Online English Courses

In this time of political unrest, online teaching has been instrumental in enabling students to continue their education. Online teaching is the practice of children learning through the use of social networks and digital platforms. The aim of our online programmes is to make learning interactive, easy and fun. Our online teaching priority is given to impoverished and disadvantaged students who for a variety of reasons are unable to continue their education. Children from different regions, ethnic groups and religions enroll in our classes. Classes are set up so that adults can participate as well as children with full regard to their safety. Our teachers have in-person teaching experience and know how to use online platforms. The classes use a curriculum designed by our teachers based on children’s level of English proficiency. The lessons are planned in a way that engages and stimulates children of all ages and is in keeping with modern teaching methods that make learning relevant and worthwhile.

Beginner Course

The beginner course develops the student’s four language skills: speaking, listening, reading & writing; and builds the student’s confidence in using English language to communicate effectively. The correct pronunciation of words is a particular focus. The beginner course takes three months. The teachers themselves adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of individual students. Teachers encourage beginner students to use a wide range of appropriate vocabulary, accurate grammar, and to express their own ideas in English, rather than parrot learning.

Our basic lessons include English songs and stories, to help students develop their listening skills. Teachers encourage students to present a small project in pairs or groups and also reading aloud, to promote speaking with the correct pronunciation . Students learn to read short passages and construct simple sentences in writing, linked to everyday topics. New words are taught in a familiar context to grow basic vocabulary sets, like colours or animals. Students are guided to take written notes. To make learning fun, lessons include games found on Bamboozle, Kahoot and Quizlet. Everyone who has taken the beginner course has made significant progress in English language, as preparation for elementary level.

Elementary Course

This course was composed by Teacher Richard Behm and eventually updated and edited by Teacher Tommy Matarese. It is a 6-week course,2 days a week for 1 hour each. It addresses the use of the most common parts of speech in the English Language which are not used much by Asians, if at all, but necessary to write and speak correctly. Through many exercises the student will learn how to structure sentences. Common items such as articles (a, an, the), prepositions, nouns, etc. are all studied in this course. After finishing, students should have a good foundation to progress to the next level of learning.

Pre-Intermediate Course

This pre- intermediate course aims to progress students to an intermediate level focussing on speaking and writing skills. All the main tenses are revised and used in a wide range of tasks where grammatical accuracy and clear communication are promoted. The course uses materials from a wide range of sources- textbooks, worksheets, authentic news articles and popular songs. It is a topic based approach giving students the opportunity to extend vocabulary and structures relating to 5 topic areas: Hobbies and routines; Jobs; Places We Live; Travel and Holidays; Tourism and the Environment. Students produce an oral description of their hometown and write to express opinions and to compare and contrast ideas. They work in pairs or small groups in each class to practise communicating information clearly in English. Clear pronunciation and correct intonation are encouraged. Homework tasks are set to help students achieve the progress they seek.

Intermediate Course

This pre-intermediate course aims to progress students to an intermediate level focussing on speaking and writing. The course will take 3 months 3 days a week for 1 hour each session and was composed over many years and constantly updated by Teacher Tommy Matarese. It takes the student on a journey of understanding the different structures of a sentence. It explains not only “how” sentences are constructed but explains “why”. The students will learn the construction of both compound and complex sentences using all the proper parts of speech. Many exercises are assigned to help the student write a good essay. In conclusion, the students should be able to write about any subject matter using a higher level of composition.g skills. All the main tenses are revised and used in a wide range of tasks where grammatical accuracy and clear communication are promoted. The course uses materials from a wide range of sources- textbooks, worksheets, authentic news articles and popular songs. It is a topic based approach giving students the opportunity to extend vocabulary and structures relating to 5 topic areas: Hobbies and routines; Jobs; Places We Live; Travel and Holidays; Tourism and the Environment. Students produce an oral description of their hometown and write to express opinions and to compare and contrast ideas. They work in pairs or small groups in each class to practise communicating information clearly in English. Clear pronunciation and correct intonation are encouraged. Homework tasks are set to help students achieve the progress they seek.

IELTS Course

The IELTS Speaking short course of eight one hour sessions prepares students for the spoken components of the exam; students gain confidence in speaking more fluently and accurately and become familiar with what’s required for each of the three sections of the test. Students are introduced systematically to the three parts of the exam, the focus is squarely on foregrounding speaking: a wide range of example questions from each section is practised individually, in pairs, and in small groups with feedback points for development from the teacher. New vocabulary and idioms to extend students’ lexical choices are introduced regularly. Accurate pronunciation is a key factor in success for IELTS and every session stresses this essential skill. To fully prepare for the exam there are two opportunities for individual practice with the teacher, the second is a full mock test with feedback given about how to improve and progress. The final taught session includes a roundup of key points for exam success. Student participation is essential in this interactive online classroom; by the end of the course students are speaking confidently, more fluently and with the extended discussion and narration skills essential for IELTS success.

Success Stories

Despite challenges like the unstable internet and political instability, dedicated teachers and students stayed committed, using resilience and innovation to overcome obstacles and build brighter futures.

"At first, I encountered challenges when I was teaching, especially poor Wi-Fi connection and the children switched off their cameras before responding to me. I myself learned to use educational applications like Padlet, Socrative and Kahoot that I had never used before. Working collaboratively with my Hi Burma sister teachers, I developed the English courses I teach by reviewing high quality Cambridge lessons and adapting them for my classes."

Tulip

Online Class Teacher

"At first, in my Hope Institute Burma class, I couldn’t understand what the teacher was saying, but after a week, I understood well enough. I gained a lot of useful, real-life knowledge. I also have happy and funny memories of learning with my teacher and classmates. I can teach my cousins English, which I learned in the course. So, attending this course was very enjoyable. I want to thank everyone involved in this organisation. Thank you for teaching English and giving us a brighter future. "

Zue Zue

Online Class Student

"I came to Hi Burma to study. I want to thank you for allowing me to learn during this time. I chose this course because I wanted to improve my vocabulary and reading skills. Thanks to this class, I can now write grammatically correct sentences. I also want to improve my grammar and speaking skills. My biggest challenge was power outages, which caused me to lose valuable learning time. I appreciate your continued dedication to educating us despite these challenges."

Wai Shan

Online Class Student

40 Avenue Road,
Forest Gate East London,
United Kingdom
E7 0LD