Dwelling 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...

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Teaching Matters: Creating Student-Centered Materials for Your English Classroom

“Be curious, not judgemental.” —Walt Whitman (1819-1892), American poet What makes classroom materials “student-centered”? How do fluency-focused materials help create a livelier learning environment? While the web allows English teachers to individualize instruction to an astonishing degree, teache… The post Teaching Matters: Creating Student-Centered...

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Riding Life’s Waves: Confronting Procrastination – The Surfer’s Way

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” – Hillel the Elder (110 BC-10 AD), Jewish religious leader Why do we procrastinate? Whether the tasks be large or small, it’s all too easy to put off unpleasant tasks – and even easier to keep letting things pile up. Yet, In ‘The Unexpected Antidote to...

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Worksheet: Express Opinions and Improve Critical Thinking with Consumer Product Reviews

“A man’s most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe.” — Euripides (485-406 B.C.E.), ancient Greek playwright Why use consumer product reviews as a teaching tool? How does this exercise benefit English language learners? Which skillsets are strengthened as a result? The giving and receiving of gifts has become a central feature of Christmas, Hanukkah,...

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Worksheet: Reviewing TED Talks to Create Compelling Conversations

“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” —Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), American entrepreneur and publisher How can you encourage your advanced ESL students to develop their speaking skills and tap into their interest in our rapidly changing world? By creating compelling classroom assignments that respect their intelligence, engage their...

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Sharing is Caring: Substituting Connectivity for Communication

“Technology is a word that describes something that doesn’t work yet.”  –Douglas Adams (1952-2001), English author and satirist Is the cult of oversharing online preventing us from establishing genuine connections? Do we expect more from our phones than our neighbors? Is this natural or healthy? “I share, therefore I am” Many believe relying on instant...

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