No.7

Real-World English

Ten Trends and Innovations in English Language Teaching 2024 was a year-end round-up published by the British Council.

By looking at the finalists for the ELTons Innovation Awards author Chia Suan Chong identified 10 growing trends and innovations in English Language Teaching (ELT).

Our speciality, Real World English came in at number 7, but in fact, we meet 8/10 of the British Council list. 

This blog references this British Council article, using it to demonstrate how our particular form of no-classroom English learning holidays uniquely supports language acquisition.

It’s written for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) users and teachers.

  • Learners need to know that more engaging options exist.
  • Teachers, if you can help us promote our holidays, we pay 10%. (Link below)

Here’s an overview:

How Blue Noun Meets 2024 Innovations in ELT Identified & Published by the British Council

✅ 1. Global citizenship and students as agents of change

✅ 2. Inquiry-based learning and critical thinking

✅ 3. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

✅ 4. Interpersonal skills

✅  5. Global Competencies

✅ 6. Learner autonomy

✅  7. The importance of real-world situations

❌ 8. Speaking practice with speech recognition

🟧 9. Artificial Intelligence

✅  10. Embracing Diversity and Collaboration skills

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Ignore Trendy

The article calls them ‘Trends & Innovations.’

Just to say, whether something is ‘trendy’ is not a priority to us.

When the winds of what’s popular blow in a new direction, we won’t be blown off course.

We care about knowing what innovative methods will get our clients results in English.

As an independent and alternative language school, we break quite a few assumptions and teaching models that have gone unquestioned for decades.

It’s not merely satisfying for us to find that the innovations we wholeheartedly believe in are now being now recognised as great language-teaching practices (although it is!).

It signifies poor-quality English language classes are being replaced globally with better options.

We Care About Your English

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Only healthy English (not forced, stressful classroom English) keeps you talking.

Combine meaningful real world English experiences with targeted immersive coaching for powerful English skills that builds connections that truly matter.

The Independent Revolution

Blue Noun supports excellent independent English teachers everywhere.

If we sound like revolutionaries, it’s because dinosaurs still monopolise this industry, blocking the path between us and our clients. (Try competing with a £10.000 marketing budget!)

Alternative teaching methods are not mere trends, they’re solutions to creating deep connections with the target language, ensuring lasting language acquisition.

 Blue Noun Language Hub includes 8/10 of the 2024 innovations listed by the British Council in our language holidays

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“English is a tool to become international communicators. You can learn English while cultivating socially conscious citizens with the desire to contribute to positive change in the world.”

Chia Suan Chongfor the British Council, 2024

 

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1. Global citizenship and students as agents of change

When we brought two environmental scientists together, a long-lasting collaboration happened.

When a group of women shared their burn out stories during a Well-Being Workshop lifestyles changed. Lasting friendships from during homestays. Our Pronunciation Workshop raised money for World Female Rangers (and did Ask-Me-Anything Week in 2025).

We are a language school with a Social Action Policy, because were here to effect positive change.

What you say matters (how perfectly you say it often matters less than you think).

Blue Noun have long believed in the power of deep conversation to enrich language learning, and of course share knowledge to make positive change.

You can Read our Aims

 

With tours, you don’t leave a mark.

Scotland doesn’t get to know YOU.

Our holidays are about true exchanges. Sharing culture, knowledge, stories…“.

Ruth, 2020

 

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2. Inquiry-based learning and critical thinking

Good teachers know instinctively that inquiry-based learning makes language both personal and memorable. It uncovers Emergent Language (the language that you need to be you in English.

Task-based learning and project-based learning encourages learners to discuss, investigate and solve non-linguistic problems, unearthing language that is self-expression.

It also had the advantage of reviewing all tenses if you pause to discuss the project at different stages.

For examples of Inquiry-based learning in out language holidays, check out the blogs:

My favourite example has not made it into a blog yet, but I matched a client with a lady in the community for conversation. I told her, that the lady has something truly remarkable about her. It was my client’s job to ask questions to discover it…

Real World English examples of Inquiry-based learning class plans you can adapt/use: 

 

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3. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Language learners need self-reflection and self-awareness to become autonomous language learners and users. At Blue Noun, we invite experts from mindset coaching and use intention-setting and goal-setting exercises.

It’s only when you learn how you best learn, and the fears and vulnerabilities that are holding you back that you move from being an English learner to an English speaker in a long-term and sustainable way. 

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“In developing our students’ communicative competence, we need to go beyond linguistic competence (focusing on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation). We need to give them the skills to interact with other human beings. This includes strategic competence – the ability to spot and overcome communication breakdowns.”

Chia Suan Chongfor the British Council, 2024

 

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4. Interpersonal skills

Conversation holidays are designed to talk. Not just with other language learners, but with the community.

Language ‘immersion’ holidays which happen in a classroom are an oxymoron.

“I learned English in a pub, not in a school…”

This kind of language practice won’t equip you for professional interactions.

Our holidays are Deep Travel: Deep dives into the community around us.

We bring our guests into professional spaces for peer-to-peer conversations around professional situations.

 

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English will be their gateway to communicating with those from a range of different cultures and will require the knowledge and skills to do so.

Chia Suan Chongfor the British Council, 2024

 

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5. Global Competencies

Using English as a tool for global communication necessitates the ability to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others, and to engage in open, appropriate and effective interactions across cultures.

Our language holidays do not just mix you with Scottish locals, but with our international community.

Not only does it take some pressure off being perfect at English, it opens up conversations about culture – and the more contrasting the better the conversation.  

Additionally, we visit galleries and exhibitions to import these perspectives.

 

Delaine Le Bas exhibition at Glasgow tramway
Artwork by Delaine Le Bas, Glasgow Tramway, 2024 
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Not all learning can or should take place in the classroom. It is no secret that learners who are able to continually learn even when outside the classroom have the potential to improve and grow at a much faster rate.

Chia Suan Chongfor the British Council, 2024

 

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6. Learner autonomy

How long have we preached this?

Language classes by language institutions do not teach learner autonomy. It’s not in their interests. (They need their students to feel weak and return).

Conversely, you will find all good independent language teachers care about their student progress, and share extracurricular listening, reading and practice resources they believe will be a good fit.

At Blue Noun Language Hub, we know learner autonomy is the only path to a future of sustainable English.

Everything we do is designed to build your confidence.

Everybody leaves our holidays with a plan for their next steps, whether it’s Duolingo, a pen pal or a good book.

Make sure to bookmark our Resources for English Learners page, there’s loads of autonomous learning support in there.

 

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in the world of English language teaching, we have come to understand the difference between ‘knowing a language’ and ‘using a language’, and the role of meaningful interactions in developing students’ ability to use the language. 

Chia Suan Chongfor the British Council, 2024

 

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7. The importance of real-world situations

Our no-classroom, immersive English language holidays are designed to deepen your connection to English while exploring the stunning landscapes and rich culture of Scotland.

We describe it as 1000 micro-moments of you being you, in English, – and that’s such a powerful thing.

Conversations, stories, cooking & eating together –  our holidays are built of real-world situations designed around your needs.

craft workshop with June McEwan for meet the makers
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8. Speaking practice with speech recognition

We don’t include this in our courses or holidays, but it’s a great way to practice English autonomously. 

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9. Artificial Intelligence

AI is definitely an. innovation shaping ELT, but it’s tool rather than a method to be discussed here.

We do use it across a few business contexts and as a classroom tool, but you will never have a conversation with a bot pretending to be human in any part of our language school onboarding. 

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While there might be different expectations and different communication styles to manage, working in diverse teams can offer a high potential for learning and innovation as members of the team are constantly faced with new insights and approaches

Chia Suan Chongfor the British Council, 2024

 

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10. Embracing Diversity and Collaboration skills

Collaboration in ELT

The need for our clients to communicate globally we have mentioned above. 

Blue Noun are pioneers in uniting independent language teachers in a network of mutually beneficial support.

Our Online English Teacher Matching Service unites clients and excellent independent teaching professionals worldwide.

Our Teacher Feature promotes them to new audiences.

We address institutional racism in ELT by Speaking out for Non-Native Teachers.

Diversity Equity & Inclusion in ELT

At Blue Noun, we believe everyone deserves better (and adapted) language learning opportunities. It’s not the client’s job to fit in, it’s ours to adjust. 

Blue Noun is creating Diversity Equity -and Inclusion (DEI) English language learning resources and services.

In 2025 we launch our English Language Holidays for Seniors 

In 2024 we launched our English for Disability Service. 

craft workshop with June McEwan for meet the makers

Further Information

English language teachers, now that you understand how we help people through real-world English and other Active Learning methods if your students would enjoy learning with us, we pay you a 10% finders fee.

Be an Affiliate of our English Immersion Courses.