What 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 MoreHow many languages did you hear today?
Sometimes living in Los Angeles feels fantastic. Beauty – in many forms – pervades. You look around, and you smile. The sun shines, the scene looks great, and many languages fill the day. I visited the Huntington Gardens, a beautiful oasis near California Institute of Technology, yesterday to catch a large photography exhibit documenting 150 years of Los Angeles history. Inevitably,...
Read MoreConversation tip #14: Ask a question
“Do you want to know how to start a conversation? Ask a question, and listen.” Robert Bly (1926- ), American poet and activist That’s not a bad starting point, is it?
Read MoreConversation tip #12: Nice truck!
Sometimes a simple comment leads to a delightful conversation. Today I noticed a very, very old truck parked on the street while walking my dog. “She’s as old as I am,” replied the owner from his frontyard. He soon came to the sidewalk. “Made in 1931.” Although I’m hardly a car guy, we proceeded to have a rather detailed and informative conversation about...
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