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19
MAY
2018

Teaching Matters: Avoiding Good Mistakes in Using Infographics

“Correlation is not causation but it sure is a hint.” – Edward Tufte (1942-), American Statistician and Professor We live in an age of big data, powerful algorithms and infographics. Significant decisions are being made daily based on data input, and adults –...
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...
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...
10
MAY
2018

Guest Blog: Things You Need To Know Working as a Teacher in Dubai

By Fazreen Razeek, Edarabia.com Guest Blogger Famous for its skyscrapers and shopping malls, Dubai is an outstanding place to live and work for those who love the city life. A melting pot of cultures from around the world, Dubai is a great city to explore – especially for...
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...
13
APR
2018

Teaching Matters: The Art of Teaching “Unplugged”

  “The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” – Thomas Berger (1924-2014), American novelist What is teaching “unplugged?” How does this approach enhance language learning for students? What kinds of activities can English teachers implement...
03
APR
2018

Teaching Matters: Introducing Informational Interviews to Your Advanced ESL Class

“You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.” – Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), American author Speaking skills – in particular interview skills – matter. Job interviews – a perennial topic on this blog – are often stressful, especially for English language...
27
MAR
2018

The Value of Playback: Recording Student Presentations and Making Good Mistakes in Real-time

“Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.” – Dr. Richard Carlson (1956-), bestselling American author and psychologist Creating a classroom atmosphere of tolerance, understanding, and constructive criticism remains a constant challenge. How do you help your ESL...
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...