Live Monthly Professional Forum for IELTS Teachers
The IELTS Monthly Roundup
One important IELTS teaching problem. Practical analysis. Real discussion.
A live monthly forum with Professor Christopher Korten for IELTS teachers who want to understand the skills behind the scores—and identify what is really preventing their students from improving.
- Sunday, 6 September 2026
- Live online
- 90-minute main session
- Optional 30-minute open forum
- Introductory price:Standard price $20, introductory price $10
3:00 PM London time
September 2026
Why IELTS Students Get Stuck at Band 6—and What Teachers Can Do About It
Many students complete exercise after exercise without making meaningful progress. The problem is often not effort. It is that neither the student nor the teacher has correctly identified the skill preventing improvement.
In this first IELTS Monthly Roundup, we will examine:
- Why students frequently become stuck at Band 6 or 6.5
- How to distinguish language weaknesses from underlying skill problems
- Why additional test practice does not always produce improvement
- How teachers can diagnose the most important barrier
- How to connect the diagnosis to a focused classroom intervention
- Real participant questions and classroom cases
“More practice only helps when we are practising the right skill.”
Beyond Tips and Templates
Understand the Problem Behind the Score
The IELTS Monthly Roundup is not another collection of examination shortcuts or memorised model answers. It is a live professional forum built around diagnosis, judgement and practical teaching decisions.
Skills-Based Analysis
Examine the thinking, communication and language skills behind IELTS performance.
Real Student Examples
Analyse authentic problems rather than discussing teaching only in theory.
Practical Strategies
Leave with approaches that can be applied in class immediately.
Moderated Questions
Submit questions through the live chat while a moderator identifies the most relevant themes.
Open Forum Discussion
Stay for the optional open-microphone forum after the main session.
Monthly Teaching Resource
Receive a practical checklist, diagnostic tool, activity or sample analysis connected to the topic.
Structured, Interactive and Practical
How Each Monthly Session Works
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0–10 minutes | Monthly IELTS update, misconception or important question |
| 10–35 minutes | Professor Korten's main analysis |
| 35–60 minutes | Real student examples and classroom cases |
| 60–85 minutes | Moderated participant questions |
| 85–90 minutes | Conclusions and practical next steps |
| 90–120 minutes | Optional open forum: open-microphone discussion |
Participants may submit questions and classroom problems in advance or contribute through the live chat. A moderator will organise incoming questions so that Professor Korten can address the most relevant and widely shared concerns.
Help Shape the Programme
You Help Choose What We Discuss
Participants influence the programme by suggesting problems and voting on future topics. Professor Korten then selects and frames each subject to ensure that the session remains focused, practical and professionally valuable.
Possible future topics
- Helping students generate stronger Task 2 ideas
- Building arguments instead of formulaic essays
- Teaching Task Response more effectively
- Identifying the most important Task 1 trends
- Developing natural Speaking fluency
- Solving True/False/Not Given problems
- Teaching Listening Part 4
- Giving feedback without correcting everything
- Understanding IELTS band descriptors
- Preparing for computer-delivered IELTS
Who Should Attend?
A Professional-Development Forum for Teachers
Designed for:
- IELTS teachers and trainers
- English teachers moving into IELTS preparation
- Academic managers and IELTS programme coordinators
- Teacher educators
- Experienced teachers seeking stronger diagnostic approaches
This is a professional-development event for teachers. It is not an IELTS preparation class for test candidates.
Join One Session or the Full Year
Flexible Membership Options
Recommended first step · Start here
September Introductory Session
Join the launch edition on 6 September 2026 and experience the Roundup before making a longer commitment. Normally $20 per session—the introductory price is $10.
Individual Monthly Session
Per session
$20
Attend any future session without a subscription or long-term commitment.
Not yet open for booking.
Three-Session Pass
Three sessions
$49
Choose three monthly sessions and save $11 compared with purchasing them separately.
Not yet open for booking.
Limited Founding Member price
Founding Annual Membership
Founding Member price
$175
Twelve individual sessions would normally cost $240. The Founding Annual Membership saves $65, approximately 27%.
Annual membership includes
- Twelve consecutive monthly live sessions
- Access to session recordings
- One practical teaching resource each month
- Priority question submission
- Quarterly professional-development certificates
- 10% discount on selected IELTS courses
The annual membership covers twelve consecutive monthly sessions from the date of purchase.
Not yet open for booking.
Enquire about membership →
Learn with Professor Christopher Korten
Professor Christopher Korten is an international teacher trainer, academic writing specialist and former Director of Academic Writing at MGIMO. A graduate of Oxford and Cambridge, he has trained teachers and university educators internationally.
His skills-based IELTS approach helps teachers look beyond examination techniques to diagnose the thinking, communication and language skills behind a student's score.
Full bio →- Graduate
- Oxford & Cambridge
- In education
- 20+
- Educators trained
- 2,000+
- Continents
- 5
What Partners & Participants Say
Thank you so much for the amazing masterclass. It was truly fascinating and incredibly inspiring.
I didn't manage to share my feedback, so I'll simply quote you: 'Isolate and diagnose.' Thank you—it was great.
Thank you! A very engaging and productive masterclass with amazing people.
Thank you for supporting our professional growth—and for your amazing personality.
Thank you for the masterclass, Professor! It was a real eye-opener.
Professor Korten, thank you for giving us the opportunity to use the strategy you discussed. It was challenging but invaluable.
Thank you for the wonderful masterclass! Everything was new to me, and I learned so many useful things.
Thank you for your amazing masterclass! I'll definitely stay in touch, ready for new challenges and new masterclasses.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this for teachers or IELTS candidates?
This is a professional-development forum for IELTS teachers, trainers and educators. It is not a preparation class for candidates.
How long is each session?
The structured main session lasts 90 minutes. Participants may then remain for an optional 30-minute open forum.
Can I submit a question in advance?
Yes. Participants will be invited to submit teaching questions, student problems and suggested topics before the session.
Can I ask questions during the session?
Yes. Questions can be submitted through the live chat. A moderator will organise them and select the most relevant recurring themes.
Are materials included?
Yes. Each session includes a practical resource connected to that month's topic.
Will the session be recorded?
Access to session recordings is included with the Founding Annual Membership.
Will I receive a certificate?
Founding Annual Members receive quarterly professional-development certificates.
How will I join?
Registered participants will receive the online joining instructions by email before the session.
How does the annual membership work?
The membership includes twelve consecutive monthly sessions from the purchase date, together with the listed member benefits.
What time zone is used?
All session times are given in London time (GMT/BST). The September session begins at 3:00 PM London time — please check the equivalent in your own time zone.
For how we handle your details, see our privacy policy.
Join the First IELTS Monthly Roundup
Discover why students remain stuck at Band 6—and learn how to identify the skill problem that is holding them back.
- Sunday, 6 September 2026
- Live online
- 90-minute session plus optional open forum
- Introductory price:Standard price $20, introductory price $10