Master the new school year: Tips for success in a new classroom

New Year, New Start: Essential Classroom Practices for ESL-Focused Primary Teaching is a fast-paced, practical professional development workshop designed for teachers working in Hong Kong’s busy primary classrooms. Perfect for teachers with TESOL, CELTA, ESL, or general teacher-training backgrounds, this CPD session equips you with classroom systems, language routines, and behaviour structures that make the first weeks of school smoother and more successful. Learn how to support ESL and EAL learners from day one using simple, low-prep tools, mixed-ability strategies, and resource-light hacks that boost learning without increasing your workload.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify key first-week priorities that set ESL learners up for success in primary classrooms.
• Describe effective routines and behaviour systems suitable for large, mixed-ability groups.
• Apply practical language-support tools (e.g., word walls, sentence frames) from day one.
• Develop differentiated activity structures that support a range of ESL proficiency levels without increasing workload.
• Evaluate low-cost, high-impact strategies for managing limited resources while maintaining strong instructional quality.

Attendees will also receive a certificate of attendance which includes the number of teaching hours.

For the best experience, attendees should have:

• a computer or ipad style device (a phone will also work)

• stable internet access

• a headset with microphone

• a webcam

Trainer: Kevin Clare

Since 2009, Kevin has been involved in teaching English in a range of different settings, teaching adults, teenagers and notably young learners in Australia, Daqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. He has worked in language centres as a Director of Studies and in various roles in international schools. At English for Asia, Kevin directs courses and conducts online training for teachers in Hong Kong and around the world.