Teacher Takeover: Bridging continents with Kahoot!+ to inspire language learning

Meet Hana, a primary school and special education teacher with a passion for bringing rigorous and intentional language learning to students around the world. Based in Seattle, Washington, Hana has a unique journey from Japan to the United States and is on a mission to create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment for English language learners, based in Japan and around the world. Read on to learn her story of using Kahoot! to connect students across oceans and bring families together in a whole new way.

Let's set the scene

Hana's teaching journey began in Japan, where she noticed a pressing need for supplemental English curriculum. Despite students starting English education early, parents and community members in Hana's network shared that the classroom curriculum for English learning was too formal, academic, and specific to classroom conversations. Parents, eager to supplement their children's learning, sought more rigorous and well-rounded English experiences.

Having since moved to the United States, Hana has continued to collaborate with parents and educators in Japan, bridging the gap with her innovative teaching methods. Her move from Oklahoma to Seattle hasn't stopped her from maintaining strong ties with her community in Japan, where she remains a beacon of knowledge and support. Equipped with a full scale English curriculum and appropriate, mixed-ability scaffolds and intervention support as a Special Education teacher, Hana has innovated the format and approach for learning English as a non-native speaker.

Reading across oceans

The geographical distance between Hana and her Japanese students presents a unique challenge, with a significant time zone difference. Hana needed a solution that could reach families in a way that was both family-centric and scalable, beyond the confines of one-on-one tutoring. Enter online webinars.

These webinars gained popularity by offering a multi-faceted approach: they taught parents the basics of English phonetics and grammar, enabling them to guide their children, and provided students with engaging games and activities to improve their letter-recognition and print skills. However, Hana realized that webinars were one-sided and struggled to gauge how well her students and their parents were absorbing the content.

Kahoot!+ fosters a one-on-one experience in a one-to-many approach

Hana turned to Kahoot!+ as a solution to this challenge. Familiarity with Kahoot! among parents and students meant they didn't have to learn a new tool, making it easy for the whole family to participate, even those who were just observing. Kahoot!+ features and varied question types allowed Hana to instantly assess her students' comprehension and achievement, enabling her to adjust her teaching on the fly and reinforce learning during the same session.

Kahoot!'s flexibility meant there was no cap on how many family members could join the fun. This approach not only engaged students but also involved parents and siblings, creating a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.

Given that these webinars were hosted at wide and spare intervals, Hana also recognized a need for responsive teaching and instruction. In this situation, she had minimal opportunity to "pick it back up tomorrow" or "let's try again a different day". These webinars were often one-off experiences, and making the most of the 60-minute sessions was crucial! By using both a pre-assessment and introductory kahoot, as well as a final review lesson, Hana could tweak and update the lesson content to fit the achievement and ability levels of her participants, even from oceans away!

What's next for Hana and her global classroom

Hana plans to expand her use of Kahoot! with a series of webinars that participants can access asynchronously. This blend of learning and interactive activities ensures that students remain active in their education, even during the "off season." For the Kahoot! team, this feedback loop is invaluable, offering insights into the platform's accessibility and impact.

As parents form new networks and connections beyond their local communities, Hana's approach is not just changing how students learn English but also how families interact with each other across continents.

Hana's innovative use of Kahoot!+ exemplifies the power of technology in education. By bridging the gap between continents and fostering an inclusive learning environment, she's creating a global classroom where every student can thrive. Are you ready to join Hana in making a difference? Dive into the world of Kahoot!+ and discover how you can transform your teaching and connect with students like never before.

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