I’ve become very fond of student presentations as a means to develop language proficiency and overall confidence. When diligent preparation leads to successful delivery, it’s a particularly satisfying experience for the learner and for the teacher. I’m also learning how to guide this process efficiently. Have you discovered some best practices? Please feel free to…
Phrasal Verbs in Context
If there’s one piece of advice I have for students about phrasal verbs, it’s not to learn too many at once. If I work with a set of more than ten phrasal verbs, then I make sure that some of them are already familiar to the students. I think our job as teachers is to…
How to Make the Transition between Informal and Formal Speech Fun, Clear, and Memorable
Every learner has his or her strengths and weaknesses. I’ve observed how some students are completely relaxed in conversation, but struggle to write for professional or academic purposes. I’ve also seen the opposite: students can write articulate, effective essays, but fail to recognize which words and structures sound out place in everyday exchanges. Proficiency in…
Teaching the Parts of Speech: What to Keep and What to Part With
I’ve taken on the challenge of teaching the parts of speech at the request of a YouTube viewer. The request brings up the old question of how much terminology is worth knowing. Obviously, knowledge of all the terms doesn’t equate with fluency. As I state in my three-part lesson, knowing how to use words is…
TESOL 2018 Highlights: My Take-Away from Different Presenters
I had to cut my TESOL experience short this year due to the overlap with the Easter holiday, but I’m happy that I still managed to pack some take-away thoughts with me. I always jot down lots of notes at sessions I attend, and then I reflect on them back at home when I’ve had…
TESOL 2018 Highlights: Creativity Through Collaboration
For the second year in a row, Mary Allegra of University of Carabobo in Venezuela enticed me into the Electronic Village with her session title. Last year she co-presented in the EV about Quizizz (read post). This year she teamed up with her colleague Monica Fernandez to demonstrate possibilities with Google Slides. Their session was…
TESOL 2018 Highlights: Online Tools for ELLs
Visiting the Electronic Village at the annual TESOL convention is a must for me. Even a single visit can result in the discovery of a few different resources. The title of one presentation this year immediately caught my attention: Three Powerful Online Tools for Skills Development. The presenter, Silvia Laborde of Alianza Cultural Uruguay-Estados Unidos…
TESOL 2018 Highlights: Engaging Learners with the Latest News
My annual TESOL experience wouldn’t be complete without running into colleagues all over the convention center. Hugs and updates are exchanged, and I sometimes even pick up interesting tips in passing. Lucky for me, I ran into Eric Roth of University of Southern California. He had just visited the Exhibit Hall and told me about…
Join Me in Chicago: TESOL 2018
Hello everyone! I hope to see some of you in a few days at the annual TESOL convention. I’ll be presenting at two different times this year: Teaching and Technology: How Many Different Hats Can Teachers Wear? Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 9:30 AM Location: N128 (McCormick Place, North Building) Interest Section: Video and Digital Media…
Me vs. Them: Helping ELLs Step Out of the Classroom and into the Real World
Nothing aggravates me more as a language teacher than when other people fail to be receptive to non-native speech. Unfortunately, we can’t prevent encounters with impatient or judgmental listeners. We can foster a positive, supportive environment in our virtual and traditional classrooms, but the world at large is full of all kinds of personalities. I’ve…
Celebrate Women’s History Month
We’re only at the halfway point in March, so with two weeks left to go it’s not too late to observe Women’s History Month if you haven’t already. Discuss an article, assign mini reports, or include any of the unofficial anthems for International Women’s Day. There are plenty of playlists online showcasing “songs empowering women.”…
Back Soon with a New Post!
My town lost power during the latest winter storm. The loss of electricity, heat, phone service, and the Internet was interesting in a way, but it certainly posed some challenges since the power outage lasted for more than one day. I’m fortunate to have it back now, but my next blog post will be delayed…
