The challenges of today´s school are demanding for nowadays teachers. School competes on several levels with the internet, digital apps and other sharing systems of communication and knowledge.
Debate, Engage and Think Critically
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Course Summary
Over the span of one immersive week in Portugal, this course offers a blend of theoretical insights and hands-on workshops designed to integrate 21st century skills into your English classroom. Through interactive sessions, practical activities, and engaging debates, you will explore innovative teaching methods that enhance your students’ abilities to articulate arguments, think critically, and collaborate effectively. This is a unique opportunity to network with fellow educators, exchange best practices, and leave with ready-to-implement strategies to enrich your teaching.
Pricing
Costs can be supported with a Key Action grant under the Erasmus+ Program. Our pricing policy follows the official regulations on transparent costs.
Course fee: 580 euros per participant (6-day course).
What is Included?
- Welcome Kit - from Learning Together's Team;
- Quality Daily Program - designed by our innovative trainers;
- Welcome Session - for icebreaking and briefing, while enjoying Portuguese delicacies;
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Social and Cultural Heritage Activities - to foster cultural knowledge;
- Hop On & Hop Off Tour Bus;
- 6 Bridges River Cruise;
- Visit to the Port Wine Cellars & Wine Tasting Experience.
- Daily Coffee Break - to enjoy a morning break between peers & trainer;
- Logistic, Organizational & Administrative Support - from headquarters & LT Team;
- Full Daily Assistance - on-call+chat support throughout the whole week;
- Certification Ceremony - course validation, networking and farewell.
Course Goals
- Introduce and explore the six key 21st century skills: communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, citizenship, and growth mindset.
- Equip you with practical debate techniques and a solid understanding of constructing a well-structured argument.
- Empower you to implement engaging, skill-enhancing activities in your classroom that foster a vibrant, interactive learning environment.
- Facilitate networking and professional growth through collaborative workshops and peer-to-peer discussions.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explore new debate formats and activities that keep students engaged.
- Fine-tune your approach to teaching argument structure and persuasive speaking.
- Try out collaborative games that make classroom discussions more dynamic.
- Pick up strategies for managing debates, from structuring discussions to handling dominant voices.
- Get practical judging techniques to ensure fair and constructive feedback.
- Exchange ideas with fellow teachers and compare what works in different classrooms.
- Foster a growth mindset in students through engaging classroom practices.
- Implement quick debates to encourage spontaneous thinking and clarity.
- Inspire students to become confident communicators and critical thinkers.
- Build a network of like-minded educators to share ideas and strategies and gain fresh perspectives.
- Leave with a fresh bank of ready-to-use materials that you can apply right away.
Daily Program
- Welcome Session: Enjoy a group dinner, icebreaking activities, and meet &
greet with fellow participants and staff, setting the stage for a collaborative
week.
- Common sense or 21st century skills? We’ll explore how teaching English as a
second language already naturally overlaps with the ‘modern’ 21st century
skills. - The 21st century skills (collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, citizenship,
and growth mindset) further explored. - Workshop on competitive debates + experience of the trainer doing these
workshops on different levels and with different age groups.
- Practical activities and games designed to boost creativity and teamwork in
the classroom. - Rapid-fire debates to build spontaneity and quick-thinking skills.
- Discussion and exploration: Should we allow the use of AI / ChatGPT for
brainstorming?
- Activities to improve listening, communication, and critical thinking skills to use
in your classroom. - The structure of a strong argument.
- Work on preparing the final debate, integrating all the skills learned so far
- Explore methods for fairly judging debates together with your pupils /
colleagues. - The finals – teachers debate in teams.
- Learn strategies for organizing debate competitions in your own school
environment. - Discussion and course evaluation
- Learning validation
- Certification Ceremony
Note
The daily schedule/ program describes likely activities but may differ based on the trainer's discretion and objectives.
Classes are scheduled for either the morning or afternoon, based on the provider's preference.
If there's a particular topic you wish to cover, please mention it no later than 1 month in advance.
Get the Complete PDF Program HERE.
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OUR GALLERY
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Target AudienceThis course is designed for English teachers who work with pupils aged 15 and above and are eager to challenge and inspire their students through debate and critical thinking. To fully benefit from the course, participants should have a C1-level proficiency or be native English speakers. This ensures an immersive experience where teachers can engage in high-level discussions, refine their own language skills, and break free from the “dustiness” that comes with speaking simplified English every day. If you’re looking for a week of stimulating conversations and professional growth, this course is for you!
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CertificationParticipants who attend at least 80% of the course will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
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Additional InfoPlease note that the course may have participants from various school levels and English proficiency. You also may be required to bring your laptop.
Course Language: English
Equipment Required: Laptop -
2-Weeks CoursePair a confirmed date of this course with another confirmed course to effortlessly design a 2-week training (and enjoy a discount)! Contact us for more information.
The Trainer
Mathanja is a Dutch English teacher living in the Czech Republic with her family. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with children, adults, companies, primary school teachers, and fellow English teachers.
She runs workshops on 21st-century skills and competitive debating, combining her teaching expertise with real-life experience. She understands the challenges that
English teachers face—not only the need to keep their language skills sharp but also the high expectations placed on them by schools. She values the knowledge and
experience teachers bring to the classroom and believes in supporting them with practical, engaging materials.
Passionate about keeping both students and teachers inspired, Mathanja continuously develops new teaching resources. In August, she will be leading workshops for Oxford University Press in Prague and Brno, sharing innovative ideas with educators. Before that, she will be in beautiful Portugal to teach fellow teachers—a special opportunity for participants to engage in this unique course.
Her mission is simple: to inspire, to sparkle, and to initiate change.
What Do Our Course Status Mean?
What Do Our Course Status Mean?Always contact us first, before booking any flights or accommodation.
Confirmed
This session/date is affirmed and will be held.
Planned
This session is a planned date and is open to enrollments.
