Author Archives: Tom Godfrey

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About Tom Godfrey

I am an ELT teacher and teacher trainer. I am Director of ITI, Istanbul a training institute in Istanbul. I am also founder of Speech Bubbles theatre which performs musicals to raise money for children and education.

Our mission is to increase awareness of excellent teaching skills.

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Tom Godfrey

We are making a documentary film series showing the real experiences of following a teacher training course Continue reading →

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How did it all start?

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Tom Godfrey

My heart was pumping feverishly, and my head was light and giddy as I stepped off the plane in Tripoli, Libya on the 10th September 1980 just two days short of my 21st Birthday. I was met with a draft … Continue reading →

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The History of ELT.

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Tom Godfrey

How do we learn languages? In this video I explore this question by looking at approaches to language learning in the past. Do we learn a second language inductively as we learn our mother tongue or is it more deductive … Continue reading →

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Creative thinking and drama.

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Tom Godfrey

How can we use creative thinking and drama in the language classroom? I am going to describe 6 drama activities that encourage creative thinking and utilise the learners’ imagination. Drama typically takes place in face to face settings as it … Continue reading →

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Tips from trainers: Giving Praise

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Tom Godfrey

What is praise? Praise is identifying behaviour or progress and signalling approval.  Everybody likes to be acknowledged in a positive way and people like to get positive feedback. So praise is essentially positive feedback to the learners acknowledging and approving … Continue reading →

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Building rapport online in the first lesson

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Tom Godfrey

 What is rapport? Rapport is all about building a positive classroom dynamic. Rapport is the connexion between the teacher and the learners and also the learners and other learners. In life there are some people who we get on with … Continue reading →

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How do teachers develop?

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Tom Godfrey

As a teacher trainer this is a question that preoccupies me on a daily basis. Moreover I am not alone in this enquiry, indeed a major area of research has been to examine the impact of training on a teacher’s … Continue reading →

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LOCK DOWN

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Tom Godfrey

‘Lockdown’ is a short film set in a zoom room during the COVID 19 pandemic. It was filmed during the lock down. The film shows two people (Adam and Eve) meeting in a virtual space. It is an allegory of … Continue reading →

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‘WRONG ROOM’ A Virtual Play

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Tom Godfrey

There is a lock down. Everyone is at home and communicate online but what happens when there is a glitch in the zoom room and suddenly you find yoursef in a room of strangers! Continue reading →

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Become the teacher you want to be

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Tom Godfrey

In a world of choices, the most important choice is deciding who and what you want to be. Investing in your own personal development is the only real choice you need to make.

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