Review: Balancing Fluency and Accuracy Activities in the Classroom

“Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.”  —Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), German novelist and 1946 Nobel Prize winner What’s the difference between speaking English fluently and speaking accurately? Which one takes priority in the classroom? How can we, as educators, create a balanced curriculum with more targeted in-class fluency...

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Review: Clear the Way for More Good Teachers in Higher Education

“The mind is not a vessel that needs filling but wood that needs igniting.” —Plutarch (45 – 120 AD), Ancient Greek essayist and biographer What is the biggest threat to the higher education system? Rising tuition costs? Declining student enrollment? Lower academic skills? Or, is it the structure of the institution itself? A System of Self-interest In “Clear the...

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Teaching Matters: The Perception of Time and Value of Punctuality in American Culture

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern.” – William Blake (1757-1827), English poet, painter and printmaker The concept of time defies easy definitions, meaning many different things to many different people. Americans often...

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Teaching Matters: The Perception of Time and Value of Punctuality in American Culture

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern.” – William Blake (1757-1827), English poet, painter and printmaker The concept of time defies easy definitions, meaning many different things to many different people. Americans often...

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Teaching Matters: Eating Etiquette

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” -James Beard (1903-1985), American author Previously on the blog, we’ve addressed how to make positive first impressions in a variety of settings, from a handshake to a professional email. But table manners also go a long way. Whether you’re grabbing a bite out with friends or visiting a new acquaintance for dinner, the...

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Teaching Matters: Eating Etiquette

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” -James Beard (1903-1985), American author Previously on the blog, we’ve addressed how to make positive first impressions in a variety of settings, from a handshake to a professional email. But table manners also go a long way. Whether you’re grabbing a bite out with friends or visiting a new acquaintance for dinner, the...

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