McREL standards provide universal guide for teachers
Foreign language classrooms could benefit from McREL standards “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” ―C.S. Lewis (1889-1936) British author While conducting research for a review on Journeys In Film, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching social study through film, I came across the Mid-Continental Research for Education and Learning (McREL) standards. For teachers,...
Read MoreEnglish as a lingua franca unifies people
Emergence of ELF unites people, brings praise, and generates discussion on English student needs “I’m a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they’re interested in.” ―Bill Gates (1955- ) American business magnate, philanthropist As...
Read More‘English is Stupid’ spotlights new teaching, learning approach
Source: Busy Teacher Judy Thompson discusses how to overcome English as a crazy language “English is a funny language that explains why we park our car on the driveway and drive our car on the parkway.” ―American saying ESL teacher and pronunciation maven Judy Thompson’s new book boasts a surprising title: English is Stupid. Yet as her introduction and examples unfold, she does make a compelling...
Read More“English in Los Angeles” inspires conversation with splashes of color
Source: Amazon Piera Fumagalli fuses vocabulary, grammar and idioms with LA “People cut themselves off from their ties of the old life when they come to Los Angeles. They are looking for a place where they can be free, where they can do things they couldn’t do anywhere else.” ―Tom Bradley (1917-1998) Former Mayor of Los Angeles Do you have a California dream? What about a Los...
Read MoreReflections from Fourth of July, Independence Day
Source: Wikipedia Commons Drawing inspiration from the American holiday “I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” ―Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), Principal author of the Declaration of Independence and Third U.S. President Every year Americans celebrate the Fourth of July in honor of the Declaration of Independence and the eventual...
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