(This posting includes a handout which you are welcome to use with your students.) In Part 1, I analyzed the assumptions teachers have made about having students do class-presentations. (See ESL Student-Presentations (Part 1): Questioning the Reasons for Doing Them As I concluded in that post, there seems to be weak support for having students … Read more
According to Mark Twain”Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words“. However, this is not a common thought among teenagers, who generally believe that writing is something complex. This way of thinking means we can be met with bored faces whenever students are asked to write in class. What … Read more
The end of term is looming and attention spans are decreasing. Basically, summer is around the corner, and you have no idea how you could still engage your students before the school holidays kick in! Read on to find out more about 5 different functions that a final lesson (or lessons) could have and 5 … Read more
I’ve always been perplexed by this claim by some teachers: Teaching grammar doesn’t improve students’ writing. A problem with it is that it doesn’t define what is meant by “teaching grammar” nor what is meant by “improve students’ writing.” It seems to imply that they have looked at every conceivable way that grammar could be … Read more
In the first of a series of 3, focused on preparing students for exams, Olha Madylus shares her top activities for preparing young learners for tests. The Cambridge English Qualifications for young learners are designed to test children’s ability to understand and respond appropriately to English, not to test their knowledge of English grammar rules. … Read more
Anna Hasper shares 5 interactive tennis-related activities to keep your learners engaged as the tennis season consumes us. With Wimbledon getting underway in London, it seems only appropriate to add a tennis flavor to our lessons. Not all of us have the liberty to adapt our curriculum easily, and not all students are interested in … Read more
I’m continuing with my mid-year “Best” list posts… Seven years ago I began publishing a regular Classroom Instruction Resources Of The Week post. You can see all my “Best” lists on instructional strategies here. Here are my choices from the past few months: THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN “RITUALS” & “ROUTINES” IN THE CLASSROOM, & WHY WE … Read more
Vladvictoria / Pixabay Today’s post in the latest of a series that I’ve been writing about this past year. The previous ones have been: This School Year Is Almost Over – Here Are My Reflections About 12 Changes I Want To Make In The Fall Here’s A New Writing “Twist” I Plan To Add To … Read more
geralt / Pixabay Before one school year is done, I always try to create time to reflect on changes I want to make in the following year. I find that it’s critical to do this exercise while things are fresh in my mind (this post is the latest in a series on year-end reflections – … Read more
Anyone who has heard the Queen’s speeches will recognise her distinctive British accent. This is RP – ‘Received Pronunciation’. This year, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service. So it seems like a fitting time to have a little look at the … Read more