 2016 9.00 – 9.30 Cambridge University Press Presentation 9.30 – 12.30 morning session 13.30 – 16.30 afternoon session
Fee: CHF 60.00
Event Decription
Some web resources for language development The morning session will explore some online tools that you and your learners can use to help to develop their vocabulary and grammar competences. In particular, we’ll focus on the English Vocabulary Profile (EVP), English Grammar Profile (EGP), and Quizlet. After we’ve established some of the essentials of these tools, you’ll have the opportunity to try them out for yourself. Please bring your laptop if you have one. (Tablets can also be used to some extent, but I recommend a laptop for flexibility and ease of use.) Some web resources for skills development In the afternoon session, we’ll look at some online tools that can help to develop listening and speaking skills. These will include TED videos, and a range of podcasts. Again, after we’ve looked at some key approaches, you’ll have some hands-on time to try them out. Please bring your laptop if you have one, as well as a pair of earphones. We may also have time to look at some apps for iPads or other tablets, so if you have a tablet you can also bring it if you wish (with earphones).
Presenter’s Biographical Details
John has been a language teacher and teacher trainer for more than 36 years. He divides his time fairly equally between classroom teaching for Cambridge English exams, and teacher training and development. He has been a CELTA tutor since 1983, and is currently CELTA and Delta Course Director at IH Baden. He was a CELTA assessor for 28 years, as well as being a CELTA Joint Chief Assessor for over a decade. He has been an authorised presenter for Cambridge English since 1990, and is also very active as a freelance trainer in Switzerland and abroad. He was a regular columnist for English Teaching Professional from 1999 to 2014. In addition, he works regularly in India, with school and college teachers, developmental NGOs, and school projects.
Place
Cambridge English languages GmbH Oberstrasse 222 9014 St. Gallen 071 278 0040

Kantonschule Romanshorn

Posted on by Cambridge English Languages

Proudly presenting a ‘Cambridge English Preparation Centre Certificate’ awarded to Hr. Ruedi Herzog of Kantonschule Romanshorn. Cambridge English Language Assessment offer these certificates to preparation centres that register 50 or more candidates for a Cambridge English examination.

111