Teaching Matters: Do Our Students Need to Swim in English or Pass Grammar Tests?
“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” ~C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), British novelist, theologian, and literary critic Last week we discussed English as a lingua franca (ELF), and how emphasis on a mutual understanding between conversation partners remains the goal. Earlier last month, we questioned what standards were reasonable for...
Read MoreDiscussing the New Year And Making Resolutions to Change in English Class
“To modernize is to adopt and to adapt, but it is also to recreate.” Octavio Paz, (1914-1998), Mexican writer and diplomat. Holidays and anniversaries often prompt personal reflections. As a new year beckons, millions of English language learners and thousands of English teachers reflect on their lives and make new year resolutions. What did you find satisfying in...
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...
Read MoreCompelling Conversations – Japan Focuses on Fluency and Authentic Communication for Japanese English Language Learners
“The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can’t be learned at school.” ~Haruki Murakami (1949- ), Japanese author Do your English students want to speak more English? Do you currently teach Japanese English language learners? Are you looking for an engaging, fresh EFL conversation book to guide your English students...
Read MoreHow do you flip your English class? What homework activities do you use to spark lively small group discussions in class?
How do you create lively small group discussions in your English class? What homework do you find most likely to spark student-led conversations? Are you interested in flipping your ESL class so English language learners collect information outside of class and share the information inside the class? ELT researchers consistently recommend that students talk at least 70% of class time, but many...
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