Teaching Matters: How much can we rely on standardized tests to assess?
“Education is helping the child realize his potentialities.” ~Erich Fromm (1900-1980), German social psychologist and pscychoanalyst By Andrea Schmidt, Guest-writer Standardized tests: how helpful are they in assessing one’s true skill level? This question has been asked by students and teachers alike, time and again. There is no denying that these tests’ formulaic...
Read MoreTeaching Matters: How democratic is your ESL classroom?
“Education is a kind of continuing dialogue and a dialogue assumes, in the nature of the case, different points of view.” ~Robert Hutchins (1899-1977), former President of University of Chicago and educational philosopher Continuing on the theme of creating a better classroom this semester, it is essential to make sure there is an ongoing dialogue between teachers and...
Read MoreTeaching Matters: What Are Reasonable Standards for Listening Comprehension and Speaking Skills for ESL Students?
“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.” ~John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), 35th President of the U.S. Tough question! Context, as ever, matters. Are you going into a new semester of class looking for a clear, detailed chart to evaluate the speaking skills of your students? Check out the practical chart with ten categories for listening...
Read MoreTeaching Tips: Discussing Idioms in the Classroom
“Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands, and goes to work.” ~Carl Sandberg (1878-1967), American poet and historian Idioms, or phrases that have their own meaning relative to their specific conjunction of words, are a unique feature of language that can be difficult for beginners to make sense of. Here are some common examples of American idioms: You...
Read MoreUsing 5W/H Filter & Creating Longer, Better Conversations
What is the 5W/H filter? Who can use this technique? Where can English students use the 5W/H filter in daily conversations? When can they use this method? Why do many journalists and managers use the 5W/H filter in their work? How can the 5W/H filter keep conversations going? Some English students will already be familiar with the idea of 5W/H as the general question words: Who, What,...
Read MorePracticing Interview Skills, Staging a Mock Job Interview and Self Evaluation
Finding work is not always an easy thing, particularly in an uncertain economy such as that of the United States. But how does one get a job? Research, self-nomination, and persistence are common paths that lead to job interviews. Our students, naturally, find the prospect of interviewing for a competitive job an intimidating prospect. We can reduce their justified anxiety by teaching a...
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