Making Discoveries: An ESL Story

I first crossed paths with Walton Burns at a TESOL convention. We’re both members of the Materials Writers Interest Section, and it turns out that we have quite a bit more in common, especially in the roundabout way we discovered our professional calling. Walton may not have planned to become an English language teacher or…

More than Just Going with the Flow: An ESL Story

Every so often I look at a particular teacher’s professional experience and see a lesson or two that can be learned. That’s mostly why I choose to do interviews here. I hope you share my interest in hearing about other paths teachers take and events that guided their decisions. In my last post  I mentioned a project that has…

The Different Paths We Walk: An ESL Story

Today there are many professional paths for us ESL teachers to take. Some of us walk more than one path at the same time. People have asked about the reasons for the choices I have made, the nature of my online work, and the challenges I face in my different roles. When I meet other…

Opening New Doors in Professional Development

Professional development online is a real possibility, and the opportunities continue to grow. I’ve shared information in the past about video training and webinars. The time has come to talk about MOOCs! No, let’s not merely talk. Massive Open Online Courses are large in nature, so they deserve a big shout-out. I’m excited to be…

Inspiring Student Performances

Inspiration can come from many different sources. As as teacher, I think the most powerful inspiration for me has always been the students themselves. When I see their individual gifts and I understand their determination to master English, I feel a strong desire to be a part of their learning experience. Also, when I witness…