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We learn from conversations every day. What, for instance, did you learn in conversations in the last 24 hours? What can be learned from conversations in the coming week? Conversations matter, and bringing a positive spirit to new conversations helps create more positive...

Our online audience included CATESOL members, California educators, English teachers, community college instructors, and other ESL professionals. Our presentation emphasized four simple steps to creating data commentaries are: introduce the infographic, identify significant data,...

‘Chandos’ Portrait of Shakespeare in the National Portrait Gallery, London “There’s not a man I meet but doth salute me As if I were their well-acquainted friend.” Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors, Act IV, Scene 3: William Shakespeare (1564-1616), British playwright...

“Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.” ~Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680), French writer   Conversation styles are wonderfully varied. Just as one size never truly fits all, one conversational approach may not be appropriate depending on...

Idioms can be difficult for ESL beginners to make sense of. Here are some examples and tips to get you started.

“Habits change into character.” ~Ovid (43 BCE-17 CE), Ancient Roman poet Which is correct: fireman or firefighter? The answer is both! But one has been gaining traction lately, along with many other gender-neutral terms for occupational titles. Here’s why: Many...

Christian Science Monitor’s Ruth Walker spotlights English as a fascinating language   “There is no such thing as “the Queen’s English.’ The property has gone into the hands of a joint stock company, and we own the bulk of the stock.” Mark Twain...