Sara Davila

Language acquisition is not a linear process and each level of the CEFR covers a wide selection of language skills. When an institution uses the CEFR to create a program to meet the needs of the largest number of students possible, or the average student, it can be very easy to spend a lot of time focusing on the same skills over and over again. In this scenario, students below or above average often suffer, either not progressing in their language skill, or being denied new progress because of… Show more

Language acquisition is not a linear process and each level of the CEFR covers a wide selection of language skills. When an institution uses the CEFR to create a program to meet the needs of the largest number of students possible, or the average student, it can be very easy to spend a lot of time focusing on the same skills over and over again. In this scenario, students below or above average often suffer, either not progressing in their language skill, or being denied new progress because of a focus on repetition. Show less

What does the future look like and what does it mean for English language learning? As more emphasis is being placed on language development as a key factor of future success, it's important for language educators to consider: What do we need to know today to prepare our students for the needs of tomorrow?

A review of the process of using the Global Scale of English and CEFR research calibration to audit an existing language program and develop a new language program.

Imagine you are watching or teaching a class and you notice that one student in the group has clearly become disengaged. Perhaps they are playing with a pencil, or staring off into space. In any case, you notice that they’re not focused on the content and activities you’ve worked so hard to make useful, engaging, and interesting. What is the problem and where have things gone wrong?

An introduction to the application of the Differentiated Instruction Framework for language teaching.

Learning objectives should instead provide guidance to teachers when constructing a curriculum and allow them to see the overall plan of how and when learning will take place, with clear goals.

What does it mean to be a teacher today? When we, as educators, are asked to demonstrate our learners’ successes through quantifiable means such as assessments, outcomes, curriculum, course book completion and objectives, it can be a difficult question to answer.

A deeper examination of scaffolding in the primary classroom, with an review of how to design lesson plans that build in support to achieve the objective utilizing resources and materials used in day to day teaching.

In introduction to scaffolding and how scaffolding can provide classroom support to primary learners.

I want to get my language students to the next level, but I have limited time to make progress and don't know where to start. Everything is either to easy or to difficult, so what do I do? In this practical article we explore how to gauge learner ability and use this information with research informed tools to target the zone of proximal development: the learning sweet spot.

Many learners and employers value English skills for career placement and growth. What language skills do you need to get and maintain a job? How can you grow your language skills to reach the next stage in a chosen career? The Global Scale of English Job Profile helps educators and learners gain insight into the language related to over 250 different career paths.

When planning your English language curriculum, what rules the complexity of your program: your intuition about what learners need or scientific measures of what students need? It seems like a trick question, yet there is still room for improvement in the application of rigor to the development of English language learning programs. In this article, we explore how to use research driven information to audit, validate and improve language learning programs.

What is the zone of proximal development and how can we target teaching to take advantage of the zone using resources like the CEFR and the GSE?

What is scaffolding and how does it work in an English language lesson. In this in-depth article we explore how to assess the use of scaffolding in your lesson plans and how to go further using tools like the Global Scale of English to validate and improve upon scaffolding offered in class.

There are a number of practical applications for the Global Scale of English and none more valuable to schools than using the GSE as a way to improve course performance through auditing of learning outcomes. In this article we discuss the practical applications and review a model of a school in profile using the GSE as an auditing tool.

What do you do when your learners are college ready, but still not college ready? For teachers with students whose English is deemed good enough for entrance to the university but are still asked to do a semester of remedial English to prepare for class is a real challenge. The reality for learners is that what is required to achieve success in University studies requires much more then improving reading skills or refining grammar. What can a teacher do to streamline a class for university… Show more

What do you do when your learners are college ready, but still not college ready? For teachers with students whose English is deemed good enough for entrance to the university but are still asked to do a semester of remedial English to prepare for class is a real challenge. The reality for learners is that what is required to achieve success in University studies requires much more then improving reading skills or refining grammar. What can a teacher do to streamline a class for university success? In this informative article teachers will get insight into planning and classroom content with an appropriate challenge that will ensure students are college ready in a short amount of time. Show less

Having a solid understanding of the level of ability of learners to perform with specific skills can help me target my teaching to utilize learner strengths to help build skills where learners are weak. This is where tools like the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the Global Scale of English (GSE) become extremely useful. In this article I explore how to leverage internationally validated descriptors to create content relevant and appropriate for learners.

Do you feel like your learners are constantly in the same place, learning the same things over and over again? You may not be wrong. In this article I explore practical applications for assessing your content and determining if that content provides an appropriate challenge to help your learners stretch their skills and move forward to the next level in language learning proficiency.

What happens when your EAP students are highly advanced communicators? Is there still a difference in learning needs when a learner reaches a B2 level of mastery? Is the content for a B2 level student the same as the content required at a C1 level? As the modern learner begins to demonstrate proficiency beyond B2, it's time to take a serious look at the difference in learning needs for the the advanced and highly advanced EAP course.

As language teachers, it's time we get to better clarity and accuracy when it comes to describing learner performance. If you haven't started to use tools like the CEFR and Global Scale of English, you will find some good reasons for considering a change in how you talk about your learners and their level of abilities in English in this feature article for the Language Magazine.

One of the greatest challenges in language teaching continues to be communicating student performance. Given that the name of the language teaching game is communication, this is perhaps the biggest irony. While the underlining pedagogy of language teaching has changed radically in the last 30 years, many teachers still describe their students in terms of “beginner” “intermediate” or “advanced.” These general catchall terms only occasionally function as indicators of performance, largely due to… Show more

One of the greatest challenges in language teaching continues to be communicating student performance. Given that the name of the language teaching game is communication, this is perhaps the biggest irony. While the underlining pedagogy of language teaching has changed radically in the last 30 years, many teachers still describe their students in terms of “beginner” “intermediate” or “advanced.” These general catchall terms only occasionally function as indicators of performance, largely due to interpretation. So, what can we do to address this problem? This article explore ways to improve our ability to describe and understand our learners and their learning needs. Show less

How granular insight into learning can improve the quality of instruction and adjust learner progress for continued success in academic English programs.

An overview of 21st Century Skills, The Global Scale of English and FLIPped Learning.

What are the 21st Century skills and why should English language teachers be ready to work with them?

What is the overall value to an organization of providing language acquisition programs? Initial findings indicate that learning a second language improves employee engagement, commitment, and retention in an organization. This paper explores the impact of employer provided language learning services on the employee.

Understanding the impact of financial benefits as an incentive that supports talent retention and recruitment.

An examination of how leave and leave policies can be among the best tools for maintaining and recruiting key talent.

Designed to enable action as well as deeper knowledge of the significance of the D&I function, the report identifies best practices that distinguish the leading organizations from the rest and directly connect an inclusive workforce with improved organizational performance. The report includes sections that give a detailed explanation of the program’s purpose, development and framework, as well as access to the 2015 DVI application and the rubric judges use to score participating organizations.

The 2014 LearningElite Best Practices and Benchmarking report contains the background of the LearningElite program, the selection process and a synthesis of the elite practices contained within five dimensions: learning strategy, leadership commitment, learning execution, learning impact and business performance results. A valuable reference both for LearningElite organizations and those that wish to benchmark with the LearningElite, this report provides an inside look at the world’s top L&D… Show more

The 2014 LearningElite Best Practices and Benchmarking report contains the background of the LearningElite program, the selection process and a synthesis of the elite practices contained within five dimensions: learning strategy, leadership commitment, learning execution, learning impact and business performance results. A valuable reference both for LearningElite organizations and those that wish to benchmark with the LearningElite, this report provides an inside look at the world’s top L&D organizations, as well as rigorous analysis of the L&D value chain and its link to successful business results. Show less

What are the benefits of cloud based services and SaaS for modern HR?

In response to epic levels of employee disengagement, how can organizations leverage health and wellness for a healthier, more productive, workforce? This white paper exams employee perception of health and wellness programs, reporting on the significant gains for companies that take advantage of opportunities to provide more avenues for healthy decisions.

Are cloud-based services ready for the scope and scale needs of workforce management?

In the 2014 Workforce Talent and Workforce Management Outlook survey, Human Capital Media Advisory Group, the research arm of Workforce magazine, in partnership with Cornerstone OnDemand set out to discover where HR leaders are seeing their greatest successes and feeling the greatest pain. Additionally, we explored how HR leaders are setting priorities for the coming years. While there are surveys that address how the needs of HR vary, many focus on the difference between small and large… Show more

In the 2014 Workforce Talent and Workforce Management Outlook survey, Human Capital Media Advisory Group, the research arm of Workforce magazine, in partnership with Cornerstone OnDemand set out to discover where HR leaders are seeing their greatest successes and feeling the greatest pain. Additionally, we explored how HR leaders are setting priorities for the coming years. While there are surveys that address how the needs of HR vary, many focus on the difference between small and large organizations with the assumption that midsized organizations are similar enough to large organizations not to require extra focus. To get a different perspective, we looked specifically at how the HR function in midsized organizations compares to their much larger counterparts. Are they as similar as is popularly believed? Show less

Can improved methods of talent screening improve the success rate of leadership?

A collection of teacher's resource manuals for the InFocus course. "​In Focus is a three-level series for adult and young adult learners. It draws upon unique corpus research to provide a lexical syllabus comprising the most important words for learners of English. In Focus is designed to build vocabulary, reading, critical thinking, and discussion skills."

Organizations that offer a variety of benefits options for their employees to choose from can gain a distinct competitive advantage. Offering benefits is the first step in providing employees with quality health care that can distinguish an organization as a top employer. EyeMed, surveyed 552 business leaders to better understand the benefits of offering multiple benefits options to employees. This survey revealed that while a majority of organizations recognize the value of choice in medical… Show more

Organizations that offer a variety of benefits options for their employees to choose from can gain a distinct competitive advantage. Offering benefits is the first step in providing employees with quality health care that can distinguish an organization as a top employer. EyeMed, surveyed 552 business leaders to better understand the benefits of offering multiple benefits options to employees. This survey revealed that while a majority of organizations recognize the value of choice in medical care benefits, there is still room for improvement in organizations offering a variety of ancillary benefit options. Show less

Yesterday's ATS systems no longer provide all the services recruiters need. How are systems evolving to meet the challenges of today's HR needs?

How do RPOs move organizations from reactive to proactive hiring strategies?

An examination on the impact of mobile technology for improved talent management, including engaging, evaluating, and retaining a high quality workforce.

During the last two years we have seen how knowledge management and leadership development via learning are being incorporated more frequently as strategies to increase organizational agility. Additionally, learning organizations that act as strategic enablers for the business are more focused on connecting people to people and content through knowledge management and social technology. Saba Software partnered with Human Capital Media (HCM) Advisory Group to better understand how business is… Show more

During the last two years we have seen how knowledge management and leadership development via learning are being incorporated more frequently as strategies to increase organizational agility. Additionally, learning organizations that act as strategic enablers for the business are more focused on connecting people to people and content through knowledge management and social technology. Saba Software partnered with Human Capital Media (HCM) Advisory Group to better understand how business is taking advantage of social learning. In the 2013 survey, HCM examined how organizations are approaching social learning, which methods have proven to be successful and where challenges are experienced. Show less

For the last three years WorkForce Software LLC, in conjunction with Workforce magazine, has endeavored to understand how the role of workforce management is changing and evolving. This year’s study both builds upon and branches out from the findings of these prior surveys. The survey questions explored three specific areas of workforce management:
• Labor compliance, with special emphasis on absence and leave management.
• Workforce management automation priorities and adoption… Show more

For the last three years WorkForce Software LLC, in conjunction with Workforce magazine, has endeavored to understand how the role of workforce management is changing and evolving. This year’s study both builds upon and branches out from the findings of these prior surveys. The survey questions explored three specific areas of workforce management:
• Labor compliance, with special emphasis on absence and leave management.
• Workforce management automation priorities and adoption trends.
• Employee fatigue management with a focus on costs and mitigation strategies. Show less

The 2013 Diversity Value Index Report delivers valuable, actionable intelligence your organization can use to set strategy, evaluate investments in diversity and inclusion and garner enterprise-wide support from stakeholders.

In addition to a detailed description of the DVI Framework and DVI Action Core — the key components used to examine an organization’s diversity — the report highlights best practices of participating organizations, including insights on why these practices are… Show more

The 2013 Diversity Value Index Report delivers valuable, actionable intelligence your organization can use to set strategy, evaluate investments in diversity and inclusion and garner enterprise-wide support from stakeholders.

In addition to a detailed description of the DVI Framework and DVI Action Core — the key components used to examine an organization’s diversity — the report highlights best practices of participating organizations, including insights on why these practices are adding rigor to the diversity and inclusion industry and improving organizational value. It also outlines the implications of continuing improvement in understanding the value of diversity, specifically moving beyond demographic statistics toward determining the locus of value for an organization and how to use its diversity to produce that value. Show less

This annual report contains the background of the LearningElite program, the selection process and a synthesis of the elite practices contained within five dimensions: learning strategy, leadership commitment, learning execution, learning impact and business performance results. This report also makes note of common practices across the LearningElite organizations and specifically cites some of the noteworthy, unique practices in each dimension.

An examination of how employers and employees are approaching the expanding reach of Health and Wellness programs and offerings. What do employers offer? What do employees want? How will the industry change with improved incentives available from the ACA? The Business of Healthy Employees exams this and more.

Guest columnist giving advice to EFL classroom teachers on behavior management.

The Teacher's Resources Books (TRB) are designed as an inquiry based accompaniment to the Efuture PYP readers series. Each TRB contains over 70 activities designed to help learners explore, reflect, and apply information based on the Efuture PYP reading adventures series.

EnglishCentral: Practical is a blended learning solution coursebook designed to engage learners in language development and conversation with the use of entertaining authentic videos.

Each book takes thirty-six of EnglishCentral’s engaging and authentic English videos and brings them into the modern language classroom using an approach that is communicative and effective. For each of the course book’s twelve units, there are three high-interest videos providing practical language input.… Show more

EnglishCentral: Practical is a blended learning solution coursebook designed to engage learners in language development and conversation with the use of entertaining authentic videos.

Each book takes thirty-six of EnglishCentral’s engaging and authentic English videos and brings them into the modern language classroom using an approach that is communicative and effective. For each of the course book’s twelve units, there are three high-interest videos providing practical language input. Pre-watching, watching, and post-watching activities help learners comprehend and use the videos’ English and concepts. Humanistic task-based learning develops learners’ four skills. Vocabulary games, cultural notes, practical-usage tips, and reading activities complete each unit making the EnglishCentral series an exciting choice for ESL conversation or integrated-skills classrooms at the middle years to post-secondary levels. Show less

Writing as a guest columnist to address a question from teachers about the new Korean National English Ability Test guidelines.

A comprehensive overview of the curriculum frameworks, benchmarks, and standards for new Guest English Teachers completing teaching appointments throughout the country.

Forcing specific objectives on students who are not ready, is counterproductive. Instead, the day-to-day decisions in the classroom should be informed by observation and tailored through responsive teaching, creating optimum conditions for success.

In most classrooms learners have varied different skills and abilities. In the language classroom, mixed-ability teaching can leave some students behind, others frustrated, and the average student underwhelmed with their learning. How can we develop language skills while teaching and planning lessons that create progress for all?