COVID-19 has brought our classrooms and workplaces into our living rooms. And as we learn to live in a world balanced on fast WiFi and seamless network connections, educational institutions push to give our students the best during this new normal. The British Council, the country’s foremost English language experts have developed special content for both parents and children to learn English through a number of fun activities.
Antonius Raghubansie, Head of Teaching and Cultural Centres in India for the British Council on the online learning resources says, “During these times with the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, we are committed to continue the learning, reading and recreational experience for our students and library members. We have adapted an alternate model of online classes and learning resources. And for this, we have focused on innovation and social distancing norms. We are confident that the new approach will prepare our students for global challenges with 21st century skills.”
Currently, the British Council has set up online resources for English language learning and their online library, both of which can be accessed with one simple click on their website or Facebook page. They also conduct virtual classes to ensure that students can have an interactive experience with their teachers and classmates that is close enough to the British Council classroom experience. Additionally, the platform also offers a grand choice of world class interactive online resources to improve English grammar, vocabulary and build knowledge across subjects free of cost, anywhere in the world.
The Virtual classes are conducted through the online video conferencing platform Zoom. Here, students are encouraged to participate in group activities and discussions organised by their teachers. They are also encouraged to practice real-life scenarios to help them develop their communication skills. Students can thus experience British Council’s English interactive teaching methodology delivered by experienced teachers. The classroom schedule varies according to the age group of the students and communication skills. Students can also work on their own time to hone their pronunciation, speaking, grammar and vocabulary through a range of online videos.
And who is in charge of these classrooms? Raghubansie says, “There is a lot of effort that goes into the selection of teachers who take the courses. All our courses are delivered by highly experienced Cambridge certified and British Council mentored teachers and state-of-the-art learning resources. A result-based teaching methodology along with an interactive classroom experience ensures an inclusive learning experience for students.”
The online courses are available for children between the age of 5-17 years. They focus on age-appropriate topics with an objective to improve their communication skills, in addition to developing lateral skills such as personality development, preparing for university, social integration and problem-solving. And if you’ve just missed the age group, adult learners have a range of options as well including myEnglish, myEnglish workplace, LearnEnglish Select, which focusing on communication skills required at the workplace, for everyday use of spoken English.
