Teaching English Today- The 4 Cs and beyond

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and interdependent, the importance of global competence has come to the fore. In 2018 it was even included in the PISA assessment test. In this episode we'll be looking at what it is, how it differs from intercultural competence, factors that are key for its development, as well as at some thinking routines that can be used in the classroom.

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the mostsought after skills today. Yet even though we spend so much time sharing our ideas, we are not always able to get our message across clearly. Come and join me to find out how communication skills can be improved, what top business leaders do to get their ideas across, why non-verbal communication skills are key, as well as a few ideas for ho...

Today, everybody is talking about the importance of lifelong learning. Yet what does it actually entail? In this episode we'll also be exploring the attributes lifelong learners have, to what extent it is possible to cultivate these traits, and why it is important to lay the foundations early on.

Adaptability is considered vital for the future since technological changes are disrupting work as we know it. But why is it key? Can it be measured? To what extent can we learn to become more adaptable? And why is unlearning so important? Listen in to find out more!

Today, our world is changing at such a rapid pace that it is difficult to know what the future of work might look like. So how can we best prepare young people for what is to come? Experts are now talking about redirecting our focus towards human flourishing to equip young people with the skills and attitudes they will need to navigate these changes. But what does human flourishing actually mean?...

In today’s digital world, we need critical thinking more than ever. The ability to be able to judge the credibility of sources and formulate plausible hypotheses are key. So what can we learn from professional fact checkers? What happens if we delegate search tasks to AI chatbots like ChatGPT? And what implications might this have for the classroom? Listen in to find out more!

ChatGPT has been causing quite a stir. But what can really it do? What are its limitations? What might it mean for students and how will it affect the skills that they need in the future? To find out more, I chatted to a software engineer at a news organisation in the UK.

Empathy has been described as the psychological “superglue” that connects people, yet today it is in decline. In this episode, I’ll be looking at why this is, its importance, what steps we can take to cultivate it, as well as a few ideas for the classroom.

Students came together at the Creators Camp in Coburg this summer to draw up and present an idea for the school of the future. It was an event that saw students having to put 21st century skills into action as they worked towards a common goal. I visited one of the initiators, headteacher Ursula Kick-Bernklau, to find out more about this fascinating project and how 21st century skills are incorpor...

Leadership is about being inspired and inspiring others. It numbers among the top ten job skills for the coming years. In this episode we'll be looking at the difference between leaders and managers, what all good leaders have in common, which other skills leadership entails, and how we can help students to develop some of these in the classroom.

Creative thinking is a process that we use to generate or iterate on ideas. It is an essential skill, especially if we are to tackle the issues confronting us today. In this episode we'll be looking at what creative thinking entails, different types of thinking and how to support the creative thinking process.

The concept of global citizenship has come to the fore in recent years, as countries and cultures have become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. People have realised we urgently need to stop focusing on individual and local perspectives and to consider global implications and contexts. In this episode we'll be looking at what global citizenship is and what it entails, how young people...

The need for intercultural competence has never been greater and it's considered essential in global business environments. Developing it takes time because it’s a complex process that involves other core skills such as listening and empathy. In today's episode we'll be looking at what intercultural competence entails, the different stages we go through as we develop it, as well as its importance...

Today, the ability to share our ideas through effective presentations is absolutely key. But many of us are frightened of speaking in public. So, what can we do to conquer this fear? In this episode we'll also be looking at some of the different formats we have for sharing our ideas, why every presentation begins with the audience, and how we can help students to develop their presentation skills.

Storytelling is in our genes. We have always used stories tounderstand the world around us. And in the 21st century, we need them more than ever to be able to share our ideas and inspire others. Join me to find out how the storyteller’s brain connects with the listener’s, what makes an effective story, as well as a few ideas for storytelling in the classroom.

Digital literacy is not just about knowing how to find and consume information, it’s also about creating and communicating. But the choice of media will depend on the target audience and our purpose. In this episode we’ll be looking at some of the different media on offer, as well as steps students need to take when creating and communicating using digital means.

What does it mean to be literate in today’s world? How can we help students to confidently navigate the digital sphere? In this episode we’ll be looking at three key steps we need to take and how we can help students to become better at validating knowledge online.

Leaner agency is not only important for school but essential for life-long learning. It’s not a quality that we are either born with or not, but an ongoing process that unfolds over time. In this episode we’ll be looking at what it entails, other qualities that are key, as well as how its development can be supported in the English-speaking classroom.

Grit has been shown to play an important role in why people succeed. But what is it that makes some people grittier than others? In this podcast we’ll be looking at the role resilience plays, how a growth mindset is key and some strategies for building grit that also work in the classroom.

Empathy is considered one of the most important resources we have. But what is it? What habits do highly empathetic people have, and how can we learn to develop greater empathy? In this episode I’ll also be talking to the Englishteacher Andrea Holler about how she encourages empathy in the classroom.

In this podcast we'll be exploring the art of listening, a skill that many people feel is sorely neglected today. We'll be looking at what makes a good listener, why active listening is key, and how to help students to hone the skill that is at the root of all (language) learning.

Today, we are used to communicating across a range of media on a regular basis. But this does not mean that it’s something we do well. Join me to find out what happens to our brains when we communicate, which factors hinder effective communication and what this means for the English classroom.

Collaboration is about the process of working together towards a common goal, and it’s essential in today’s world. But working well in a team and having a shared mindset do not necessarily come naturally to us. This is because effective collaboration requires a range of qualities and skills. The good news is that students can already begin to hone them in the classroom. Listen in to find out more!

Creativity is central to who we are as humans. It’s not only essential for our personal and social wellbeing but is also a skill that is in great demand. Come and join me as we look at different levels and kinds of creativity, ways we can cultivate it (yes, everyone is creative!) and what we can do to foster it in schools and the English classroom!

Critical thinking is one of the most in-demand skills for the workplace today. But what does it actually entail, and how can we train ourselves to become better at it? In this episode, I’ll also be talking to the English teacher Jürgen Thamerus to find out how he hones his students’ critical thinking skills in the classroom. So why not come and join us?