Such a wonderful and thought-provoking topic the one Pete Sharma presented online “What will the new normal be like?” Blended learning, as Pete stated, is much more than taking the best of face to face and online lessons, but it also implies being aware of key teaching factors (appropriacy, integration, attitude and training) which we must focus on when planning what to do.

Furthermore, the use of different technological devices and apps shown during his presentation to help learners boost their skills while learning a new language was incredibly fascinating.  Thanks BRITÁNICO for helping us to keep up with the latest teaching trends.

Great ideas to adapt the exercises in the Gold B2 first and make them more memorable for students. One activity I will use is the warm up for the speaking activity with the pictures where students are asked a set of questions to get them thinking. The task was ‘Put yourself in the picture’ and I believe this will result in making ss more interested in speaking. Great ideas all in all.

What drew my attention was the fact that how formative assessment increases student engagement, allowing students to be part of their learning and above all, at their own pace.

It is worth mentioning the fact that, good teachers have to adjust their teaching based on what students know at each point clarifying learning targets and share immediate feedback so thus, students can identify gaps in their own learning and become partners with teachers in filling those gaps.

And last but not least, the primary goal with formative assessments is the feedback rather than any grade.

The talk helped me acknowledge that we have stepped into completely new territory as teachers now in the privacy of their homes only in half-control of what is going on, but we shouldn’t feel threatened by it. Instead, we could use that in our favour by looking at the language found at home, in their everyday life. What used to be «personalised» by asking them to draw now can be «touched» by having them find something that fits the new vocabulary or grammar and, in that way, we make their surrounding our allied rather than our enemy struggling to keep their attention.

I consider Puchta´s session had, undoubtedly, very useful insights. First of all, I really liked when he started saying that we have been pushed to our limits getting out of our comfort zones. It is a fact that perhaps if the Pandemic hadn´t started, we wouldn´t be where we are now regarding our teaching skills and facing challenges. We as teachers have become much more aware of our potential.

I couldn´t agree more when he said that we need to reflect constantly. Like for example: Why did I decide to become a teacher? There are times when we probably feel worn out and feel like giving up. But if we reflect on why we started teaching I am more than sure that more than one teacher would feel motivated to keep on doing their best since this career is, without a doubt, a rewarding experience.

I will keep on reflecting and considering what Puchta recommended in order to achieve successful classes during this pandemic, not only now, but also in the short term and in the long term.

There is no denying that we must change with the times and online learning is our new reality. Using these new and interesting digital tools can work wonders when we want to recycle the language learnt in class in a series of quick, fun challenges that will not only be memorable but also give them confidence in their own language skills. The workshop showed us practical examples of how to apply gamification and game-based learning to our classes. Not only should we try these tips, but we must also look beyond and share our findings to enrich student’s experiences and our ELT practices.