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15
MAY
2018

Are Nominalizations ‘Zombie Nouns’?

How do you balance the need for your English students to demonstrate a rich, robust vocabulary with concerns about “zombie nouns”?  Do you agree with Sword’s critique of nominalizations as “zombie nouns”? Or do you believe our English students should use nominalizations to...
03
MAY
2018
Shakespeare used plural pronouns too

Is “They” Okay? Is it okay to use “they” for a singular pronoun of unknown gender?

‘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...
17
AUG
2016

Teaching Matters: Studying English Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes and suffixes are essential to the structure of the English language, and help expand student vocabulary. But how? Let's become word detectives!
28
JUN
2016

Talking More About Phrasal Verbs in English

Context remains crucial in many English conversations, and phrasal verbs go a long way in establishing context. Let’s talk about "talking" with phrasal verbs!
14
JUN
2016
Hands of young potter

Teaching Phrasal Verbs – Fun with Take and Make

Many phrasal verbs with "take" and "make" have multiple meanings and are easy to confuse. By "taking" a look at context, we can "make" comprehension easier!
23
DEC
2015
Students talking

Teaching Tips: Discussing Idioms in the Classroom

Idioms can be difficult for ESL beginners to make sense of. Here are some examples and tips to get you started.
03
JAN
2015

‘Verbal Energy’ column quirky, insightful, fun

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...
24
SEP
2014

It’s a Breeze in Easy English Times

Idiom lessons by IAB in EET   “These lessons will help you use more colorful English in your life. Idiom by idiom, you will find speaking English less difficult and more fun. You might even find speaking English ‘a breeze.’” -It’s a Breeze book descriptionIdioms certainly...
17
SEP
2014

Perfection and grammar: not essential for ESL students, or even native speakers

Certain grammar rules unnecessary for comprehension, everyday conversation “Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.” -Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) Spanish surrealist painterIs it always essential to have perfect grammar? Must we always avoid split infinitives, dangling...
15
AUG
2014

Between life and death: Zombie nouns privilege pretentious vocabulary at the expense of simple clarity

The nominalization of nouns creates abstract, dry and often misleading language “Simplicity is the glory of expression.” -Walt Whitman (1819-1892) American poetSometimes, it’s fun to play with the English language and transform its adjectives, adverbs and nouns into more...
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