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Make It Merry: Creative Christmas activities for learners

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As we approach December, Christmas trees are going up, presents are being wrapped, the smell of chestnuts fills the air, and we can almost hear the jingle bells ringing in the distance. Whilst filling our classrooms with good will and cheer we also need a little spark. We can’t just roll out the same Christmas lessons, year after year. Thankfully, here at Pearson we’ve got your back. Start the festive season with 24 fresh ideas for teacher’s little helpers from our digital advent calendar.

There are 24 ideas to keep your classroom merry and bright all season long. Each activity is designed to encourage creativity, foster meaningful connections. They also promote sustainable habits that students can carry into the new year. These activities are just a taste of what awaits in our digital advent calendar

We’ll have a look at three of them in today’s post, but for the other 21 you’ll have to head over here.

1. Handmade Gifts: Create a Memory Box

We all know that Christmas is about giving but it shouldn’t be about the most expensive thing you can find in the shops. It should be a time to focus on thoughtfulness and what better way than making handmade gifts?

In this first activity, students can create a personalised memory box to gift someone special.
This activity encourages creativity, reflection, and the joy of giving something unique.
Encourage students to think carefully about the recipient. What memories do they share? What little trinkets or notes would mean something special? They could include things like small mementos, photos, handwritten notes, or tokens from shared outings. For example, a ticket stub from a movie they watched together, a dried flower, or even a small object like a keychain can become a sentimental addition. This activity encourages creativity, reflection, and the joy of giving something truly unique.

Not only does this exercise help students focus on the thoughtfulness of gift-giving, but it also develops their storytelling and fine motor skills as they decide how to decorate and arrange the items.

Watch this video tutorial for inspiration and tips on guiding students through the process.

2. Sustainable Christmas Checklist

With environmental sustainability in mind, this activity introduces students to eco-friendly practices they can follow during the holiday season. Using the Sustainable Christmas Checklist, students can explore simple actions like using recycled wrapping paper, making their own decorations, and conserving energy by turning off holiday lights when they’re not in use.

This activity not only makes the holidays greener but also teaches lifelong habits of environmental responsibility.

3. Make Pop-Up Christmas Cards

Finally, our last activity is all about bringing a touch of 3D magic to the holiday season with pop-up Christmas cards. These cards are a fun, hands-on craft that students can personalize and share with family and friends. By following this video guide, they’ll learn to make simple, festive designs that pop out when the card is opened. This is a great way to practice fine motor skills, encourage creativity, and add a personal touch to holiday greetings.

If you look closely, you’ll also find a smart way to upcycle some materials and make the perfect card for your students’ friends and families, hidden away inside the calendar.

Remind your students to think about the message they want to include inside the card. This is a great opportunity for them to reflect on what they’re grateful for this season or to share a holiday wish. These pop-up cards are a heartfelt way for students to connect with loved ones, adding a personal touch that can’t be bought in stores.

What Else?

As you bring these ideas into your classroom, we hope they’ll spark joy and create lasting memories for both you and your students. Happy holidays, and here’s to a festive season filled with warmth, creativity, and a little extra magic!

Which door do you think these activities will be hiding behind and what else is in store?

¡Preparémonos ahora para el…Listening!  

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Foto Cabecera Articulo

Preparémonos para el Listening

¡Preparémonos ahora para el…Listening!

Consejos para el Pearson English International Certificate

¡Bienvenidos a la tercera entrega de nuestra serie de posts relacionados con la preparación de Pearson English International Certificate! Hoy pasamos ya de habilidades productivas a habilidades receptivas, y continuamos ahora con consejos de preparación para el…¡Listening!  

Si no has leído los artículos anteriores, te los comparto aquí para que no te los pierdas: 

  1. ¡Preparémonos para el…Speaking!
  2. ¡Preparémonos para el…Writing!

Las habilidades receptivas consisten en asimilar información de un texto oral o escrito, e identificar correctamente información general o específica. Esto no es tan sencillo como parece. En el caso de la comprensión auditiva, incluso los hablantes o profesionales nativos donde el inglés es su lengua materna pueden sentirse desconcertados por el acento, la rapidez con la que alguien habla o la cantidad de personas que hablan a la vez, sin importar las condiciones del examen y los distractores (es decir, ¡trampas!). Hoy, veamos algunas formas sencillas y directas de ayudar a tus alumnos a centrarse en lo importante para llegar a esas difíciles respuestas correctas.  

Atentos a estos consejos prácticos para la preparación de actividades de Listening de la certificación Pearson English International Certificate. ¡A por ello! 

1. ¡La práctica es clave, pero la implicación es lo más importante! 

Antes de que los alumnos puedan tener éxito en cualquier tipo de tarea, debemos asegurarnos de que pueden implicarse con ella. En el caso de las actividades de comprensión oral, es imprescindible tener un motivo para escuchar; y ofrecer a los alumnos algún tipo de ejercicio antes, durante y después del evento principal les ayudará a aprender a evaluar los temas, y a reflexionar sobre cómo lo han hecho casi como algo instintivo.

Ejemplo actividad Listening

Ejemplo 1: Actividad de Listening

Estas habilidades son fácilmente transferibles a las condiciones del examen y ayudarán a los candidatos a gestionar mejor su tiempo y a tener más confianza en sus respuestas. A continuación, te comparto algunos ejemplos de ejercicios, pero no tienen por qué ser complicados; un ejercicio de debate para empezar, una comprobación de la comprensión a mitad de camino y algún comentario de los compañeros sobre la tarea al final, deberían ser más que suficientes para ayudar a los estudiantes a empezar a ganar confianza para esta sección del examen.

Ejemplo 2 de Actividad Listening

Ejemplo 2: Actividad Listening

Si los alumnos están comprometidos, también se sentirán menos intimidados por el nivel, puede que ni siquiera se den cuenta de que el material es más difícil. Implicarse en el proceso y disfrutarlo es mejor que centrarse en obtener siempre todas las respuestas correctas.

Ejemplo 3 de Actividad de Listening

Ejemplo 3: Actividad de Listening

También puedes encontrar algunas actividades similares en este link del British Council. 

2. Encontrando el patrón, ¡encontramos el éxito!  

 Al igual que ocurre con la preparación de muchos exámenes, los alumnos necesitan conocer “partes” del idioma para aprobar el examen. Empezando por las palabras sueltas (cat, dog, pet, etc.), pasando por las combinaciones de palabras, como las collocations (need to go, get married), los nombres compuestos (football, brainstorm) y los phrasal verbs (look after, take after), hasta llegar a partes más amplias del lenguaje, como las frases hechas y las expresiones idiomáticas (it’s raining cats and dogs).

Ejemplo de Actividad de Listening

Ejemplo 4: Actividad de Listening

Si los candidatos son capaces de reconocer los patrones de estas combinaciones lingüísticas, estarán mucho mejor preparados para encontrar las respuestas correctas, pero también para identificar las respuestas incorrectas y los distractores más difíciles.

Ejemplo de Actividad de Listening

Ejemplo 5: Actividad de Listening

Además, cuando repasen las tareas, podrán concluir una respuesta basándose en su conocimiento del lenguaje y su construcción. 

3. No tiene por qué venir de un libro de texto.  

Los ejercicios estructurados y bien planificados que se encuentran en un libro son estupendos. Se centran en un idioma concreto, te ayudan a identificar los puntos fuertes y débiles de tus alumnos y recrean las tareas exactas que tendrán que realizar en el examen. Pero la comprensión auditiva, al igual que la expresión oral, no existe de forma aislada. Complementar el trabajo con el libro y observar un lenguaje más natural y realista también puede ayudar a ampliar el vocabulario, el conocimiento de los acentos y la comprensión de los alumnos.

Ejemplo de Actividad de Listening

Ejemplo 6: Actividad de Listening

Te recomiendo las siguientes alternativas complementarias a los libros de texto para que la práctica del Listening sea dinámica y atractiva: 

  • Podcasts

    Hay una gran cantidad de podcasts, pero This American Life es una gran opción para una clase de ELT. Basado en un tema mensual, puedes escuchar una de las historias del episodio en lugar de escucharlo todo de una sola vez. También puedes imprimir las transcripciones para profundizar en un lenguaje más interesante. ¿Qué podcasts crees que serían buenos para preparar los exámenes?

Pantallazo Web

This American Life

  • Recursos en línea

    Para mí, el verdadero clásico de los recursos online es Film English. Este fantástico sitio web toma vídeos cortos de YouTube, así como de otras fuentes, y construye una clase entera en torno a ellos. No todos son audiciones, algunos vídeos no tienen guion, pero los que sí lo tienen son fantásticos, divertidos y atractivos. El contenido solía ser gratuito, pero ahora es de suscripción. Sin embargo, el fundador y propietario, Kieran Donaghy, comparte regularmente lecciones en LinkedIn, así que te recomiendo seguirlo.

Pantallazo Web: Film English

Film English

  • Apps para aprender idiomas

    Mondly by Pearson (sí, una app de Pearson, pero ¡es genial!), Duolingo, Babbel…la lista de aplicaciones disponibles para practicar inglés (y otros idiomas) fuera del aula es interminable. Estas aplicaciones presentan la comprensión oral de diferentes maneras. Algunas utilizan el vídeo para contextualizar el vocabulario, otras incluyen traducción y subtítulos, pero creo que todas utilizan la escucha en sus ejercicios de gramática y vocabulario. Esto puede ofrecer una buena base para el idioma y ayudar a mejorar el conocimiento de colocaciones y phrasal verbs. ¿Qué aplicaciones te gustan para aprender idiomas?

Pantallazo App

App: Mondly by Pearson

También puedes probar a sumergirte en el mundo de la IA y crear tus propias canciones hechas a medida para tus clases en SUNO. Es muy divertido.  

¡Espero que estos consejos te hayan resultado útiles! No dudes en compartir tus experiencias conmigo, me encantará conocerlas: claire.dorman@pearson.com

Spook-tacular classroom activities for a fang-tastic Halloween

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As the spooky season creeps up on us like a ghost in the night, why not bring a little Halloween magic into the classroom? Whether you’re looking to trick your students into learning with a bit of treat-worthy fun, or you’re brewing up some activities that will make their skills rise from the dead, we’ve got you covered. Don’t be afraid, these activities won’t come back to haunt you—though they might scare up some serious engagement!

Unearth the History of Halloween

photograph by Powell Krueger

Underneath the sweets and scary costumes, Halloween has a rich history dating back to ancient times. Why not turn your classroom into a time-traveling crypt where students explore the haunted roots of this holiday? Split students into groups, each tasked with investigating one aspect of Halloween history—be it the Celtic festival of Samhain, the rise of Halloween in the U.S., or the origin of costumes and jack-o’-lanterns. Have each group create a ghostly news report or boo-tiful visual timeline to present their findings.

For a modern twist, challenge your students to create a short, engaging social media post (photo or video) summarizing their research. Think: 30-second TikTok video or something along those lines. They can use props and costumes to recreate historical scenes or make their own “haunted history” presentations.

A Green and Sustainable Halloween

Even witches and ghosts care about sustainability these days, especially dinosaur ghosts who hate seeing fossil fuels being used so much!

For this activity, challenge your students to think about how they can celebrate Halloween in an eco-friendly way. Start with a discussion on common Halloween practices. Things like costumes, decorations, eating endless amounts of sweets and chocolate and their environmental impact.

Next ask students to brainstorm and design their own “Green Halloween.” They could come up with costume ideas made from recycled materials, eco-friendly party decorations, or suggestions for low-waste treats. Have students present their ideas to the class in a “Green Halloween Fair.” They can even vote on the best ideas, giving out fang-tastic prizes.

Turn this into a creative writing task! Students can create a flyer or social media post advertising their sustainable Halloween ideas, complete with catchy slogans and imagery. This is a great way to practice persuasive language while raising awareness.

Monstrously Mundane: Halloween Characters in Everyday Situations

What happens when your favourite Halloween characters have to deal with the same everyday problems we do? In this imaginative and humorous activity, students will take classic Halloween figures—like vampires, witches, and ghosts—and place them in totally ordinary, un-spooky situations.

Provide students with three images of typical Halloween characters (like a vampire, a witch, and a ghost). Have them brainstorm how these characters would act in an everyday scenario, such as:

  • A vampire at the bank, complaining about the opening hours because they can only visit after dark.
  • A witch at the supermarket, frustrated because they can’t find any eye of newt in the spice aisle.
  • A ghost trying to book a flight online, but struggling because they can’t select a seat, as they no longer exist.

I like to generate these images using AI and ask my students what they think the prompt may have been. Let students, either use the images and characters crated above or ask them to  create their own.

Once students have chosen their characters and scenarios, they can either write a short story or create a dialogue between the characters and other people in the scene. Encourage them to use humour, develop comics and perhaps even act out their scenes for the class.

Reading

If writing isn’t whats on your agenda in spooky season maybe you’re looking to get your students into reading. There are a whole host of readers available for check them out here. For more Reading ideas check out Liz Beer’s article from last halloween

With these spine-tingling ideas, your students will be learning and laughing while they embrace the eerie season. Not only do these activities cover key language skills, but they also let students show off their creativity in frighteningly fun ways. Plus, by sneaking in some lessons on history and sustainability, you’re giving them a more scream-worthy Halloween experience. Don’t forget to check out Pearson Readers for even more boo-rilliant resources to sink your teeth into!

It’s time for the National EOI Convention!

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Once every two years the Official Language Schools in Spain hold their national convention.  This year’s event at the EOI in Valencia (this Thursday 30th March until Saturday 1st April) marks the 10th time they will come together to share ideas and best practices.

X jornadas eeooii

We at Pearson are also very proud to be taking part by providing three engaging workshops. Two of these talks will be given by award-winning ELT author, novelist and co-author of Pearson’s Speakout series, JJ Wilson, on the topics of creativity and authenticity in the classroom.  Also on hand will be Spain-based Teacher Trainer for Pearson Michael Brand who will offer his perspective on the characteristics of a C1 user of English and how to get our students up to this level.

For more details and times please consult the information below.

Continue reading →

ACEIA 2016, Seville: a resounding success!

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Over 700 enthusiastic teachers from all over Europe attended the ACEIA 2016 conference in Seville on Saturday 12 November.

Antonia plenary

Under the banner ‘Creative Minds Inspire,’ the event was headlined by Pearson’s Antonia Clare, one of the award-winning authors of Speakout 2nd edition, with her inspirational plenary session ‘Language, Learning and the Creative Mind.’ Antonia examined the ways in which learning a language is in itself such an inherently creative task and looked at how to engender creativity, both on the part of the learner but also on the part of the teacher.

Continue reading →

See you at ACEIA Conference 2016!

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ACEIA Annual Conference 2016 Creative Minds InspireHere at Pearson we hope we’ll get the chance to see you this weekend at the ACEIA Annual Conference 2016: Creative Minds Inspire, to be held next Saturday 12th November in Seville, at the hotel Los Lebreros.

We are sure you will get plenty of inspiring ideas from our talks and workshops, and​ you will also be in for a nice surprise if you visit our stand​!​

Continue reading →

For English Teachers it’s time to skill up – and celebrate our success!

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For English Teachers it’s time to skill up – and celebrate our success - Ilustration by Tang Yau HoongAt the beginning of this month I attended the Teaching for Success Conference at the British Council in Valencia, and got to see the always entertaining and thought-provoking Jeremy Harmer deliver a rather ominously titled talk. “Through a glass darkly: does ELT have a future?” centered on the technological disruption we’re beginning to see in our sector and the possible effects on teachers and learners. Harmer made quite clear that he was not in the business of making prophesies about the always uncertain future, and raised far more questions than he answered, but he did serve to get across one clear and solid message to the audience that might be summed up in a single word: Beware.

That technology’s impact on education, and ELT more specifically, can no longer be ignored is a sentiment being echoed elsewhere by technophobes and technophiles alike (as well as many of those in between). There was a time when it may have been easier to think that the inevitable tipping point into this new age of English Teaching everyone had been predicting for so long would never come, but, as Harmer said, employing a fairly well-known saying, “change comes slowly, and then all at once.” So, if this is to be taken as general truth, I’ll throw in another useful motto from my days in the Boy Scouts – “Be Prepared.” Continue reading →

Do you want to be Pearson’s Global ELT Teacher of the year?

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Pearson ELT TEACHER AWARD logoAt Pearson ELT we know that English teachers play a crucial role in the success of their learners. That’s why we’ve launched a new award to celebrate teachers and showcase good practice. The Pearson ELT Teacher Award will recognise teachers who have implemented innovative ways of teaching in their classrooms; from the big innovations to the everyday.

Five inspiring teachers will each win an all expenses paid trip to IATEFL (UK) or TESOL (USA) where they will enjoy the opportunity to hear the latest theories and exchange ideas with fellow professionals from all sectors of ELT.  A People’s Choice winner will selected by a public vote from the entries submitted. The winner will receive 20 Kindles for their class pre-loaded with a selection of Pearson English Readers. Continue reading →

Check out our teacher training sessions at the British Council

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It’s been a busy few weeks for Pearson’s teacher trainers who have been giving talks at the British Council ‘Teaching for Success’ events across Spain. As promised, here are the links to the presentations we gave:

Valencia, Barcelona & Madrid with Brian Engquist, Marta Cervera & Michael Brand

Saturday 1st October 

Exploiting video to the max

From the Classroom to the Wider World

Bilbao with Elena Merino  

Saturday 24th September

Embracing Authenticity

Ten Top Tips for Terrific Teachers

Thanks for attending the talks and we hope you found them useful!

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You might also be interested in…

– Do you want to be Pearson’s Global ELT Teacher of the year?

– Mark your calendar for Pearson Webinars for English Teachers

Don’t forget to sign up to our ELT blog. You’ll find lots of great stuff to read here!

More info at Pearson ELT Spain & Portugal