Difference Between Learning and Acquisition in ESL
Stephen Krashen draws a big distinction between learnt and acquired language, a distinction that has caused controversy in itself, quite apart from his ideas for promoting this acquisition. According...
View ArticleMy name isn’t really Gillian
When Neil asked me to do some writing for the new blog (which looks great, by the way), I asked I would be limited in what I could write about? “No, no censorship here,” he replied. So I decided I …...
View ArticleEmperor’s errors still challenge correction | Education | Guardian Weekly
A rare letter in English by Napoleon highlights the complexity of delivering good learner feedback Trying to teach a student with a domineering personality can be a challenge, so spare a thought for...
View ArticleCircle Time
“Good morning!” I say, just loud enough to turn heads, silencing all other conversations. “Good morning,” answers the class. There are eleven students, from teenagers to 50-year-old retirees. I look to...
View ArticleUsing Music in the Classroom
Nothing breaks up a long class like listening to a song or two. But don’t just hand out lyrics and play the song. A little preparation will help you get the most out of a music lesson. First, it’s a …...
View ArticleESL – Subject or Communication Tool?
What happens in a math class? There were so many rules, but only one answer. You sit there and listen. Maybe the teacher asks you to come up and work out some problems on the board. But, honestly, if...
View ArticleA system to help write in English for a local or global business audience
Wherever we are and whatever we do, we need to communicate. Communicate well and it can make you, communicate poorly and it can break you. Even in the common language of English, one size is never...
View ArticleFollowing TEFL Certification, what are the next steps?
After completion of your certification to teach abroad (whether that TEFL, TESL, or TESOL course), what do you do next? If you’ve got aspirations to teach abroad, which you should considering you just...
View ArticleTeaching English to the Japanese When You Don’t Know Japanese
You’ve made a terrible decision. To successfully avoid the drudgery of a “real” job, you’ve gone off on the adventure of a lifetime, teaching English to students overseas in Japan. How hard can it be?...
View ArticleFun Classroom Games that Every ESL Teacher can Use
Getting English learners to speak up in classes can be really tough. Learners can however be made to participate actively if the learning is fun. This is particularly true of young men and women in...
View ArticleGraded Materials, A Perspective
Not long ago, a (non ESL) teacher/friend noticed the term ‘graded material’ in an article and asked me: ‘ What? Are ESL teachers expected to grade (mark) their material as well as their students?’...
View ArticleCommon Sense Approaches to Teaching ESP
Language teaching and language learning focus on four skills: Reading comprehension, Aural Comprehension, Writing and Speaking. Most course books authors organize their materials so as to teach these...
View ArticleDevelopmental Trends
This writer teaches English to speakers of other languages and therefore has decided to critique articles discussing the linguistic development of non-English speaking students and studies of second...
View ArticleCurriculum Standards
The number of non-native English speaking students in the United States has increased drastically in the past years. According to the 1998/1999 Florida Department of Education ESOL report, there were...
View ArticleThe Recruiter
As a recruiter, agent, job placement supervisor…whatever….I have a few points I wish to post in hopes of getting responses from teachers who have used recruiters, who have not, like/ dislike us-them...
View ArticleSo How Do I Get The Perfect Job?
It is my opinion that many people seem to respect the idea of teaching overseas. Certainly where I am from there are numerous people who have been here in Korea or Japan, not to mention so many who...
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