The Language of Opportunity – Wabash profiles an English Teacher
September 11, 2011
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Most of the book’s prompts ask for recollections or personal opinions.“Whatever perspective you bring to the book, I want you to find validation in some…
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Becoming an Autotelic English Teacher
July 7, 2011
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“The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity, and the brute by instinct.” Marcus Cicero, Roman statesman and orator…
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Ask Your English Students to Review TED.Com videos – and Create Compelling Conversations
June 8, 2011
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How can you encourage your advanced ESL students to develop their speaking skills and tap their interest in our rapidly changing world? Create compelling classroom…
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English Teachers Confront the Billion-Person Question
June 5, 2011
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“How can rural Chinese students develop their listening and speaking skills with very limited opportunities to speak with actual native speakers in person?” This question…
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Becoming A More Autotelic – Self-Directed – English Language Learner
July 4, 2010
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Why do you want to learn English? What are your interests and priorities? Why not create your own, independent English language program this summer –…
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Globish – or Global English – Becomes Mainstream
June 28, 2010
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McCrum, who wrote the influential book "The Story of English", argues that English has become Globish because it is the world’s international language. Partly descriptive…
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Location Matters for EFL Teachers: Modifying English Content to Match Local Context
June 16, 2010
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“To know and not do is to not know.” – ancient Jewish proverb Directing a private international high school in Vietnam last year provided many…
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Does Teaching English Open Minds in Closed Societies? – Part 1
February 6, 2010
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Does teaching English open minds in closed societies? Are repressive governments “right” to fear the spread of English? Can the mania for learning English destabilize…
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What Does Success Mean? What Definition Works for You?
August 10, 2009
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Sometimes the simplest questions create the best conversations. What does success mean? What definition are you using? How is that definition working for you?
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Standardized Exams: Ends or Means?
June 21, 2009
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The main focus of language programs, especially in high schools, should be helping students develop authentic language skills so they can actually read, write, listen,…
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