Tag Archives: Leadership

AI: More Than Human?

Still No1: The Human Factor

4 days. 32 lecture slots. 500+ lectures.

With the latest news for you from the world of English language teaching, we’re just back from the international IATEFL teachers’ conference. What a difference a year makes. In last year’s conference guide there was only 1 mention of AI. This year there were 46. The good news is that despite the rise of AI, The Human Factor is still No 1. Here’s why:

3 takeaways from the world’s biggest English Language Teaching conference:

The skills that make us Human make us more employable

1 of 3 > Making students more employable:

43% of Gen Z are worried about jobs being lost to AI.

However, Mike Mayor, Senior Director of Pearson’s Global Scale of English identified that the very soft skills that make us human are those that hold the key to students’ future employability:

  • Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking
  • Communication
  • Creativity
  • Leadership
  • Self-Management
  • Social Responsibility

Read more:

Effective strategies for teaching any language with Scott Thornbury

2 of 3 > “Reward communicative competence rather than accuracy”

Any teacher who has studied the CELTA (teaching qualification) will have read teaching methodology books by Scott Thornbury. Exploring the question of whether learning English is different from learning other languages (spoiler: it isn’t) he concluded with 4 main points relevant to teaching any language:

  • Reward communicative competence rather than accuracy
  • Teach grammar responsibly and at the time it is needed
  • Encourage memorisation of high frequency exemplars
  • Project your enthusiasm for the target language

Wise words from the grandmaster himself!

For teenagers experiencing life in an international community on summer school nothing is more joyful than learning new skills and exploring the world together, which is why at More Than English we put meaningful communication at the very heart of our programme from morning to night. Yes, we work hard on helping students develop accuracy and their knowledge of the language. However, what is equally important as how much English they know is what they can do with their English and that requires a whole extra set of ‘human skills’ (see next point).

Read more:
Meaningful Communication @ More Than English (pp10-21)

Chia Suan Chong: “it is relationships & trust that underlies successful communication.”

3 of 3 > Mediation and the power of human relationships

Legendary National Geographic course book writer Chia Suan Chong was clear: “it is relationships and trust that underlies successful communication in today’s world of fast and overwhelming information and AI.” And successful communication requires ‘mediation’ skills, or, in other words, building bridges between people:

Teaching mediation:

  • Transactional: mediating texts
  • Interpersonal: mediating communication
  • Evaluative: mediating concepts

At More Than English we are not just teaching students the language they need to have everyday conversations. We are training them to communicate across cultures and explore the world of ideas from different perspectives. We are training them to work effectively in international teams to develop new skills and deliver projects from Model UN debates to panel discussions and theatre productions. We know, because we have seen it so many times, there is no limit to what our teenagers can achieve together, and for the forseeable future, AI will not come close.

Read more:
Subjects & Specialisms at More Than English (pp10-21)

More Than English founders David Meddows & Claire Norwood @ the 2024 IATEFL conference in Brighton

We’d love to talk with you on any topic from teaching methodology to airport transfers!

Lessons from a crisis

“Every cloud has a silver lining.”

Silver lining – something good that comes from something bad.

They say that “every cloud has a silver lining.“

Right now, that might seem hard to believe:

  • Covid-19 infection rates are increasing around the world.
  • Families are facing the unbearable loss of loved ones.
  • Economic problems are pushing many families into financial distress.

Lessons from a crisis

We are all living under a big cloud.
Is there a silver lining to this crisis? Maybe yes. 
Maybe this is our chance to learn some important lessons.

Lesson 1: Valuing each other

“Unsung hero” – somebody who helps other people, but who does not receive recognition

How do you measure the value of somebody’s work?

Doctors, nurses, paramedics: of course they are all heroes in this crisis. However, the pandemic also ‘shone a light’ on the unsung heroes: the cleaners, the delivery drivers, the supermarket staff and many more people who put themselves in danger in order to keep us safe.

Learning to value each other more is surely a silver lining of this crisis. To all the heroes and the unsung heroes we say “thank you”.

Lesson 2: Renewed focus on climate change

At the end of 2019, very few people could have predicted that in the first weeks of 2020 our comfortable lives would be turned upside down by a submicroscopic agent.

In 2021, we felt the power of nature. We received a reminder that the human race is inescapably part of the natural world.

The pandemic has focused the minds of governments, citizens and businesses by sending an urgent and clear message that we must work together now to halt climate change. 

Lesson 3: The power of collaboration across borders

An incredible European team of scientists made us ask: is there anything we can’t achieve when we work together?

  • Developed in under one year by a Turkish-German couple in Germany.
  • Manufactured by an American company in Belgium.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is a miracle of European & American collaboration. To this team, and to vaccine developers everywhere, we say: “thank you”.

Summer School 2021

Would it be true to say that there is little value in learning ‘life lessons’ unless you apply the lessons?  How is More Than English applying the lessons of the pandemic?

Bringing children and teenagers from all over the world to summer school so that they learn to live, learn and work together has never been so important. Teaching children and teenagers how to work in international teams is how we start to solve the challenges of tomorrow, today. However, returning to “business as usual” is not an option. We have to change. 

Here’s how More Than English is learning the lessons of Covid-19:

(1) Increased focus on developing the leaders of tomorrow

NEW! Academic Enrichment

Future Leaders

We are now offering a Future Leaders course in the mornings (this course also includes a diverse range of study options in the afternoons). Topics covered on the Future Leaders programme include politics, Model United Nations, journalism and more. Students work collaboratively to research, analyse, prioritise and get the job done. At the end of each week they present a final product: a plan, a document, a presentation, a speech.

Students choosing the Future Leaders course also benefit from a full range of afternoon study options. 

(2) Science & Technology  

NEW! Academic Enrichment

STEM Robotics

Science is providing a way out of the pandemic. New for this year we are offering a STEM Robotics course.

STEM Robotics

Students choosing the STEM Robotics course also benefit from a full range of afternoon study options. 

Coding and Virtual Reality

NEW! With new afternoon study options in Coding and Virtual Reality, students can also study Science & Technology in the afternoon.  

(3) A greener summer school

Summer school has a negative impact on the environment. By introducing reusable water bottles in 2019 we dramatically reduced our plastic waste.

Reducing the plastic waste created by summer school

This year, we want to do better. 

(i) Carbon Offsetting:

New for 2021! We are researching how to most effectively offset carbon emissions from students’ flights

ii) Social Entrepreneurship:

NEW! Students choosing our new Social Entrepreneurship afternoon study option, will learn about the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals which are designed to fight poverty and inequality and tackle climate change by 2030. As part of a project, they will then persuade other students to be part of the change we need. 

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

A Time For Change

We are living through a time of big change. With damage to economies and heartbreak for families, Covid-19 is playing havoc with all our lives. However, the power to shape and change the future is in our hands. If we choose to take this opportunity, we can make sure that the 2020s are remembered not only as a time of global crisis, but as the decade during which we learnt to value each and secure a living planet for future generations.

That would be a silver lining indeed.

Useful links:

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Courses Overview 2021

Book With Confidence – full refund for any reason until May 20, 2021

Free Online Discussions

Your child’s invitation to join us online

This is an invitation for your children 11-17 from www.morethanenglish.uk to take part in our next free (€00.00) online Zoom discussions. We're giving students an opportunity to use their superpower (their language skills) to better understand their world - in this the time of the coronavirus pandemic.

What English level are the other students?

We have meetings for students at two levels:
High: B1+ > C2
Improving: A2 - early B1

Where are the other students from?

The performance of the students so far in our free online Zoom meetings has been FANTASTIC with incredible ambassadors from Romania, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Poland, UAE, Greece, Croatia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Mexico, Germany, Lebanon and the UK offering a truly international perspective on issues connected with coronavirus.

What’s the next meeting about? 

Countries in many parts of the world are coming out of lockdown. That's a big leadership challenge. That's also a big reason to celebrate. Please read on to find out more...

Meeting: Wednesday 17 June, 1600 UK time

B2 > C2 students

Topic: Leadership in a crisis

> What skills does a leader need to succeed in a crisis? 
> Unlocking a country: what to unlock first and last?
> Big Brother: how concerned should we be about coronavirus ‘track and trace’ apps that know where we are?

Meeting: Thursday, 18 June 1600 UK time

A2 > early stage B1 students

Topic: Planning a post-lockdown party

We have a fun job for you.  
Task: coronavirus lockdown is ending in many countries. Plan the perfect party for children and teenagers from all over the world. 

Registration

If you have not attended a More Than English Zoom meeting before, please register using the form below (?) and we will email you a free Zoom invitation + free lesson materials to download. If you have attended a meeting before, please don’t register again: please check your email for your zoom invitation and lesson materials.

Frequently asked questions: 

 How much does it cost to join the meeting? 

>> £0 🙂    


 I was in a meeting before. Do I need to register again? 

>> No, you only have to register for your first meeting. Please check your email for your Zoom invitation and lesson materials.


 Do I need a Zoom account to take part?

>> No, you don’t need a Zoom account. Please complete the registration form and we will send you your Zoom invitation and lesson materials.

 I have never studied at More Than English in the UK. Can I also take part? 

>> Yes. However, you must be aged 11-17 maximum and you must upload of a copy of your photo ID, including date of birth, with your registration form. 

Other articles you may be interested in:

Leadership + other study options at More Than English

Business Challenge

More Than English brochure

Day 10 – Saturday 20 July 2019 – Business Challenge

Today is the 50th Anniversary since the first person walked on the moon, and today our brave international adventurers of 2019 continue on their journey.

Focus on: The Business Project

First rule of business:

“If it can go wrong, it will go wrong”

… which is why every entrepreneur needs to develop resilience and a problem solving mindset.
  • Ferenc (France) sourcing raw ingredients
  • Mikulas (Czech Republic) remembering that a good sense of humour is important in business
  • Daria (Romania) discovering that the costs are higher than expected

How do you start a business? This week, our young entrepreneurs are learning how to start a business from scratch (from the beginning).

It does not matter what business you start: the basic principles are the same. This week, the students are going to experience first hand all of these elements so that in the *future they will know how to start a business:

(*By ‘future’ we don’t mean in ten years’ time, we mean, when you get home. Many teens have started successful business. Read more.)

Course components

  • Company vision
  • Marketing
  • Product design
  • Financial planning
  • Plant hire
  • Procurement
  • Manufacture
  • Sales
  • Law including due diligence and business ethics

Key skills:

  • Working in an international team
  • Project and time management
  • Resilience: dealing with pressure and overcoming obstacles

After all that hard work, it’s time to relax. But not toooo much.

Club Time – Drama

Starting today… Club Time Drama (+swimming option + unihockey option).

This is not our official drama course, which is next week. This is just a Club Time activity, and Club Time means fun. Did you say “just” a Club Time activity?

Just a warning… never, never, never underestimate teenagers and that includes the Club Time drama crew: they’ll be in the theatre on stage on Tuesday, and we guarantee you’ll be “glued to your seats” in the theatre.

What is the subject of their drama? Well, here’s a clue:

Props for the Club Time Drama Crew
Do you know whose feet they are? David knows the answer.
3 House Points if you can guess.

Evening activities

We watched Johnny English – not only the greatest spy, but also the greatest teacher in the world, who gives House Points to his students in a very unique way…

The brand new £500,000 Performing Arts centre on campus at Moor Park

Day 27 – Friday 3 August

Murder Mystery

Today ended with a murder. David, the co-director of the summer school was found lying lifeless in the main reception at around 1930.

Relentless

Luckily, an international team of trainee student investigators were on hand to solve this terrible crime. They listened to all the alibis. They considered all the motives. They examined all the clues. They interviewed all the suspects. They found out ‘who dunnit’ – they found the guilty one.

If you weren’t there, take a look at the suspects (above and below). Who do you think the guilty one was?

Some of the suspects.

Last English lessons

Today was the last day of lessons on summer school and the last opportunity to take photos with classmates and teachers.

Super active student Marta from Spain

Calvin’s class

Jai’s class

Get Ahead ‘came to a head’

Come to a head = if something comes to a head, you cannot delay it anymore: you must deal with it now.

Example:

"Finally the problem of plastic waste in the  sea has come to to a head. The government must deal with this problem now."
Leadership

Get Ahead Business students started a new company this week called Bright Knight, which is an especially good name for a business based in a medieval town!

As well as studying the basics of business, these Get Ahead Business students had to create a company identity, create a product, and create a financial plan. However, that was not the difficult part. The most challenging part of running a business is creating a team and a company culture.

In the course of planning, purchasing raw ingredients and creating their product, these young entrepreneurs discovered the challenges of learning to work together efficiently.

Starting the company

Success! Sales went well

So what was the result?

The result was a healthy profit with high demand for their smoothies. Displaying the ethical underpinning (foundation) of their business, the team then donated all of the profit to a local charity.

However, that was not the only reward. The customers loved the product, including teacher Lucy:

Lucy approves of the business students’ mocktails.

Get Ahead Performing Arts –  Film Making

Filming came to a head today on the Get Ahead film project. Students worked together brilliantly to get in all the final shots. The premiere will be tomorrow night.

Trip to Ludlow

Students enjoyed an afternoon trip to Ludlow.

The castle was built by French invaders in 1086. As the students discovered, the best view is from the tower.

Sunset

The day finished with a dramatic sunset. What a beautiful place!