Gerhard Erasmus

73 POSTS
Gerhard Erasmus started blogging for Pavilion ELT in December 2019. He moved over to blog for the new look Modern English Teacher in January 2022 where he will continue to write about teaching and management issues, ways to teach pronunciation and other teaching/teacher training techniques. Gerhard has been involved in ELT management since 2006 as senior teacher, academic manager, and director of studies. He is currently based in Taiwan where he is Director of Studies and Course Director at a language school and teacher training centre. He is also a Trinity Certificate TESOL, TYLEC, and Trinity Diploma TESOL tutor. Alongside all of this, Gerhard is Coordinator of IATEFL LAMSIG (Leadership and Management Special Interest Group) and draws lots of his inspiration from the connections he has built with managers and leaders in ELT from across the globe. His management interests involve learning and development of managers, specifically those starting their careers as teachers, and it is also the focus of his current Educational Doctorate studies.

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Digital marketing and language schools

Marketing is key for brand awareness and attracting customers, and the growth of social media and the internet has increased the need for successful organisations to engage with digital marketing. But how can language schools, of any size, get started? In this blog, Gerhard Erasmus provides an introduction to digital marketing for language schools.

Practice makes perfect only if you do it right

We often hear the words controlled and freer practice in lesson planning. The second P in PPP is practice. So how can we make sure we get the most out of practice in lessons? Gerhard considers what we should practice and suggests some activities.

Pronunciation and writing lessons

Pronunciation is often overlooked in lessons, and some teachers even avoid teaching it if they don’t have enough support or know how. As a tutor, Gerhard is often asked how to incorporate pronunciation in writing lessons without it feeling shoehorned in. Here’s how he responds.

Dealing with regrets

The end of the year is always a time to look back and reflect. Much of it will always be positive, but inevitably there may also be regrets. Whether personal or professional, regrets can cause lots of negative emotions and hold us back from reaching our full potential. So, how can we deal with regret better?

Having difficult conversations

It is almost inevitable that as a trainer or manager, at some point you will have to have a difficult conversation with a trainee or a teacher, or even a student! This post looks at how to approach difficult conversations and get the most out of them.

I don’t know how to teach pronunciation!

Starting off just after an initial qualification is exciting, and the thrill of being in the classroom is a great experience. For many teachers, the new insight into grammar and vocabulary continues to grow, but even for Diploma candidates, pronunciation often remains a challenge.

Managing expectations

An important measure of success is how our success is perceived and how we decide to measure success. In his first blog post of 2021, Gerhard Erasmus looks at how to manage expectations, including the expectations of customers, students, teachers, and ourselves.

Going solo: planning, making decisions and looking after the finances

Having taught for a few years, it might be exciting to consider the freedom of going solo, working on your own and for yourself. This blog looks at how to make the decision, why you might become self-employed, what planning might be needed, and how to ensure your finances work.

Transitioning from teacher to manager – A transition model

In a variety of educational contexts, teachers transition from teacher to administrator or manager. In this blog, Gerhard looks at a model that explains some of the stages teachers go through when they transition from teacher to manager.

Flexible planning for businesses: Learning from lesson planning

Flexibility and the ability to respond to student needs are essential qualities of the experienced teacher. In this blogpost, Gerhard Erasmus asserts that they’re just as essential in business and strategic planning.

Critical Incident Technique – Resolving workplace problems and reinventing yourself

In times of change or crisis, we should look at the future and how it needs to look to avoid crises or better deal with them. The Critical Incident Technique can identify workplace problems, plot a way forward to prepare individuals and organisations better whilst creating reflective practices.

The customer journey – How they experience your organisation

When customers purchase a course, their exposure to your organisation isn’t limited to their classroom experience. Everything from your marketing to the course’s follow up influences the customer’s experience so understanding these journeys is vital.

New beginnings and a new school year

With the new semester and new school year starting, it offers us the opportunity to have a new take on New Year’s resolutions. Here are my twelve. Simply because there are twelve months in a year. It’s another shot at trying to make those resolutions work.

Crisis management: in the middle of Coronavirus

With conferences being cancelled, schools stopping classes, and some industries struggling under the burdens of safety measures to stop the spread of Coronavirus, crisis management (CM) and having a principled and developmental CM plan becomes vital.

Technology and your team – Choices, choices, choices

The current shift to online classes has brought with it a steep learning curve for many teachers, but could it bring about changes for the better? Gerhard Erasmus offers a framework of analysis for the uptake of technology in the classroom and schools.
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