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Sophisticated English for Global Souls
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1-310-390-0131 - Outside U.S.
01
JUL
2014

Creating Simple ESL Lesson Plans Around Top Ten Lists for Advanced English Classes

Advanced ESL/EFL classes benefit from making top ten lists “Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.” ―Tenzin Gyatso (1950-) 14th Dalai Lama Americans love to create, read, and discuss top ten lists. Newspapers and magazines use the simple format to summarize...
28
JUN
2014

Learning by Doing and Making “Good Mistakes” in English classes

Why English learners must practice and make “good mistakes” in order to grow “A man’s mistakes are his portals of discovery.” ―James Joyce (1882-1941), Irish novelist and poet How can English language teachers create a rigorous, tolerant and focused classroom...
15
AUG
2013

What Three Tips Would You Share with Novice ESL / EFL Teachers?

What three tips would offer new a ESL/EFL teacher? Hall Houston, author of Provoking Thought: Memory and Thought in ELT, posed this question to several prominent English language trainers and teachers last year. Sean Banville, Russell Stannard, Chia Suan Chong, Nik Peachey, Scott...
26
OCT
2012

Do Our Students Need to Swim in English or Pass Grammar Tests?

Here is a short list of important questions for our English language learners. Can they order food in a nice restaurant? Can students fill in government forms? Can they understand classified ads - online or in a paper? Can they negotiate prices at a yard...
18
JUL
2012

Why We Wrote Compelling American Conversations for Intermediate American English Language Learners

“America needs new immigrants to love and cherish it.” – Eric Hoffer (1902-1983), American writer and longshoreman Compelling American Conversations- Vietnam: Speaking Exercises for Vietnamese Learners of Englishand Quotations for intermediate American English...
21
JUN
2011

More Links for ESL Teachers About Informational Interviews

Informational interviews have become a common practice among American professionals, but many English language learners remain unfamiliar with this type of networking and job search activity. ESL teachers can create both compelling classroom assignments and provide opportunities...
31
DEC
2010

Discussing the New Year And Making Resolutions to Change in English Class

“Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.” Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), Nobel Prize winner for Literature Holidays and anniversaries often prompt personal reflections. As 2010 ends and a new year beckons, millions of English language...
15
DEC
2010

Dwell in Possibility: Discussing Books Enlivens ESL Classes

Reading remains a great pleasure and a helpful guide. Literature can also enliven our ESL classrooms, and discussing our favorite books opens up new possibilities. The humanities should be for everyone - including English language learners. Let us, as Emily Dickinson advised,...
28
JUL
2010

How do you teach about immigration issues?

Millions of people, around the world, have chosen – or been forced – to leave the nation where they were born. Immigration has become more popular – partly due to modern technologies like planes, trains, and cars – than ever before in human history....
04
JUL
2010

Becoming A More Autotelic – Self-Directed – English Language Learner

Why do you want to learn English? What are your interests and priorities? Why not create your own, independent English language program this summer – for free? Learning English, on your own and according to your own wishes and needs, has never been easier. Everyone with internet...