Learning by Stumbling (again) and finding Classroom 2.0
As readers of this blog will soon discover, I believe in experimenting and finding new resources. Following an emailed lead, I discovered an impressive website for teachers called Classroom 2.0 . What attracted me? The site meets me where I am – an English teacher curious about new technologies, but unsure how to proceed and which technologies to explore in depth. Filled with concise, yet...
Read MoreWhat are the 1000 most common words in English?
Sometimes students ask simple, direct questions that I can’t immediately answer. For instance, an ESL student wondered, “What are the 1000 most common words in English?” Wiktionary, an offshoot of the wonderful Wikipedia, offers this answer . The list looks, sounds, and feels right, and offers no big surprises. English, an ever evolving and changing language, will probably have...
Read MoreTaLKing in English, Talking about English, and Learning Korean
Sometimes we confuse talking about English with talking in English. As English teachers, we need to gently encourage our students to talk as much as possible in English, and only sometimes in English. And as world citizens, we should learn as much about the country and host language as possible when we are teaching English abroad. A new English teaching program, sponsored by the Ministry of...
Read MoreEnglish Language Teaching Tip #12: Ask a Question While Taking Attendance
Make a bureaucratic procedure more engaging by asking questions “The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” -Thomas Berger (1924-2014) American novelist Can you recommend a good movie? What’s your favorite song? What’s your favorite color? How do you prepare for a test? How do you relax? Do you have a favorite English word? Can you turn a bureaucratic...
Read MoreESL classes should include more conversation activities!
Conversation activities need greater presence in classrooms “Speech is civilization itself. It is silence which isolates.” -Thomas Mann (1875-1955) German novelist Conversation remains a vital social skill for our English students. Naturally, immigrants and international students want to fully participate in their schools, their jobs, and their communities. Speaking clearly in...
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