Worksheet: Imperatives vs Polite Requests in the Workplace

  “You cannot be really first-rate at your work if your work is all you are.” —Anna Quindlen (1953-), American Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Style matters – especially when we talk with our co-workers, consumers, patients, and supervisors. English language learners, immigrants, a… The post Worksheet: Imperatives vs Polite Requests in the...

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Teaching Matters: Avoiding Good Mistakes in Using Infographics

Correlation is not causation but it sure is a hint – Edward Tufte (1942-), American Statistician and Professor We live in an age of big data, powerful algorithms and infographics. Significant decisions are being made daily based on data input, and adults – including our students – have to analyze an… The post Teaching Matters: Avoiding Good Mistakes in Using Infographics...

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Are Nominalizations ‘Zombie Nouns’?

 “Prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of their meaning, and more and more of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house” –George Orwell (1903-1950), British Writer in Politics and the English Language English teachers often emphasize the importance o… The post Are Nominalizations...

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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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Guest Blog: Things You Need To Know Working as a Teacher in Dubai

By Fazreen Razeek, Edarabia.com Guest Blogger Famous for its skyscrapers and shopping malls, Dubai is an outstanding place to live and work for those who love the city life. A melting pot of cultures from around the world, Dubai is a great city to explore – especially for teachers. From diverse clas… The post Guest Blog: Things You Need To Know Working as a Teacher in Dubai...

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Is “They” Okay? Is it okay to use “they” for a singular pronoun of unknown gender?

‘Chandos’ Portrait of Shakespeare in the National Portrait Gallery, London “There’s not a man I meet but doth salute me As if I were their well-acquainted friend.” Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors, Act IV, Scene 3: William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British playwright How acceptable is it … The post Is “They” Okay? Is it okay to use...

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