Designing new learning experiences for your English language learners

Ehsan Gorji
Ehsan Gorji
A teacher stood in front of his class with students looking at him,
Reading time: 6 minutes

Ehsan Gorji is an Iranian teacher and educator with 18 years of experience in English language education. He collaborates on various ELT projects with different language schools around the globe. Ehsan currently owns and manages THink™ Languages and also works as a TED-Ed Student Talks Leader.

Learning has always been an interesting topic to explore in the language education industry. Every week, a lot of webinars are delivered on how learning another language could be more successful, lots of articles are written on how to maximize learning, and many discussions take place between teaching colleagues about how they could surprise their language learners with more amazing tasks and games. In our lesson plans, too, we put learners into focus and try to write learning objectives that will benefit them in the real world.

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But is it the whole picture? What if we wear our critical glasses and review what has happened? Think about your recent classroom teaching face-to-face or online, and reflect on what actually happened:

  1. Did learning actually take place, and did each student learn something?
  2. Did everyone learn the same way, or were things different as they were personalizing the lesson?
  3. Did I want my learners to learn one thing, or did I look forward to them employing the lesson in their own way?
  4. Did they manage to learn right away, or did some of my learners fail to learn the way they were expected to?
  5. Did learning finish in class, or did my students get motivated to continue with what they just practiced?

Learning might not be the whole thing, learning is individual, made with our own learner agency, affected by our choices as we learn, scaffolded by teachers’ techniques and principles, and some of which will succeed and others which might not. Learning experiences are more realistic in that they recognize learners as the ones who should learn, who are the agents of this experience and go through it, and therefore who live the experience in the world around them. As teachers, we usually do our best to help the class create their various learning experiences within one lesson; experiences which might be different in size, shape, joy and productivity.

Learning experiences are what learners love their classes for. They do not necessarily fancy the learning we provide them; they are vulnerable human beings, with all their strengths and weaknesses, hopes and disappointments, good and bad days, and falls and rises throughout their learning journey. From their point of view, exciting stages of lessons give them a chance to deepen their learning, and useful assessments take them to the next stages of exploring. Meaningful education prepares them for different ages of life.

Soft skills help learning experiences to grow

Soft skills can be fitted into any educational context. They fill the gaps between the huge training pieces as the lesson progresses. We call them life skills since they can be transferred to living experiences outside of the classroom. We call them future skills because they follow a lifelong learning pattern and develop endlessly. We call them power skills because they act as powerful tools to help learning experiences grow as they bring what is real in the world around them.

Imagine a reading lesson in which the soft skill of critical thinking is also scaffolded within tasks and subtasks. Think about a writing class where learners learn how to analyze problems and extend reasoning. Consider an interactive online grammar practice that respects learners’ creativity and does not accept only one answer.  Think of opportunities your classes have to become familiar with, practice and follow up with such power skills: Like when learners discover the full potential of a foreign language as they leave meaningful messages under a post in social media, as they practice time management and meeting deadlines through classroom projects, when they realize what good feedback is like and practice receiving and delivering it in groupwork, etc.

Soft skills provide learning experiences with the added value of broadening other related skills. Now that learning has become a learning experience that respects learners' abilities, soft skills can help ease the lesson and make it more enthusiastic. Moreover, soft skills can be transferred to other classes, at home, in college and at work. Learning experiences, too, if accompanied by the correct soft skills as they are accumulating, can find their way through study life, career journey, and more importantly, life as a whole. The common concept that believes English for employability deals with business English needs a revision here: English for employability is the fruitful English language usage and package of soft skills which together make jobs more interesting and offices and companies more desirable to work in.

Learning experiences should be designed

The challenge is that learning experiences are not created easily. We must bridge the gap between what will be conveyed (the language systems and skills) and who will experience them (language learners), which is a careful and thoughtful thing called design. Learning experience designs have 10 features in common:

A. They ask for creativity from the experiencer (or learner).

B. They are simple and fun.

C. They are fully planned but are flexible toward learners’ failure or low pace.

D. They are minimal and have huge white space for learners to glow.

E. They call for soft skills in presentation, practice and production.

F. They work best if assessed for learning, not of learning.

G. They are more enjoyable once learners’ daily routines, such as digital gadgets, online presence, etc., are employed.

H. They do not negate teachers’ roles but level them up to enablers for each learner’s growth capacity.

I. They continue outside classroom walls or screens.

J. They are co-created with learners as agents for their own learning.

Where should you start when designing new learning experiences for your English language learners? Here is a practical roadmap to the amazing domain of learning experience design.

  1. List all the lesson objectives your lesson tomorrow is oriented around. You want them to be realistic learning objectives, so check them with the GSE teacher toolkit here.
  2. In another column on the right, write down the soft skills you want to call for in your lesson.
  3. Next to each soft skill, write down if you would like your learners to know (K), recall (R), adopt (A) or transfer (T) them. (Learn more from 'Teaching soft skills in young learners’ language classes', Ehsan Gorji, IATEFL Voices 298, May-June 2024)
  4. Decide if the materials and tasks in different stages of your lesson are scaffolding the learning objectives and soft skills you have written in 1, 2, and 3.
  5. Plan how to best use your tasks, reorder them to create more learning experiences for your class, and add more value for you.
  6. Leave enough space for learners to apply, analyze, and synthesize. Be open to failure. Feedback, and have alternatives to offer in your lesson plan.
  7. Teach the lesson and take notes on your learning objectives and life skills. Assign appropriate homework in this regard.
  8. Reflect on the lesson and decide how the learning experiences can be strengthened in the next classes and topics.

Read our posts 'Mind the gap in your English lesson planning' and 'Forward-looking reflective teaching'.

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    What are the most spoken languages in the world?

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Have you ever wondered which world languages are spoken by the largest number of people globally? Whether you’re a language enthusiast or someone looking to learn a new language, understanding the most spoken languages around the world can be incredibly insightful. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top languages by number of speakers, shedding light on languages with the most native speakers and widely spoken languages globally.

    Introduction to spoken languages

    Spoken languages are a vital part of human communication, culture and identity. With over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, each language has its unique characteristics, nuances and significance. Understanding the most spoken languages globally provides valuable insights into geopolitics, economics and social dynamics. In this article, we will explore the top languages spoken in the world, their distribution and use.

    Why knowing the most spoken languages matters

    Knowing which languages are most popular worldwide can influence your language learning decisions. Enhancing your language skills in these widely spoken languages can significantly boost your communication abilities and cultural understanding. It can open up opportunities for travel, business and cultural exchange. Additionally, understanding global language popularity can give you a broader perspective of the world’s linguistic diversity.

    Criteria for measuring language popularity

    Measuring language popularity is a complex task that involves various factors, including the number of native speakers, global influence, and use as a second or foreign language. The criteria for measuring language popularity include:

    • Number of native speakers: This refers to the number of people who speak a language as their first or native language. Languages with the highest number of native speakers often have a significant cultural and historical impact.

    • Global influence: This measures the extent to which a language is used in international communication, business, science and diplomacy. Languages with a broad global influence are often used as lingua francas in various regions.

    • Use as a second or foreign language: This considers the number of people who speak a language as a second language or foreign language. Languages that are widely taught and learned around the world tend to have a larger speaking population.

    By considering these criteria, we can better understand why certain languages are more prominent and widely spoken globally.

    Top 10 most spoken languages in the world

    Here’s a closer look at the ten most spoken languages by number of speakers:

    When evaluating these languages, it's important to consider not just the number of native speakers but also the total number of language speakers, including those who speak it as a second language.

    1. English

    Speakers: Approximately 1.5 billion

    Native speakers: Around 360 million

    Regions: Widely spoken in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

    Highlights: English is the most widely spoken language worldwide when combining native and non-native speakers. It's the primary language in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. English is the dominant language in international business, science and technology.

    2. Mandarin Chinese

    Speakers: Over 1.1 billion

    Native speakers: About 920 million

    Regions: Mainly in China, Taiwan and Singapore

    Highlights: Mandarin is the language with the largest number of native speakers. It's one of the six official languages of the United Nations and has a significant cultural and historical importance.

    3. Hindi

    Speakers: Around 600 million

    Native speakers: Approximately 341 million

    Regions: Predominantly in India and Nepal

    Highlights: Hindi is predominantly spoken in India and Nepal, with approximately 341 million native speakers. It is one of the official languages of India and is spoken by a large portion of the Indian population. It has numerous dialects and is written in the Devanagari script.

    4. Spanish

    Speakers: Approximately 560 million

    Native speakers: About 460 million

    Regions: Spain, Latin America and parts of the United States

    Highlights: Spanish is the official language in 21 countries and is widely spoken in the Americas. In many of these countries, Spanish serves as the national language, playing a crucial role in government, education and media. It’s known for its rich literature and cultural heritage.

    5. French

    Speakers: Around 280 million

    Native speakers: About 77 million

    Regions: France, parts of Africa, Canada, Belgium and Switzerland

    Highlights: French is another of the six official languages of the United Nations. It's widely used in international diplomacy and has a significant number of speakers in Africa due to France's colonial history.

    6. Arabic

    Speakers: Approximately 270 million

    Native speakers: Around 310 million

    Regions: Middle East and North Africa

    Highlights: Arabic is a central Semitic language that is the liturgical language of Islam. It has many dialects, with Modern Standard Arabic being used in formal settings and media. Arabic has numerous spoken forms, with significant variations in dialects across different regions.

    7. Bengali

    Speakers: Around 265 million

    Native speakers: About 230 million

    Regions: Bangladesh and parts of India

    Highlights: Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh and the second most spoken language in India. Alongside other languages like Hindi and Urdu, Bengali plays a crucial role in the cultural and linguistic landscape of the region. It’s known for its rich literary tradition.

    8. Portuguese

    Speakers: Approximately 220 million

    Native speakers: Around 220 million

    Regions: Brazil, Portugal and parts of Africa

    Highlights: Portuguese is mainly spoken in Brazil, which is the largest Portuguese-speaking country. It has a growing number of speakers in Africa.

    9. Russian

    Speakers: Around 258 million

    Native speakers: Approximately 154 million

    Regions: Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

    Highlights: Russian is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is widely spoken in the former Soviet Union countries.

    10. Japanese

    Speakers: Approximately 128 million

    Native speakers: Around 128 million

    Regions: Japan

    Highlights: Japanese is predominantly spoken in Japan and is known for its three writing systems—Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. It has a rich cultural history and is influential in technology and entertainment.

    Conclusion

    Understanding the most spoken languages in the world can provide valuable insights for language learners. Developing strong language skills in these world languages can open up numerous opportunities for travel, business and cultural exchange. Whether you’re looking to enhance your travel experiences, broaden your cultural horizons, or improve your career prospects, learning one of these widely spoken languages could be a significant advantage.

    Ready to start your language learning journey? Learn a new language with Mondly by Pearson.

  • A teacher stood in front of his class with students looking at him,

    Designing new learning experiences for your English language learners

    By Ehsan Gorji
    Reading time: 6 minutes

    Ehsan Gorji is an Iranian teacher and educator with 18 years of experience in English language education. He collaborates on various ELT projects with different language schools around the globe. Ehsan currently owns and manages THink™ Languages and also works as a TED-Ed Student Talks Leader.

    Learning has always been an interesting topic to explore in the language education industry. Every week, a lot of webinars are delivered on how learning another language could be more successful, lots of articles are written on how to maximize learning, and many discussions take place between teaching colleagues about how they could surprise their language learners with more amazing tasks and games. In our lesson plans, too, we put learners into focus and try to write learning objectives that will benefit them in the real world.

  • Woman working in front of a laptop writing something down and smiling

    Learning a language while working full-time

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Mastering a new language can be a game-changer for your career. Whether it's for expanding your professional network, exploring new job opportunities, or simply enhancing your cognitive skills, learning a language is an invaluable investment. But how can you juggle language learning with a demanding full-time job? Here are some practical tips designed for busy professionals.

    1. Set clear goals

    Before you start, it's crucial to set clear, achievable goals. Whether you aim to hold basic conversations, read professional documents, or become fluent, having a specific target will keep you motivated and focused.

    2. Integrate learning into your daily routine

    Finding time to study can be challenging, but integrating language learning into your daily routine can make it more manageable:

    • Commute time: Use your commute to listen to language podcasts or audiobooks.
    • Lunch breaks: Dedicate 15-20 minutes of your lunch break to review vocabulary or grammar.
    • Evening wind-down: Spend 10 minutes before bed practicing speaking or writing.

    3. Use online resources

    Modern technology provides a plethora of tools to help you learn a new language without disrupting your schedule:

    • Language learning apps: Apps like Mondly by Pearson allow you to practice during your commute or lunch break.
    • Podcasts and audiobooks: Listen to language lessons during your commute or workout.
    • Online courses:  Many websites offer structured courses that you can complete at your own pace.

    4. Stay motivated

    Staying motivated is crucial to your success. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and remind yourself of the benefits of being multilingual:

    • Track your progress: Keep a journal of your language learning milestones and achievements.
    • Find a study buddy: Partner with a colleague or friend who is also learning the language to keep each other accountable.
    • Reward yourself: Treat yourself when you reach your language learning goals.

    5. Explore company resources

    Some companies offer resources or discounted access for learning. It's always worthwhile to check if your employer provides:

    • Language classes: On-site or online language classes.
    • Learning platforms: Subscriptions to language learning platforms.
    • Education reimbursement: Financial assistance for language courses as part of professional development.

    6. Use your work environment

    If your workplace has international colleagues, take advantage of this opportunity to practice. Try to speak with them in their first language or ask for help with pronunciation and vocabulary. Not only will this provide real-world practice, but it will also strengthen your professional relationships.

    7. Be consistent and patient

    Consistency is key when learning a new language:

    • Daily practice: Even 10-15 minutes a day can lead to significant progress over time.
    • Patience: Language learning is a gradual process. Celebrate small milestones and remain patient with your progress.

    Balancing a full-time job with language learning is no small feat, but it's entirely possible with the right strategies. By setting clear goals, integrating learning into your routine, leveraging technology, practicing consistently, engaging with native speakers, making learning fun and staying motivated, you can achieve fluency without sacrificing your professional responsibilities. Ready to start your language learning journey? Take the first step today and open a world of new opportunities.