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Sophisticated English for Global Souls
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12
MAY
2018

Teaching Matters: Creating Student-Centered Materials for Your English Classroom

“Be curious, not judgemental.” —Walt Whitman (1819-1892), American poet What makes classroom materials “student-centered”? How do fluency-focused materials help create a livelier learning environment? While the web allows English teachers to individualize instruction to an...
05
MAR
2018

Have you taught English in Vietnam? Share your insights in a brief survey!

“One day of traveling broadens the mind.” – Vietnamese proverb What have you found satisfying about teaching English in Vietnam? How do you select or create EFL materials to help your students learn English? What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started...
02
MAR
2018

Have you taught English in Japan? Share your insights in a brief survey!

“When love is deep, much can be accomplished.” – Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998), Japanese violinist and world famous music educator What have you found satisfying about teaching English in Japan? How do you select or create EFL materials to help your students learn English? What do...
18
JAN
2018

Now Available: An eBook of essentials from Compelling Conversations – Japan!

  “No art or learning is to be pursued halfheartedly…and any art worth learning will certainly reward more or less generously the effort made to study it.” —Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973-1014), Japanese author, The Tale of Genji Teachers and tutors of English: do you...
16
JAN
2018
Asian girls eating

Now available: Compelling Conversations Vietnam bilingual supplement comes to Amazon Kindle!

“The mind is not a vessel that needs filling but wood that needs igniting.” —Plutarch (45-120), ancient Greek biographer and essayist Learn, work and dream in English! We are proud to release Compelling Conversations – Vietnam: Supplementary Bilingual English-Vietnamese...
21
FEB
2017
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Sound Conversations: Oral Language Solutions for Vietnamese Language Learners

“I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.”  – James Joyce (1882-1941), Irish novelist   How many Vietnamese English language learners (ELLs) are in the United States? What are the specific...
16
FEB
2017
businessman adjusts the time on his wristwatch

Teaching Matters: The Perception of Time and Value of Punctuality in American Culture

“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern.” – William Blake (1757-1827), English poet, painter and printmaker   The concept of...
24
JAN
2017
Chinese students eating

Teaching Matters: Eating Etiquette

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” -James Beard (1903-1985), American author   Previously on the blog, we’ve addressed how to make positive first impressions in a variety of settings, from a handshake to a professional email. But table manners...
21
JAN
2017
large group of friends tohether in a park having fun

Culture Corner: Identifying & Respecting Personal Space

  “Courtesy costs nothing.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), American writer, philosopher   How close is too close? How can English language learners – and native speakers too! – create more comfortable conversation spaces with strangers, friends and family...
14
JAN
2017
Book Bookcase Library Reading Research School Concept

The Importance of the Academic Word List

“One forgets words as one forgets names. One’s vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die.” – Evelyn Waugh (1903-1966), British author and journalist   What is the Academic Word List? Why does it matter? How can it help English language learners...