Digital Skills Every English Teacher Needs

In today's world, technology plays a crucial role in our lives. 

Teaching is no exception, as online learning has long been an integral part of teaching. 

Nowadays, digital skills are essential for every educator. 

Of course, most of us can turn on a computer and browse the internet, but what other digital skills can help teachers excel and make lessons more effective? 

Let’s dive in and explore.

Online platforms are the foundation of modern education. 

It's hard to imagine teaching an online lesson without them.

This gives students the opportunity to review lessons they couldn't attend.

But their functionality goes beyond just that. 

In our blog, we explore other online platforms that offer additional features, which can replace traditional tools like Zoom, providing flexibility and enhancing the teaching experience.

With the rise of gamification, keeping students engaged with monotonous tasks has become a significant challenge. 

Children, teenagers, and even adults tend to lose interest if the lesson consists only of exercises and rules. 

To liven up the learning process, teachers now integrate games and activities.

For example, with Quizlet, you can create flashcards and tests. 

Wordwall lets you design speaking activities, vocabulary review games, and exercises like fill in the gaps. 

By experimenting with different tools, you’ll soon discover your favourites and find what most effectively engages and motivates your students.

If a teacher follows the textbook strictly, completing task after task, the lessons can quickly become dull and predictable. 

It's important to mix textbook content with authentic materials to make lessons more engaging.

Search for YouTube videos that relate to the topic being taught. 

Choose articles that are appropriate for your students’ language level.

But how do you organise all this material without getting overwhelmed? 

The answer is simple — use online whiteboards if you're teaching online!

The most popular option at the moment is Miro, where you can easily insert links, images, screenshots, and videos that you’ll need during your lesson. 

Other platforms like Jamboard or Microsoft Whiteboard are also good alternatives. 

Try out different options and choose the one that works best for you. 

The key is to ensure that your additional materials are not only interesting but also well-organised and accessible for your students.

The rise of artificial intelligence has revolutionised everyday tasks, making them much easier. 

Now, AI can solve almost any problem or task, including lesson preparation.

For example: 

StoryWizard.ai: This tool generates captivating stories with vibrant illustrations on every page.

Twee: A platform that allows you to quickly create listening activities, speaking prompts, and open-ended questions for texts.

By the way, on our Instagram, we regularly post a "Tutorial" series, where we show how AI can help you create teaching materials, improve your lessons, and save valuable time.

For offline teachers, knowing how to use presentation tools like PowerPoint, Canva, and similar software is essential. 

After all, content is often more engaging when it is presented through thoughtful visuals.

This is especially important for students who learn best through visual means.

If you don’t have time to design presentations from scratch, these tools offer ready-made templates that you can easily customise for your lessons.

Presentation tools are not just an extra feature — they’re a practical way to enhance your teaching, making your lessons more professional and engaging.

In conclusion, digital skills have become a vital part of the modern teaching profession. 

Advanced tools, AI, and software provide opportunities to enrich the learning process and keep students focused. 

This is particularly important in today’s world, where maintaining students’ interest has become increasingly challenging. 

Nevertheless, with the right resources and strategies, success is entirely within reach!