Soma Holland

CEFR-aligned curriculum design

15,000 online learning experiences artfully designed and joyfully delivered - championing ESL e-learning journeys since 2015.

Pizza Time

A CEFR A1-level grammar activity to learn how to tell the time.THE CHALLENGE: Learners must navegate analog vs digital and 12 vs 24 hour formats along with word order, prepostions and first language bias. Riffs on "is 15 half past o'clock" reverberate around ESL classrooms.CAN DO STATEMENT: I can make sentences about time using: o'clock, half past, quarter past, quarter to.

THE FIX

• Pizza Time's disappearing pizza quarters make the fractions in analog time-telling logical and memorable.

• Abundant matching practice reinforces the link between digital time and clock faces / time expressions.

• A well-scaffolded cummulative task encourages the learner use the target language in a meaningful way.

Tools Used: Articulate 360 Storyline (authoring).

Worldbuilding 101

A CEFR C1 exam-practice listening activity.THE CHALLENGE: Part 4 of the CAE listening paper is a complex multiple-matching task, recquiring examinees to track the opinions and attitudes of 5 speakers, while avoiding detractors.CAN DO STATEMENT: I can listen for gist and specific details in extended monologues including attitudes and opinions that are implied rather than directly stated.

THE FIX

• Worldbuilding 101 leverages teen learners' interest and engagement in sci-fi and fantasy novels.

• Worldbuilding themes are introduced in an advanced vocabulary-rich warm-up text.

• A clear concise exam strategy slide precedes the CAE-aligned part 4 listening task.

• Access to the audio transcript on the feedback slide allows learners to identify and reflect on key language.

Tools Used: Articulate 360 Storyline (authoring), ElevenLabs (listening audio), Audio Joiner (editing), ChatGPT (content generation).

A bit about me

CEFR-aligned curriculum design is where it all comes together: a talent for visual design, a dedication to writing craft, a seasoned understanding of CEFR outcomes and an exhilarating EdTech learning curve. Today, I'm a tech-savvy creative with classroom intuition, hands-on pedagogical skills and a keen focus on the evolving role of AI in e-learning.

Let's connect

Please reach out to me via email. I look forward to hearing from you.