Here’s a way to introduce the structure “used to” to your ESL students.
The Hallmarks Of A Professional Teacher
Have you ever wondered what the qualities of a really professional teacher are? I know that all teachers want their students to like them, but being liked isn’t the be-all and end-all really, is it? I mean teachers have to make some unpopular decisions sometimes.
Teachers can be popular just because they are friendly and helpful, but to be truly professional and effective they need other qualities. Students may not be able to put their finger on just why one teacher is mor…
Using DVD and Video in Your ESL Class – Part One
Have you ever wondered how to use movies in your ESL classes, without just sitting your students down in front of the screen, hitting ‘Play’ and sitting back to watch?
Here are a few ideas to get you started, using very short movie extracts to present and practise new language and develop communicative skills.
Using DVD and Video in Your ESL Class – Part Two
Have you ever wondered how to use video in your ESL classes, without just sitting your students down in front of the screen and hitting ‘Play’? Here are five more activities for you to try.
Intonation In English: Expressions Of Two Words
Listen and Learn: The Intonation of Two-Word Expressions
Many people think that pronunciation is what makes up an accent. It may be that pronunciation is very important for an understandable accent. But it is intonation that gives the final touch that makes an accent correct or native.
Intonation is the “music” of a language, and is perhaps the most important element of a correct accent. Often we hear someone speaking with perfect grammar, and perfect formation of the…
Is A Degree In ESL Worth It?
A recent poll asked whether English teachers should have a degree of some type. Approximately 64% of the respondents thought they should have a degree for teaching ESL: quite a high “yes” because, as always, there were some “don’t know” meanings that makes the “no” camp very small.
I am generally in favor of teachers being first educated to degree level. This is not some arbitrary snobbery or elitism. Teaching requires a trained mind. A teacher has to be analytical, method…
Learn English Laughing
Humor and Learning
Humor is important in learning a language. Not only does it enable the student to learn new vocabulary in context but it also is a motivating force. When a student understands a joke she begins to feel like she is in the world of the new language. Puns are especially valuable because they stress meaning. We’ll give a few jokes and puns as examples and hoope that they will move other teachers to use this powerful resource.
Puns
Laughing? Well, mayb…
Materials On A Limited Budget
Since the London bomb attacks, I have been thinking a lot about the courageous people there who have to go about their daily business despite the threat. I worked in the capital during the years of the IRA bombings and my greatest fear was of just such an event, as I used the transport system daily. Will people ever learn that violence is not a solution?
Recently I discussed this problem with a school director:
My school is quite small and we have to keep our student f…
Do You Know How Your Students Want To Learn?
Learner power is the topic of this article. I wonder how many school directors think about asking their students how they want to learn. The idea of conducting a needs analysis to find out what students want to learn is nothing new, but Im not sure if we are quite so used to trying to find out their preferred learning styles. I mention this because it strikes me that so many teachers come from the same mould, having qualified through courses based very much on progressive we…
English Intonation: The Noun And Verb
Listen and Learn: The Different Intonation of the Noun and the Verb
Intonation, the “music” of a language, is perhaps the most important element of a correct accent. Many people think that pronunciation is what makes up an accent. It may be that pronunciation is very important for an understandable accent. But it is intonation that gives the final touch that makes an accent correct or native. Often we hear someone speaking with perfect grammar, and perfect formation of th…
ESL Bingo!
Comments, tips and advice on using games like BINGO to teach English as a Second Language.
ESL Exams: A Teacher’s Guide
It’s the end of another class, and one student has stayed behind. No problem, you think, maybe an easy grammar question, or a comment on how they enjoyed the class (or not!)… or maybe it’s a question about an ESL exam. “What’s the difference between TOEFL and TOEIC?” “Should I take the FCE?” “Who recognizes IELTS?” So if you dont know your BEC from your KET, or your CAE from your CELS, here’s a brief guide to the most popular ESL exams.