If there’s one element that defines all the classes I give, regardless of student level, it is their emphasis on oral communication. The goal is to spend at least half of the class time speaking – and, to a lesser extent, listening. I try to ensure that the speaking exercises are closely related to each student’s particular areas of interest and professional expertise.
Whatever we do in class, one thing is clear: the activities must be as interesting as they are purposeful. To that end, I rely on a mix of written texts (newspaper articles, blog posts, academic studies, reports by international organisations), statistics and audiovisual material (news reports, presentations, interviews, TED talks, podcasts), and make sure that the activities are as interactive as possible.
