Lecture Notes: Teaching Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers, and A2 Flyers Classes Online

Speaker Information

• Presenters: Donya Estafanous, Claire Ross
• Roles: Donya (Exam Support Manager, Cambridge), Claire (Online and face-to-face teacher educator since 2005)
• Claire's Interests: Online teaching and learning, multilingualism, inclusion of refugee learners

Session Aims

• Objective: Address challenges in online teaching for young learners, suggest solutions, and demonstrate fun activities
• Focus Exams: Starters, Movers, Flyers
• Key Areas: Challenges and Solutions, Online Activities, Free Resources

Identified Challenges

1. Long Preparation and Teaching Time

   • Preparation Issues: Activities taking longer to prepare and teach online
   • Time-Saving Tips: Use existing free lesson plans from Cambridge's website, share answers in chat, annotate questions, involve students in feedback
   • Examples: Annotating question sheets, using mini whiteboards for student responses

2. Student Distraction

   • Reasons: New learning environment at home with numerous distractions
   • Engagement Tips: Physical tasks, attention-grabbing activities (songs, games, videos)
   • Examples: 'Show and Tell' physical items, flashcards, activities from lesson plans (e.g., prepositions review)

3. Parental Involvement

   • Variation: Some parents not involved enough, some too involved
   • Recommendations: Provide clear advice to parents, suggest collaborative activities
   • Examples: 10 tips video for parents, downloadable resources with translations

4. Increasing Student Talk Time

   • Issue: Teachers speaking too much, not enough student participation
   • Solutions: Use breakout rooms, pair and group work, nominate peers, provide thinking time
   • Examples: 'Spot the Difference' activity, activities involving mini whiteboards and physical tasks

5. Differentiation Challenges

   • Solution: Offer tasks with varying difficulty, provide choices, send personalized activities
   • Examples: Word search activities (easier—provide words, difficult—create own words)

6. Difficulty in Giving Instructions Online

   • Tips: Visual aids, prepare instructions, share screen demos, use simple language, send reminders
   • Recommendations: Use visual aids, ensure clear and simple instructions

Engagement and Practical Activities

• Physical Tasks: Holding up items, TPR (Total Physical Response)
• Feedback Mechanisms: Mini whiteboards, annotating screens
• Interactive Tools: Virtual avatars, online games (e.g., Monkey Puzzle, I Spy)
• Parental Guidance: Practical tips for managing online learning, resources, and homework suggestions

Resources and Final Notes

• Resources: Free downloadable lesson plans, games, websites for avatars
• Additional Help: Detailed instructions and support provided in downloadable PDFs
• Follow-up: Survey for teachers, recording of the webinar, and downloadable slides to be emailed

Participant Involvement and Q&A

• Encouragement: Share time-saving tips, involve in chats and polls
• Common Questions Addressed: Attention management for young learners, parental involvement, leveraging familiar activities, and dealing with shy students