Ara CELTA

Do you pre-teach vocabulary before a reading or listening text in an English class? This seems like a really obvious thing to do, but it can be very problematic! This video from Jo Gakonga will tell you why - and give you some alternatives!

Tips for CELTA TP - Don't pre-teach vocabulary | ELT-Training | Jo Gakonga A short video about why pre-teaching vocabulary can be problematic and giving you some alternatives!

Southern Cross University is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified ELICOS teachers for our General English and EAP programs at their Gold Coast campus. Face-to-face relief/casual work is available in some programs from August 2026. Please send CV, cover letter and evidence of recent professional development to Zoe Hancock ([email protected]).
https://www.scu.edu.au/.../pro.../english-language-programs/

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Did you know that ELT writer Scott Thornbury has a blog full of ideas, knowledge and tips? Well wroth a browse!

An A-Z of ELT Scott Thornbury's blog

We highly recommend browsing W***y A. Renandya's website - a language teacher educator at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, his site is full of interesting and informative professional learning:

ELT Links – W***y's ELT Corner The links below are among the most useful sites that I have used in my work as a teacher and academic. If you know of any other useful ELT websites, please let me know. I will be more than happy to include them here. Click on the bolded text to access the sites. Choosing a viable topic W***y’s pub...

Great advice here about monitoring during class activities:

Applications are now open for the Kathryn Fraser Scholarship - details below:

SCHOLARSHIP NOW OPEN! 🌟
The Kathryn Fraser Scholarship is now accepting applications.

Kathryn was a much‑loved Ara colleague who made a huge impact on our community. This scholarship has been created to honour her legacy by supporting learners and helping remove barriers to accessing tertiary education.

Visit our website to see if you’re eligible and find out how to apply.
https://www.ara.ac.nz/student-services/supporting-your-study/scholarships/kathryn-fraser-scholarship/

OneStopEnglish, a resource site from Macmillan Education, is closing down in June this year - until then, all its lesson material is available for free to download, including professional development and online teaching material. Check it all out here:

Home | Onestopenglish For a quarter of a century, onestopenglish has been one of the world’s leading resource sites for English language teachers, providing access to countless lesson plans, worksheets, audio, video and classroom materials and supporting millions of teachers worldwide. As teaching and technology contin...

Happy Lunar New Year everyone!!

Happy Lunar New Year! As we gallop into the Year of the Horse, Ara wishes our diverse community strength, freedom, and forward momentum in 2026.

May this year bring energy and success to all our learners and partners. 新年快乐! 🐴🧧✨

Preparing students for LANGUAGECERT Academic?
This live session is designed to support educators and education professionals in confidently guiding learners preparing for LANGUAGECERT Academic.

📅 Date: Wednesday, 25 February 2026
⏰ Time: 03:00 PM – 04:00 PM (AEDT)
🎤 Speaker: Dr Patrick Pheasant
📍 Format: Live Online

Led by the LANGUAGECERT team, this session will provide an overview of the LANGUAGECERT Academic assessment, covering test structure, key features, preparation considerations, and its recognition for university admissions and global education pathways.

What you’ll gain from the session:

• A clear overview of the LANGUAGECERT Academic test structure and assessment approach
• Practical strategies to support effective learner preparation
• Insight into how LANGUAGECERT Academic supports international study pathways
• Direct guidance and expert perspectives on academic English assessment

👉 Register here:

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Preparing for LANGUAGECERT Academic​. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Looking to equip your students for success in higher education? Join our upcoming interactive webinar and get to know LANGUAGECERT Academic – the comprehensive English language test designed specifically for university admissions. LANGUAGECERT Academic is a multi-level, four-skill English test tru...