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How we teach – and why!

Our ELT Philosophy of Teaching 

Find out if our ways of teaching match your ways of learning!

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A teaching philosophy – or a philosophy of teaching are the principles by which one teaches.

For example, in ELT, a common philosophy of teaching is to aim to have student to teacher talking ratio around 70:30.

(In general, if the teacher is doing too much talking, the learner is not getting enough practice speaking).

ELT Philosophy of Teaching - cherry icon

We Select What We Want

(nb: we ‘cherry pick)

Our ELT philosophy of teaching is to provide friendly, asynchronous English learning through hands-on, real-life experiences.

In fact, we ‘cherry-pick’ from the best elements of traditional language school teaching, to create something truly unique.

Our Philosophy of Teaching Explained

English language school pedagogy icon 04 | ELT Philosophy of Teaching
English Language School Crieff Blue Noun teaching area sofa filtered

01 The Traditional Language School Class

Effective through its structure and skilled language coaches.

Drawbacks

Often not adapted to professional adult learners –  or tailored to individuals’ varied language needs/learning habits.

Limited or unsupported talk time for each language learner with other learners listening to peers speaking more than a skilled language coach.

Often in ugly corporate architecture or badly converted, small townhouse classrooms (it does matter!)

  • We reject fake conversations and role play.
  • Because our class numbers are small, everyone gets ample talk time.
  • We also have a really gorgeous space to spend time in.

English language school pedagogy icon 03 | Our ELT Philosophy of Teaching
Coffee time at Blue Noun English Language School Crieff Perthshire

02 The Language Café

Successful because it is an agreeable, low cost, relaxing experience that actually people want to be in.

Drawbacks

No professional error correction, no skilled coach managing the time and leading the conversation. Often a distracting number of surrounding conversations and background noise.

  • We adopt the pleasure of sharing food and coffee together.
  • Our premises are designed as a private cafe space: all the comforts – none of the distractions.

English language school pedagogy icon 02 | Our ELT Philosophy of Teaching
Host accommodation English language school

03 The Homestay with a Host Family

Being hosted by a family can be a friendly & useful cultural exchange, forging friendships for a lifetime.

Homestay English is an amazing way to learn the language. We take much from this model in terms of friendliness and hosting.

Drawbacks

It can feel intensive if you are not a gregarious personality.

Introverts struggle with the intensity of this kind of language holiday.

It may only practice informal English not professional social English skills. Learn more here.

  • At the end of the day, you get to go somewhere else, do whatever it is you want to do and rejoin us the next day.

English language school pedagogy icon 01 | Our ELT Philosophy of Teaching
huntingtower castle Perth | ELT Philosophy of Teaching

04 The Immersion Programme

Exploring and participating in the local environment is a great way to see top tourist sights and begin to learn about a particular region.

Drawbacks

Such holidays are rarely tailored to learning professional English.

Although a fun way of discovering a new town/city, immersion holidays are often in large groups, with little individual attention or targeted language practice. While good for young students they are a poor choice for professional adults.

They raise the important question – what cultural experiences do you want to have? Ones made for tourists – or one’s introducing you to the culture and region as our guests and friends?

  • We introduce you to makers, artists and craftspeople as our guests. Have valuable,  genuine conversations as one professional to another.

  • Learn about culture and tourism in our region without being sold a story of our nation. 

 English language school Teacher

How Our Philosophy of Teaching Translates Online

English language school pedagogy computer icon | Our ELT Philosophy of Teaching
Sketchbook English | Online English course for artists

#05 Online English Learning

Learning online is a practical choice right now – and keeps financial, time and environmental costs low. 

Drawbacks

There are not many who would tell you a Zoom call is the ideal way to learn a language. 

Traditional language classes don’t convert perfectly into online classes, but that does not make a purpose-written online English class a bad choice!

Our online English course is doing things differently.

Sketchbook English is a combination of audio messaging in Slack and a platform of challenges designed for anyone with a creative career.

  • It’s English learning for artists, by artists.
  • No Zoom
  • No Community
  • No Fixed Schedule

Learn more about Sketchbook English.