RELO Russia

🎶 Culture Share Saturday: NYC Subway Performers – Art Underground 🎶

From classical violinists to breakdancers, New York City subway performers turn ordinary commutes into unforgettable moments. These talented artists are a beloved part of NYC culture — sharing music, dance, poetry, and magic with millions of riders every day.

🎤 Many performers are part of the MTA’s Music Under New York (MUNY) program — a city initiative that supports artists and brings live performances to subway stations.

Learn more about MUNY here: https://www.mta.info/agency/arts-design/music 

💡 Did You Know? Performing in the subway is a time-honored tradition — and a reminder that art belongs to everyone, everywhere.

🧑‍🏫 Classroom Idea: Ask students: • What kinds of public performances are common in your country?
• Should cities support street performers? Why or why not?
• If you could perform in the subway, what would you do?

Subway performers bring culture to unexpected places — and remind us that inspiration can strike anywhere, even on your daily commute. 🚇✨

📢 Apply Now: 21st Century Skills in the EL Classroom Exchange Program

 📅 March 7 – 21, 2026

Are you an English language educator, teacher educator, or curriculum/content designer working in Russia’s primary schools, secondary schools, universities, or private language schools?

Apply for this immersive two-week exchange program designed to deepen your understanding of 21st Century Skills — collaboration, communication, and creativity— and gain practical strategies for your teaching practice.

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit American classrooms and connect with peers from around the world!

Get ready to elevate your teaching and inspire your students!

👉 Apply by September 10 here: https://forms.gle/tii1imFgc71sL2kc7 

📚 Opportunity for Your Students to Improve Their English Skills! 📚

Only 5 days left until the next course begins!
In partnership with the American Center Moscow, the RELO Office is excited to offer another fall 8-week online English practice courses designed for adult learners at A2–B1 levels. Encourage learners in your community to join!

✨ Course Highlights:
🔹 Grammar, listening, and speaking skills
🔹 Real-world English usage
🔹 English language practice in a supportive environment
🌟 A great chance to boost English skills and confidence — from anywhere!

 Register here: 

🔹 Course Dates: September 2 – October 23, 2025: https://amc.timepad.ru/event/3377448/ 

🍂 Fall into Learning with the RELO Fall Newsletter! 🍂

Exciting new events, opportunities, and resources are here to empower educators and learners alike. Stay ahead of the curve with updates on professional development, exchange programs, webinars, and more!

 📩 Don’t miss out — check out the latest RELO Fall Newsletter and get inspired for the season ahead!

 🔗 See the Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/4n3i0rh

🧠📚 Teaching Tip Tuesday: Scaffold Paraphrasing for HOTS Development ✍️💡

If your students struggle to summarize or explain ideas in their own words, they may need more structured support with paraphrasing — a key skill for building Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS).

✅ Learn about these simple scaffolding strategies:
🔹 Model It – Show how to reword a sentence without changing the meaning.
🔹 Use Sentence Frames – Prompts like “In my own words...” guide student thinking.
🔹 Break It Down – Focus on rephrasing key ideas bit by bit.
🔹 Peer Collaboration – Let students practice paraphrasing together to build confidence.
🔹 Pro Tip: Avoid copy-paste thinking. Encourage students to understand first, then rephrase.

Try one of these strategies this week and help your students build confidence in expressing original ideas!

🚇 Materials Monday with Molodets! 🚇

Kick off your week with fresh teaching resources! This week, we’re excited to introduce a new topic in our American Culture Series: The New York City Subway System.

Explore this fascinating part of NYC life with engaging reading materials available for FREE! 📚

Find it in Module 2, Unit 3 on Molodets website: https://www.molodetsell.com/library 

Download now and bring the subway buzz into your classroom!

🔍 Forum Friday: Reading and Writing Beyond the Lines 📚

Discover a variety of scavenger hunt activities designed for different English teaching goals and levels of difficulty. This article highlights how you can construct tasks that are fun and meaningful for your students.

📖 Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4mlkroW 

📚 Access the full issue of English Teaching Forum: bit.ly/ETForum-63-2 

🧠 Teaching Tip Thursday: Helping Students Create Meaningful Questions.

Good questions lead to discovery, creativity, and deep dives into issues.

Provide students with support to ask their own questions using these four strategies:

1️⃣ Use visual clues from the text like images or charts to spark questions. 2️⃣ Identify assumptions or missing information. 3️⃣ Make connections beyond the text to local or global issues. 4️⃣ Consider opposing perspectives.

Each strategy includes sample questions to guide critical thinking and promote deeper inquiry. Go ahead, get them asking, seeking, and learning! 

🌞 Vocabulary Wednesday: Idiom Spotlight
“Make hay while the sun shines”

👉 Meaning: Take advantage of favorable conditions while they last.
🗣 Example: “August is perfect for outdoor activities—make hay while the sun shines!”

This classic idiom reminds us to seize opportunities and enjoy good moments—especially during the sunny days of summer! ☀️

🎉 Coming Soon: American English Live Series 23! 🌍📚

Join six FREE professional development webinars designed for English language teachers, focusing on topics related to classroom management! Topics include elicitation techniques, self-regulated learning, graph literacy, growth mindset, and effective course beginnings.

🗓 Every other Wednesday, Sept 10 – Nov 19
🕗 3 PM & 8 PM Moscow time
🔗 Join on Zoom here: https://zoom.us/j/96503218412

Participants who register in advance 
will also receive email reminders with links to pre-session readings and online discussions.
Register here: https://openenglishcommunity.org/page/registration 

Whether you're looking to refresh your teaching strategies or connect with a global community of educators, this series is for you!

🌴📢 RELO Telegram is on vacation! 📢🌴

We’re taking a break from August 4 to August 18 to recharge — and get ready for Fall 2025 packed with exciting activities that you won’t want to miss!

We’ll keep you updated on all the fresh events, webinars, and special opportunities coming your way. Stay tuned for what’s next!

Thanks for being part of our amazing community. See you soon! 🙌✨

🧺 Self-Care Sunday: Picnic Pause

Take a break this Self-Care Sunday by packing a simple picnic and heading outdoors. Find a quiet spot—whether it’s a park bench, a cozy patch of grass, or your backyard—and enjoy a peaceful meal away from lesson plans, grading, and screens. 

Let the warmth of the sun and the fresh air refresh your mind and body. This time is all about you: nourishing your spirit with nature and good food. Whether it’s fresh fruit, a sandwich, or your favorite snack, savor every bite and every moment of calm. Embrace the slow pace today—you deserve it. 🌞🍉🥪

Culture Share Saturday: Montana — The Big Sky State 🌄🤠

Did you know? Montana is known for its vast open spaces, towering mountains, and strong cowboy and Native American traditions. It’s one of the least densely populated states, giving it a unique place in American culture.

Here are a few interesting facts to share with your students:

Geography & Nature: Montana is home to Glacier National Park and a small portion of Yellowstone National Park — perfect for exploring nature vocabulary like “wilderness,” “wildlife,” and “conservation.”

Cultural Heritage: The state has a rich Native American history with several tribes, including the Crow and Blackfeet, whose traditions continue to shape the region’s identity.

Lifestyle: Many Montanans live in rural areas, and ranching and rodeos are popular cultural activities — great opportunities to discuss words like “ranch,” “rodeo,” and “cowboy.”

Language Tip: Words such as “ranch,” “reservation,” “mountain range,” and “trail” can enrich your students’ vocabulary about American geography and culture.

Discussion prompt for your class: How is nature important in your culture? What traditions or activities connect people to the land where you live?

🎉 Get Ready for American English Live Series 23! 🎉

Starting September 10, 2025, join six FREE webinars focused on classroom management designed for English language teachers worldwide!

🗓️ When: Every other Wednesday, Sept 10 – Nov 19 ⏰ Times: 15.00 or 20.00 Moscow Time 📍 Where: ZOOM: https://zoom.us/j/96503218412#success 

✨ Register once to participate, take quick quizzes after each session, and earn digital badges to showcase your learning. Attend 4 out of 6 to unlock a special series-level badge!

👉 Sign up today and mark your calendar: https://bit.ly/44IR3Tw 

💬 Throwback Thursday: Discussions that Engage All Students

In We Need to Talk: Discussions that Engage All Students, learn how to create classroom discussions that truly include every learner. This American English Live session offers practical strategies to help students keep up, check in with peers, and confidently share their voices in a supportive environment.

Watch the webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OVlHNOAYa8

Let’s make every conversation a chance to grow! 🌟🗣️

📢 Only 5 Spots Left!

🌍 Global Online Course Scholarship for English Teachers ✏️
Are you an English teacher passionate about creating positive learning environments?

Apply now for the OPEN Global Online Course Scholarship for the Fall 2025 term!

You’ll learn how to support students with disabilities, explore real classroom examples, and pick up practical strategies you can use right away.

🔹 Course: Successful Classrooms for English Learners with Special Needs
🔹 Provider: University of Oregon
🔹 Start Date: September 23, 2025
🔹 Format: 100% online — flexible and accessible

⏳ Only 5 scholarships remaining — apply by August 1 to be considered!

👉 https://forms.gle/prp7SFnYZUKd4kKv7

📚✨ Wednesday Teaching Boost ✨📚

Looking to make reading more engaging for your students? Incorporate learning stations into your classroom! Shelby Scoffield's article offers creative station ideas that blend traditional and digital tools to enhance reading comprehension and student involvement.

🔹 Character Profiles: Students create detailed profiles of key characters using digital tools.
🔹 Tone/Mood Exploration: Identify and perform passages to capture the author's tone or mood.
🔹 Movie Adaptation Analysis: Compare book excerpts with film adaptations to discuss differences and interpretations.
🔹 Video Blogs: Students record their reflections on the reading, fostering deeper understanding.
🔹 The Bigger Picture: Connect themes from the book to current global issues.

These ideas spark curiosity and deepen comprehension!

👉 Learn more here: https://bit.ly/46W2ict