In the first of a series of summer blogposts on the MaWSIG website, teachers Lucy Holmes and Sharlene Matharu describe how they identified and filled a gap in the market.
MaWSIG Pre-Conference Event, IATEFL 2018: Writing for the World
At IATEFL in Brighton this year, MaWSIG invited five speakers to talk at our Pre-Conference Event: Writing for the World. Read on for summaries of their talks by Damian Williams, Lizzie Pinard and Julie Moore.
Should ELT writers refuse to write for certain markets?
There is now a greater awareness of the need to write for specific groups of learners; this is the theme of the upcoming MaWSIG PCE in Brighton. However, Paul Davies explores here the ethical dilemma writers face when asked to compromise their principles by writing for certain markets. Towards the end of 2017, Anna Muzychuk, […]
Writing for learners with special educational needs
The MaWSIG PCE in Brighton features five talks on Writing for the World. Here, Romulo Neves introduces his talk on materials writing for learners with special educational needs. Writing for the ELT world is such a demanding task, especially if we take into account the diversity of pupils in any classroom and the numbers of […]
Can resources meet all learner needs?
The MaWSIG PCE, to be held on 9 April in Brighton, features five writers speaking on different aspects of Writing for the World. Here, Julie Day previews her talk on materials writing for ESOL classes. More information about the PCE is available here. The ideal of learner-centred teaching, where all resources and activities are relevant […]
Writing as a non-native English speaker in Brazil
In this post, Luiz Otávio Barros shares his experiences of writing ELT coursebooks as a NNES based in Brazil. This blog concludes Part I of our mini-series on writing ELT materials for different markets around the world. We will return with Part II in six months’ time, so if you would like to share your […]
Living and writing in Spain
Our series on writing ELT materials for different markets around the world now takes us to Spain, where Amanda McLoughlin shares her experiences. I came to Spain almost 20 years ago as a recently qualified and very naïve EFL teacher and settled in the cold and rainy north. Eventually, through knowing the right people (which […]
Writing ELT materials in Morocco
This blog post is the latest in our series of posts on ELT materials writing around the world. Here, ESP writer Moundir Al Amrani looks at the state of ELT materials writing in Morocco. After reading some of the other blog posts about writing ELT materials in different parts of the world, I started thinking […]
Germany 1:0 England – ELT Publishing in Deutschland
This post is the second in our series on working in ELT materials development around the world. Here, Clare Maas describes the situation in Germany. In Germany, there are just a couple of key local publishers (e.g. Cornelsen, Klett) who dominate the market alongside the international ones. There seems to be a fairly clear division of […]
ELT publishing: Can the UK learn from the Canadian example?
This is the first of a series of blog posts in which ELT materials writers around the world share their thoughts on writing in specific countries. Here, Tania Pattison describes her experiences writing for a major publisher in Canada. The MaWSIG blog has recently featured two posts that expressed concern about the state of ELT publishing […]
Making the most of distraction
Our last post of the year is by Nick Beare, who discusses the use of distractor activities to help with problem-solving in writing. Most of us feel that getting distracted when we work is not a good thing. A quick search on Google throws up dozens of articles on the problem of distraction. According to […]
Pronunciation in coursebooks
In this blog post, Jonathan Marks explores the writing of materials designed to teach pronunciation. Coursebooks are a powerful influence on teachers’ professional awareness and practice – even, perhaps, for a lot of teachers, the most powerful agent of teacher training. Faced with the day-to-day demands of their work, teachers understandably tend to rely on […]
And what about the research?
Our latest blog post is by Penny Ur, who discusses the need for materials writers to pay attention to research on language learning. I’ve just read Katherine Bilsborough’s blog entry ‘ELT materials writing: More on emerging principles’. I really enjoyed it and learned from it. If you haven’t read it yet, do so! I’d like […]
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
In this blog post, Jill Florent details her extensive experience of the evolution of ELT publishing – from process to product and working relationships.
If you want to write a gamebook … go to paragraph 400
When I was seven years old, I came across the most amazing thing. On the cover, it said, ‘A fighting fantasy gamebook in which YOU become the hero!’
In my day, things were different! An old buffer* writes …
Our latest blog post is by Ken Wilson, who shares his thoughts on how the ELT materials writing world has changed over the last few decades. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us.
Designing undergraduate course materials collaboratively
This is the latest of several previews of talks to be given at the upcoming ELTAM−MaWSIG conference in Skopje, Macedonia, on 30 September, 2017. Here, Mira Bekar introduces her talk.
Materials writing for social justice: Mary and Max (2009) in the EFL classroom
This is the latest in our series of previews of talks to be given at the upcoming ELTAM conference in Skopje, Macedonia, on 30 September, 2017. Here, Elena Ončevska Ager discusses film as an inspiration for materials writing. For more details about the event, click here. In this talk I will discuss the process of […]
Designing teaching materials to confront modern-day slavery
This is the next of several previews of talks to be given at the upcoming ELTAM−MaWSIG conference in Skopje, Macedonia, on 30 September, 2017. Here, Margarita Kosior and Despoina Sarantidou introduce their talk. For more details about the event, click here. According to the Global Slavery Index 2016 report, 45.8 million people are enslaved in […]
More than a bit of fun: creating engaging and useful video-based materials
This is the second of several previews of talks to be given at the upcoming ELTAM−MaWSIG conference in Skopje, Macedonia, on 30 September, 2017. Here, MaWSIG Coordinator Rachael Roberts introduces her talk. For more details about the event, click here. You’ve probably all heard of Generation X, Y and Z? But what about Generation V, […]
Shortcuts to effective materials writing
This is the first of several previews of talks to be given at the upcoming ELTAM−MaWSIG conference in Skopje, Macedonia, on 30 September, 2017. Here, MaWSIG Publications Coordinator James Styring talks to author John Hughes talks about his presentation. For more details about the event, click here. Like many teachers, John learned to write classroom […]
ELT materials writing: More on emerging principles
Here, Katherine Bilsborough offers new insights on a theme she first discussed on the MaWSIG blog last autumn – the topic of principles for materials writers. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Since writing a blog post called ‘Emerging principles […]
Schema raising through storytelling and anecdotes
Our latest blog post is by Chris Mares, who shares his experiences writing short stories for use in class. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Throughout my career I have always found there to be a dearth of short, engaging reading material that speaks […]
The trainee material writer’s perspective
In the previous blog post, MaWSIG interviewed Jane Spiro about training teachers on the Oxford Brookes MA module in materials development. In this follow-up post, we hear from two teachers who took the course. They talk about their experiences of learning to write materials with extracts from their final materials. Yolanda Hartshorne was an online […]
Training teachers to write materials on an MA TESOL
In this post, John Hughes meets Jane Spiro, a lecturer on the MA TESOL at Oxford Brookes University and TESOL programme leader until 2016. John interviews her about the new module in ELT Materials Development. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Writing materials […]
Upcoming webinar: How to publish your own materials − from writing to publishing to marketing
In this post, Nik Peachey introduces his upcoming webinar with MaWSIG. I had been thinking about writing a book for years. A few times I put together proposals for books and expectantly sent them off to publishers, only to be disappointed. Even more times I started to write my book and then just lost momentum […]
Optimising the author–editor relationship
This week’s blog post is the second in our series of posts based on talks given at the MaWSIG PCE in Glasgow. Here, Penny Hands shares the results of her research into the relationship between authors and editors. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like […]
How to be a lean, mean writing machine
The 2017 MaWSIG Pre-Conference Event was held in Glasgow on 3 April. This post, by Daniel Barber, is the first write-up of several talks given in the PCE. Here, Dan talks about the process of writing and describes his experience of working with a coach to increase his productivity. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts […]
MaWSIG Pre-Conference Event – summary on Sandy Millin’s blog page
Blog posts by the MaWSIG Pre-Conference Event speakers will be appearing on our site in May, but for those of you who weren’t able to attend the April 2017 PCE, this post by MaWSIG member Sandy Millin is a brilliant recap of the day’s talks.
The story of a reader: 16 years, 5 publishers, 1 book!
Our latest blog post is by Richard MacAndrew, who urges readers not to lose hope if a project takes a while to find a publisher. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Seventeen years ago I started writing graded readers. At the very […]
Writing for a specific sociocultural context
Rhiannon Sarah Ball describes her approach to writing materials for NGOs. At a time when ELT is dominated by learning technologies, solutions, outcomes and meta-tables, it’s easy to forget that sometimes education can’t be measured. Working with ELT in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is harder to quantify, but it is no less impactful. However, finding suitable materials […]
Writing Business English materials to promote gender equality
Following last week’s blog post on Writing to promote gender equality, we turn our attention this week specifically to writing Business English materials. Claire Hart shares her experiences working with Business English materials and outlines the shortcomings she found. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to […]
Writing to promote gender equality
This blog post is the first of two pieces on the topic of gender equality in materials writing. Here, Emily Hird discusses the need for awareness of gender issues in materials writing and gives some advice to writers. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write […]
Questions from the MaWSIG Meetup in Trier, Germany
Our latest blog post is a piece by Clare Maas, in which she describes the MaWSIG Meetup she hosted in Trier, Germany. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Please also contact us if you are interested in hosting a Meetup in your […]
How not to write … ‘really rotten materials’
This post is an abridged version of an article by Peter Viney. It first appeared in Modern English Teacher in July 2006 and was subsequently posted on Peter’s own website. It was a reply to an article in MET by Neil McBeath, ‘How to Write Really Rotten Materials’, in which Neil complained about the process […]
Meet the panelists
The online event on 18th February at 1600 GMT is a chance for you to ask a panel your materials development questions. You can add your questions here. Here are details of the four panelists: Vanessa Reis Esteves Vanessa Reis Esteves has been teaching EFL in Portugal for the past 20 years and has been involved […]
Online event in February
To find out more about the panelists and how to put your questions to them, click here.
The MaWSIG PCE, Glasgow, Monday 3rd April 2017
We’re pleased to announce the speakers and sessions for our pre-conference event in Glasgow in April. You can register for the PCE and conference here: http://conference.iatefl.org/my_conference.html Nuts and bolts: practical considerations for the ELT materials professional 10.00 Introduction and Opening Daniel Barber: How to become a lean, mean writing machine I wasn’t always such a staggeringly prolific […]
The MaWSIG eBook 2016 is coming soon to all members!
Members will be receiving a copy of our annual eBook compendium in the next few weeks. It brings together 2016’s guest blogs from this website in one smart volume. So you know what to expect, here’s an extract from the foreword to the book by James Styring, our Publications Coordinator. In 2016, the blog featured […]
3 April 2017: IATEFL Pre-Conference Event
We are excited to announce our line-up for the IATEFL Conference PCE on 3 April 2017: Nuts and bolts: practical considerations for the ELT materials professional. Writer and editor Penny Hands delves deep into the author−editor relationship. Chris Lonsdale, Reader in Procurement and Supply Management at Birmingham University Business School, spills the beans on negotiation […]
Year-end reflections … and a few resolutions to start the New Year
In this final post of 2016, Tania Pattison reflects on her year as a freelance ELT writer and editor and looks ahead to 2017. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. For those of us who are freelance ELT writers and […]
MaWSIG at BESIG on Storify
Whether you missed the MaWSIG strand at BESIG Munich conference, or you want to relive every moment once again, MaWSIG’s events co-ordinator Rachel Daw has compiled every tweet here for you to enjoy: https://storify.com/racheldaw18/mawsig-at-besig-4th-6th-november-2016
Writing teacher resource materials
In preparation for the MaWSIG strand of talks at the next BESIG conference (click here for full details and registration), we’ve invited each of the speakers to give us a preview of their session. These previews will be appearing here until the Conference. John Hughes is speaking at the BESIG Munich conference on Saturday 5 November at 10.45. The […]
How to get started making awesome YouTube videos for your students
In preparation for the MaWSIG strand of talks at the next BESIG conference (click here for full details and registration), we’ve invited each of the speakers to give us a preview of their session. These previews will be appearing here until the Conference. Christina Rebuffet-Broadus is speaking at the BESIG Munich conference on Sunday 6th at 9.30. YouTube is […]
Practical writing tips for veterans and novices
In preparation for the MaWSIG strand of talks at the next BESIG conference (click here for full details and registration), we’ve invited each of the speakers to give us a preview of their session. These previews will be appearing here over the next three weeks. Mandy Welfare and Dale Coulter are speaking on Sunday, 6th November at 10.45am. […]
How to write like a lawyer or a marketer
In preparation for the MaWSIG strand of talks at the next BESIG conference (click here for full details and registration), we’ve invited each of the speakers to give us a preview of their session. These previews will be appearing here over the next three weeks. Jeremy Day is speaking on Saturday November 5th at 3.15pm. My talk at this […]
Emerging principles for ELT materials writers
In this post, Katherine Bilsborough discusses the need for principles in materials writing and outlines some of her own principles and those of others. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Put your hand up if you write ELT materials, either […]
A massively different way of writing: making a MOOC
This post is by Genevieve White, who describes her experience writing a Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC, for the British Council. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Since setting out as an ELT materials writer, I’ve worked on a […]
Writing for a regional market
In this post, Canada-based writer Tania Pattison describes her experiences writing an EAP coursebook for a specific regional market. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Three years ago I received the welcome news that a coursebook I had proposed to […]
The learners that publishers forgot
This month Kathryn Aldridge-Morris outlines the specific language-learning needs of refugees and asylum seekers. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. Around June, online ESOL forums start buzzing with requests for advice about teaching materials for September, and the same frustrations […]
New Journal
MaWSIG is planning to publish an annual peer-reviewed academic journal entitled ELT Materials Review. The journal will seek to publish fair, well-researched, pedagogically informed reviews of English Language Teaching materials and empirical or theoretical articles on the development and implementation of educational materials. We are looking for volunteers to join an Advisory Board of teachers […]
Where to start writing ELT materials
In this post, Moundir Al Amrani, a writer from Morocco and OUP/MaWSIG scholarship winner, shares his thoughts about getting started in materials writing. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. As a novice ELT materials writer who has experienced confusion about […]
An authoring tool wishlist
This month’s post is by Phil Bird, who imagines the perfect authoring tool for digital content. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us. An authoring tool wishlist It takes a skilful writer to produce great digital content (to find out more […]
Gaga’s grandma and garden clippings – or choosing themes for teens
This month Fiona Mauchline looks at writing for teenagers and the topics they prefer. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us.
The voice of the teacher’s notes
This month we’re pleased to publish a second guest post from John Hughes, who looks at ways to help teachers to use your materials. The MaWSIG blog features guest posts by members – please get in touch if you would like to write for us.
MaWSIG at BESIG, November 2016
This year’s BESIG Conference in Munich, Germany, will include a MaWSIG thread. Thank you for all the proposals we have received.
