TESOL 2016 Highlights: Part 1

TESOL 2016 is still in full swing. I’d like to start sharing some highlights, and I’m certain that it will take a few posts to do that. On Day 1 I attended a session that brought together the Materials Writers and CALL Interest Sections: Creating, Adapting, and Using Content for Mobile Apps. Each presenter on…

The Wonders of Workshops: The Electronic Village Online

I joined TESOL in 2003.  I didn’t learn about the Electronic Village Online (EVO) until 2009. I’m truly sorry it took me  that long to make this discovery, but thinking optimistically, I did make it and now I want to spread the word to others so that they can benefit professionally and personally as I have. EVO is…

In and Out of the Spotlight: An Activity for the Passive Voice

The source: Celebrity photos will always be plentiful. You can find them at magazine newsstands or for free online. Many sites post photos weekly if not daily, and captions are always provided. Find a site that covers a range of famous people, such as OMG! The format: One option is for the teacher to use…

Makeover Games Make Great Language Practice

Oh, the things you can find online these days! For teens, tweens, and ESL learners, much fun can be had doing Cool Makeover Games. This site has a number of games, each with the potential of being the basis of a communicative activity. Take Colors of the Rain, for example. You can change the clothes…

5 Pitfalls of Using Technology in Language Instruction

As follow-up to my discussion on the need for technology in the classroom, I’d like to consider some common dangers or misuses of technology by teachers. I don’t mean to point any fingers. In fact, I’ve failed to avoid at least one of these pitfalls myself in the past. Perhaps you can add other dangers…