I have been involved in education since 1990 and have worked all over the world as a language teacher, teacher trainer, technology trainer and educational technology consultant. In May 2012 I won a British Council ELTon for Excellence in Course Innovation for the Blended Learning in ELT course I designed for Bell Educational Services . I write and publish materials which make best use of educational technology.
I have been involved in education since 1990 and have worked all over the world as a language teacher, teacher trainer, technology trainer and educational technology consultant. In May 2012 I won a British Council ELTon for Excellence in Course Innovation for the Blended Learning in ELT course I designed for Bell Educational Services . I write and publish materials which make best use of educational technology.
This book has been designed to act as a practical resource that should help you to get a better understanding of the kinds of AI tools that are available and how to use them in the English language classroom.
The book does this through a series of chapters focusing on tools for teachers, tools for students and a collection of background reading.
All of the tools and reading texts in this book have tasks to accompany them that will help you orientate yourself to the materials and think more deeply and actively about how they can be used.
These tasks have been adapted from the online course version of the book, in which participants can share opinions, reflections and materials with each other. I would encourage you to do the same even if you arenât part of the course.
Keep a journal and make notes as you work through the book and try the tasks.
Find another colleague you can talk to about the tasks and the example plans
Seek out opportunities to interact with and discuss what you are learning with other teachers and with your students.
Use what you are learning to run formal or informal development sessions for other teachers.
The book also includes a link to download a free copy of The Digital Toolbox.
The Digital Toolbox
The Digital Toolbox is regularly updated, and should help to keep you up to date with new developments and apps that are becoming available.
I hope you enjoy the book.
With the advent of âInstapoetryâ on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, there seems to be a whole new generation open to creating, publishing and enjoying poetry. This lesson explores the motivation of a woman who writes poetry and encourages students to share their views of poetry. They also choose a poem to listen to and create a profile for an imaginary poet.
Aims:
To develop students' appreciation of poets and poetry.
Materials:
Teachers' guide (PDF)
Digital presentation
Dictation activity
Poet profiles activity
Reflection activity
Spark lively discussions and critical thinking in your B1+ ESL classroom with this engaging 60-minute lesson on city life and global living standards. Using an eye-catching infographic and thought-provoking questions, students explore what makes a city liveable, compare top-ranked cities, and express their personal preferences.
Perfect for speaking and reading practice, this ready-to-use lesson also builds essential vocabulary and encourages deeper reflection on quality of life, urban vs. rural living, and cultural perspectives. Ideal for teachers who want to combine language learning with real-world relevance.
Spark your studentsâ creativity and problem-solving skills with this engaging, real-world lesson on turning sea water into drinking water! Using a clear, visually striking infographic, learners explore how to build a simple survival device from everyday items, while developing vocabulary, reading skills, and environmental awareness. Packed with critical thinking prompts and meaningful discussions, this ready-to-teach lesson is perfect for life skills, CLIL, or general English classes.
Help your students boost their productivity and their English skills with this thought-provoking lesson on procrastination! Using a vibrant, easy-to-follow infographic, learners reflect on their own habits, explore 15 practical tips to stay on task, and engage in meaningful discussions that build critical thinking and fluency. Perfect for Business English or life skills-focused classes, this ready-to-teach lesson brings language to life with real-world relevance and high learner engagement.
No prep required
Ideal for adult and young adult learners
Builds speaking, reading, and reflection skills
Flexible for classroom or online teaching
Get your students thinking, talking, and taking actionâone tip at a time!
Includes answer key and digital presentation.
Boost Wellbeing and Language Skills with âCheer Upâ â A Ready-to-Use Lesson Plan
Help your students explore emotions, build empathy, and develop essential communication skills with Cheer Up â an engaging, ready-to-teach 60 minute lesson plan focused on wellbeing and emotional expression.
Designed for B1+ -level learners, this practical, five-task lesson uses real-world topics and visuals to spark meaningful discussion, develop digital literacy, and encourage critical thinking.
Unlock the Power of AI for Your Professional Growth
Are you an English language teacher or teacher educator looking for innovative ways to enhance your skills, save time, and develop professionally?
The Manual of AI-Mediated Autonomous Teacher Development is your ultimate guide to using AI as a collaborative partner in your teaching journey. Written by Nik Peachey, an award-winning educator and expert in educational technology, this book takes you beyond generic AI-generated materials. Instead, it introduces collaborative prompting - a groundbreaking approach to professional growth through collaborative prompting - a method that transforms AI from a simple tool into an active mentor, guide, and thinking partner.
Whatâs Inside?
Hands-on AI prompts that walk you through action research, reflection, grammar analysis, needs assessments, research writing, and more than 30 other developmental tasks.
Step-by-step guides to help you use AI as a reflective tool, boosting your metacognitive awareness and teaching effectiveness.
Practical applications for integrating AI into your daily teaching practice, without relying on generic AI-generated content.
A focus on lifelong learning, ensuring that you continuously develop as a teacher while keeping up with the latest trends in education technology.
Real-world teaching scenarios that demonstrate how AI can support you in the classroom, from tackling student challenges to designing innovative learning experiences.
Designed for both experienced and novice teachers, this book empowers you to take control of your own development while gaining deeper insights into your teaching practice. Whether you want to refine your methods, explore new pedagogical approaches, or simply make AI a meaningful part of your professional journey, this hands-on, practical guide will help you elevate your teaching to the next level.
Note: All of the prompts included in the book will function on free AI platform subscriptions.
Inspire your students with a lesson that celebrates kindness, difference, and being your true self.
In this engaging and thought-provoking ESL lesson, your students will explore the story of the âReal Santaâ through the lens of diversity, difference, and what it means to be truly powerful.
Using a short video as a springboard, learners reflect on the qualities of superheroes, discuss what makes each person unique, and think critically about inclusion and empathy. Designed for B1+ learners, the lesson develops speaking fluency and listening skills while encouraging meaningful classroom conversations.
This lesson helps your students:
Compare and contrast familiar superheroes with the story of Santa Claus
Build vocabulary around identity, difference, and powers
Reflect on what makes them unique and why diversity matters
Explore social themes in an accessible, age-appropriate way
Whatâs included:
A ready-to-use, step-by-step lesson plan
Video link + guided viewing questions
Pre- and post-watching discussion tasks
Critical thinking prompts
A digital presentation
This lesson develops speaking and listening skills while promoting empathy and respect for diversity. It is ideal for teachers looking to integrate values-based education into their English lessons in a creative and accessible way.
One Small Step â An Inspiring ESL Lesson on Dreams, Ambition & Gender Equality
Level: B1+
Lesson Length: 60â75 minutes
Themes: Ambition, Gender Bias, Overcoming Obstacles
What do your students dream of becoming?
This powerful, ready-to-use lesson plan invites learners to reflect on their childhood ambitions while exploring real-world issues of gender discrimination and resilience. Centred around the award-winning animated short film One Small Step, this lesson sparks meaningful conversations, builds critical thinking, and develops key language skills.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the lesson, students will:
Reflect on personal dreams and ambitions
Discuss challenges women face in STEM careers
Explore the impact of gender bias in the workplace
Develop speaking fluency and vocabulary related to ambition and equality
Whatâs Included?
A complete, step-by-step lesson plan
Pre-watching and post-watching activities
Discussion prompts and critical thinking tasks
Extension ideas and optional homework
Links to the video and visual materials
Why This Lesson Works
One Small Step resonates emotionally with learners while providing rich material for classroom discussion. Itâs perfect for promoting inclusivity, motivation, and social awarenessâwhile reinforcing English language skills in a meaningful context.
Ideal For:
Teen and adult ESL learners at B1+ level
Teachers looking for high-interest, real-world content
Classes focused on diversity, gender issues, or career aspirations
Inspire your students to dream bigâand talk about it in English.
Download the lesson now and take one small step toward deeper learning.
You will get a PDF (1MB) file
A Creative ESL Lesson Plan That Brings Storiesâand Studentsâto Life
Looking for a lesson that sparks imagination, inspires discussion, and gets your students truly talking?
âFairy Talesâ is a ready-to-use, high-impact ESL lesson plan designed for B1+ learners that transforms your classroom into a world of magic, mystery, and meaningful conversation.
Using the captivating short film Croaked, students dive into the world of fairy tales and folk stories while developing their speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills. But this isnât just a watch-and-talk lessonâyour students will retell stories, argue in a mock trial, debate the role of media, and even create their own modern fairy tale.
Why teachers love it:
Zero prep â Just open, play, and teach
Flexible â Works as a one-off lesson or part of a broader storytelling unit
Engaging â Perfect for mixed-ability groups who need a break from the coursebook
Why students love it:
Itâs fun, surprising, and different
It gives them a real reason to speak
It connects English to their own ideas and creativity
Give your students a lesson theyâll rememberâand talk about long after the bell rings.
Includes video link, lesson procedures, discussion tasks, role play ideas, and a creative project.