Seeing the World Through Photographs: Using Photography as a Conversation Tool in English Class
“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” —Ansel Adams (1902–1984), American photographer and environmentalist If a picture is worth a thousand words, what are they? How can we use photographs as a conversation tool in our English classrooms? Photographs capture a moment in time, significant or insignificant. Many people enjoy taking pictures of new places...
Read MoreWhat makes a conversation-friendly English, ESL or EFL classroom?
“There is a role and function for beauty in our time.” – Tadao Ando (1941–), Japanese architect Introducing Teacher Edition Tuesday, a new weekly series based on ten teaching tips from the recently released Compelling American Conversations – Teacher Edition! What makes a conversation-friendly English, ESL or EFL classroom? Sometimes it’s the little things that matter. Creating a...
Read MoreAuthentic Conversations vs Crazed Crowds in Slumdog Millionaire and The Wrestler
Have you seen Slumdog Millionaire yet? What about the Wrestler? Both of these outstanding films offer many poignant scenes, powerful performances, and excellent dialogue. Both movies should collect at least a few Oscars tonight. Yet one often overlooked feature of both films remains their depiction of the allure and danger of crowds. A mob scene, fueled by religious hatred, leads to a brutal...
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