What is an accent? An accent is the carryover of sounds from the speakers original language to the second language. When we are infants we literally have the ability to speak any language in the world. We are all born with the necessary speech mechanisms and the capability to learn any language. We end up speaking the language that we do solely by reinforcement. The sounds a baby hears and the speech patterns he is exposed to are the ones that she develops. Soon the baby gai…
Teaching “Used to” to ESL students
Here’s a way to introduce the structure “used to” to your ESL students.
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.
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.