I went to a few Teaching Tip sessions at TESOL 2024, and I was amazed how much the presenters were able to pack into twenty minutes. The truth is that having double the time would have been better, especially for Q&A and sharing, but that’s for the event organizers to take into consideration. (When filling…
Category: Vocabulary
GRE Words: Fill ‘er up!
How does one get their fill of vocabulary? A few sips at a time. Trying to take in too much at any level doesn’t lead to great results. Private students usually come to me having already mastered words on the General Service List (GSL). They also know most of the Academic Word List (AWL), at…
Learning to Mellow Out: Teaching what’s useful but maybe not “correct”
My daughter recently passed her learner’s permit exam. Beforehand, she received advice from her older brother, a veteran driver of two years. He reminded her that she should provide the expected answers, that is, follow the rules. If they ask about driving five miles over the speed limit in a 25 mph zone, a test…
Reinforcing Collocations in Email
A number of my private students work on email skills, from general accuracy with vocabulary and grammar to the tone and register. A couple of students recently benefited from a review of collocations. For example, it was important to remember that the verb “regret” is very often followed by a gerund, but in a formal…
Carpe Diem! The Latin ELLs Need to Learn
I finally got a copy of Paulo Coelho’s well-known and highly celebrated book The Alchemist a few days ago. I’m nearly done and anticipate a beautiful ending. (Please don’t tell me any spoilers in the comments!) A word that repeats in the story is “maktub,” which one Arabic-speaking character translates as, “It is written.” The…
Bread and Butter: Word Pairs for Everyday Conversation
A recent question from a YouTube viewer about the phrase “law and order” has prompted me to revisit the topic of word pairs. As is usually the case, once I start digging into a subject, I find quite a lot to consider. We think we know something inside and out, but grammar and vocabulary often…
Applying Larsen-Freeman’s 3D Model to Vocabulary
Diane Larsen-Freeman helped us all tremendously by providing the framework for teaching grammar. Her three-dimensional grammar model has shaped countless lessons with the aim to address form, meaning, and use. I’m sure I’m not alone in seeing the application of the 3D model in vocabulary instruction. Here, too, we must consider the structures (e.g., transitivity,…
Luck Is Not Chance in March
March 17 always provides an occasion to talk about luck and teach expressions related to good fortune. St. Patrick’s Day is a bit of a strange holiday to explain, but you have to start somewhere. Start with shamrocks, dive into leprechaun lore, or explain why McDonald’s is serving green milkshakes this month. I like to…
Stacking the Deck for ELLs
There are dozens of card games around the world, and we can play them for fun. Of course, the better you are at a game, the more fun you can have. I can’t tell you how many times I played Go Fish! or Slapjack as kid. My grandparents also taught me the more complex game…
Tried and True Tasks for TED Talks
TEDS Talks have provided plenty of food for thought for a general audience and a wealth of material for the ESL classroom. Perhaps you have a list of your own favorites. If so, please share! Every so often I have a private student who has the proficiency, time, and interest to work some of these…
Smooth Sailing with Vocabulary
Sometimes students will reveal an interesting combination of strengths and weaknesses, so it’s up to us to design lessons that meet their unique needs. I’ve mentioned that I have one advanced student with strong mastery of academic vocabulary, but less familiarity with general words and idiomatic expressions. In a previous post, I explained how I…
Teaching the Value of Passive Vocabulary
This morning I was scrolling through a news briefing, and I came across a word I didn’t know: excoriate. A senator excoriated President Trump for not conceding the election. I commented to my son about learning a new word. Then and there I looked it up in the dictionary to make sure my guess from…
English with Jennifer 