Savvy ESL Book Recommendations for American Immigrants, Refugees, and International Students
“What we know is a drop; what we don’t know is an ocean.” —Isaac Newton (1643-1727), English physicist Do you teach new American immigrants, refugees and international students of English? Are you seeking fresh English as a second language (ESL) book recommendations for improving both… The post Savvy ESL Book Recommendations for American...
Read MoreDwelling in Possibility: The Benefits of Intensive Reading for ESL Students
“A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.” ―Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), American poet What are the benefits of intensive reading for ESL students? How can reading for pleasure spark teachable moments in the English classroom? Reading can be a great – and over… The post Dwelling in Possibility: The Benefits of Intensive...
Read MoreTeaching English on Skype: Practical Platform Advice for Novice Online ESL Tutors
“Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. But make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice.” —Akio Morita (1921–1999), former chairman Of Sony Corporation What are some of the advantages of teaching English on Skype? How can you, the English teacher, make the most of Skype as an innovative educational … The post Teaching English on Skype: Practical Platform...
Read MoreCompelling Conversations – Vietnam is here!
Become who you want to be – in English! Vietnamese teachers of English: are you developing a more fluency-focused curriculum for your ESL/EFL class this fall? Are you seeking new, engaging communicative activities that encourage class discussions? How about flexible lesson plans with a built-in homework assignment per unit? Perhaps we can help! I’m pleased to announce that...
Read MoreBridging the Gap: How English for Professionals courses aid international engineers
As both lecturer and master lecturer, respectively, in the Engineering Writing Program and American Language Institute, I have worked with many international engineering students at USC (home of award-winning engineering publication, Illumin). To my knowledge, engineers sometimes find it difficult explaining key concepts to non-specialists, and speaking English as a second language often adds to...
Read MoreTeaching Matters: Explaining the concept of skill in relation to the workplace
“In business for yourself, not by yourself.” ~Ray Kroc (1902-1984), McDonald’s founder How do people get jobs in the United States? Internship season is almost upon us, and finding work is not always an easy thing – particularly in an uncertain economy. Many ESL students may be from countries where people are employed through families, political parties or...
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