Hedging Language & Seeking Clarification in Our Arguments

  “Education is a kind of continuing dialogue and a dialogue assumes, in the nature of the case, different points of view.” ~Robert Hutchins (1899-1977), educator and philosopher   In academic writing, especially argumentative essays, it is important to argue your claims with supporting facts. Yet, the importance of seeing the other side of the claim or argument is equally as...

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Teaching Tips: Discussing Idioms in the Classroom

“Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands, and goes to work.” ~Carl Sandberg (1878-1967), American poet and historian   Idioms, or phrases that have their own meaning relative to their specific conjunction of words, are a unique feature of language that can be difficult for beginners to make sense of. Here are some common examples of American idioms: You...

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Using 5W/H Filter & Creating Longer, Better Conversations

  What is the 5W/H filter? Who can use this technique? Where can English students use the 5W/H filter in daily conversations? When can they use this method? Why do many journalists and managers use the 5W/H filter in their work? How can the 5W/H filter keep conversations going? Some English students will already be familiar with the idea of 5W/H as the general question words: Who, What,...

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Home vs. House: What does this mean?

  “No matter under what circumstances you leave it, home does not cease to be home. No matter how you lived there – well or poorly.” ~Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996), Russian-American poet & Nobel Prize winner   What’s the difference between a house and a home? English speakers clearly distinguish the two words. A house is simply the building where people live. It’s...

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How do you flip your English class? What homework activities do you use to spark lively small group discussions in class?

How do you create lively small group discussions in your English class? What homework do you find most likely to spark student-led conversations? Are you interested in flipping your ESL class so English language learners collect information outside of class and share the information inside the class? ELT researchers consistently recommend that students talk at least 70% of class time, but many...

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