Bruno Zalubil’s Guide to Crafting Dramatic Scenes
What inspired your presentation topic, and why do you think it's important for English language teachers today?
My topic is about the use of writing in teaching English. For me, writing is like slow conversation: it forces you to think about what you are communicating, and, importantly, the words and sentences and grammar are laid out on a piece of paper. You can work with them. Change them. Play with them. Speaking sends the words out into the air where they quickly evaporate; writing leaves marks for you to consider anew.
Can you share a key takeaway from your session that teachers can immediately apply in their classrooms?
I have a writing lesson that I have done many times. It quickly overcomes the initial skepticism that students have to writing lessons and always results in scenes that are humorous and interesting. It is like a recipe: Develop some characters. Add a pinch of time and place. Mix in some conflict. Warm things up with a little bit of plot. Then simmer with a few minutes of dialogue. When it is all done, read or act it out.
What are some common misconceptions about your area of expertise in ELT, and how do you address them?
Writing can be fun. It is not boring or painful. It often creates more work for the teachers, given that they have to read and critique the essays, but even that burden can be minimized with various different lesson designs.
How do you see AI shaping the future of English language teaching and learning?
This is an existential question for many parts of educational and professional life. I see it through a comparison: in the same way that you cannot skip basic arithmetic, jump to a calculator, and be able to understand calculus, engineering, and high-level science, you cannot skip word and sentence structure, jump to Chat GPT, and effectively use your own voice and creativity (or appreciate poetry and literature). Education is about developing human know-how. I will admit, though: as a teacher AI is a game-changer for developing effective lessons.
What’s one book, resource, or tool you’d recommend to English teachers looking to improve their practice?
I am unable to recommend one book. I would recommend the opposite: read everything. Books, magazines, blogs, poems, historical markers, even social media – everything creates new impulses in the brain. All of the most successful people I have met in my life have been big readers. Voracious reading is the best way to improve vocabulary, access different cultures, experience events, learn strategies for real-life situations. Obviously, everyone has their tastes and not everything in print is worthwhile, but the library of the world is infinite.
Bruno Zalubil has taught English to corporate professionals and primary and secondary students for two decades. He currently teaches at Cyrilometodejske Gymnazium in Brno and the Centre for Talented Minds online. He was the founder and administrator of the Brno Writing Group and the Brno Short Story Writing Contest.
