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Sophisticated English for Global Souls
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08
JUN
2011

Ask Your English Students to Review TED.Com videos – and Create Compelling Conversations

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 assignments that respect their intelligence, engage their curiosity, and model great speaking skills. Let your...
05
JUN
2011

English Teachers Confront the Billion-Person Question

“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 remains the billion person question! English language learners across Asia – in China, Thailand,...
04
MAR
2011

Speaking Together to Write Academic Definitions

“The beginning of wisdom is in the definition of terms.” Socrates (469 BCE–399 BCE) , Greek philosopher Getting students to speak can be a challenge, especially in ESL courses focused on academic writing. Flexibility remains essential. How does one, for instance,...
07
FEB
2011

Fluency Requires Practice

“To know and not do is to not know.” The Talmud Fluency requires practice. Our students also know that speaking English can be both satisfying and stressful. Therefore, we require speaking activities in class – and strongly suggest ways to speak more out of...
20
SEP
2010

Conversation Tip #9: Ask Clarifying Questions!

What is a clarifying question? What do you mean? Can you be more specific? Can you give us some examples? What do you exactly mean? Sometimes our English students need help asking questions, especially critical questions that allow them to clarify concepts and better participate...
31
DEC
2009

Happy New Decade! How Will We Change? Will We Discuss Change in Our ESL Classes?

One simple method is to make change a topic in our classes. Cities, products, families, schools, and people change. This moment also allows us to ask some “big” questions. • What changes have you seen in your...
14
NOV
2009

INTESOL Conference on ESL Teachers and Technology Offers Practical Tips

Further, several speakers - including keynote ESL guru Randall Davis – emphasized the need for appropriate technology and “less is more” when designing classroom lessons. As ever, we discussed ways that technology could help English classrooms become more student-centered and...
01
OCT
2009

Have You Added Informational Interviews to Your Advanced ESL Class Yet?

Yet ESL teachers can also help advanced ESL/EFL students conduct research for possible jobs with information interviews. A common practice in the United States, informational interviews allow job seekers to meet working professionals in their field, collect detailed information...
05
SEP
2009

Conversation Tip #4: Ask Questions and Take Turns

Asking follow up question can provide clarity and allow our conversation partners to elaborate on details. Use these simple phrases to go beyond hello and create better conversations. And? So? Where? When? How? Why? Meaning? Smiling and nodding your head also indicate...
07
JUN
2009

Do You Really Use Youtube in Your EFL Classes? How?

I slightly edit the reviews, watch the videos and add my own comments in blue ink, and combine the reviews into a single document that is emailed to all class members. "Use or lose" I say, but here are the reviews from your classmates. Result: almost every student watches every...