Purpose
The English Farm produces courses. There are two reasons to make a course ourselves rather than buy a textbook from another publisher.
- There is no course like it.
- For example, the Orientation Course or Speaking Test Strategies are wholly unique.
- We can also reach a specific audience, like with the Business English for consultants.
- It's far superior to what's offered.
- For example, Business Idioms is not the only such course. But it is better for our teachers and students.
- It is the right length for on-on-one lessons.
- It uses multimedia: pictures and videos.
- The teacher's notes give the right information at the right point.
- For example, Business Idioms is not the only such course. But it is better for our teachers and students.
Audience
Students at The English Farm learn online. Having their course online is easier and quicker, and cheaper than buying a textbook. It's also far superior for the reasons mentioned above.
Teachers rely on teacher's notes to supply answers, examples, tips and extra resources.
Course types
There are broadly two types of courses.
- Sequential
- Such courses should be done from start to finish. Lessons build on previous points.
- For example, Speaking Test Strategies is sequential. Lesson 4 makes more sense when you've finished lesson 3.
- When creating a course with sequential lessons, the key is to clearly define the scope of the needs and skills the course meets.
- Such courses should be done from start to finish. Lessons build on previous points.
- Modular
- These courses have modular lessons that can be cherry-picked.
- For example, Transitions is modular.
- When creating a course with modular lessons, the key is to create a perfect, replicable lesson.
- These courses have modular lessons that can be cherry-picked.
Creating lessons
An existing course may need another section. Or a section may need to be revised.
Revision is especially necessary for sequential style courses.
Courses with modular lessons can have more lessons added relatively easily.
Creating courses
If you see an unmet student need, pitch that course to meet that need.
For example, one teacher noticed that there is no course anywhere for transitional phrases. So this teacher pitched the course idea and produced it. Now Transitions is one of the most popular courses on offer.
To pitch a course, write a very short outline. Include the purpose and the target audience. Send it to the Content and Curriculum head.