Teaching Matters: How democratic is your ESL classroom?
January 15, 2016
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“Education is a kind of continuing dialogue and a dialogue assumes, in the nature of the case, different points of view.” ~Robert Hutchins (1899-1977),…
Read MoreTeaching Matters: What Are Reasonable Standards for Listening Comprehension and Speaking Skills for ESL Students?
January 11, 2016
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“Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.” ~John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), 35th President of the U.S. Tough…
Read MoreResources: Links for ESL Teachers About Informational Interviews
January 8, 2016
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“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” ~Vidal Sassoon (1928-2012), British hairstylist and businessman Late last year, we published…
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Teachers and Tutors Should Know About Compelling Conversations
July 26, 2014
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English teacher and tutor Joan V reviews Compelling Conversations “We all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks, but for the ledger…
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How do you teach the difference between “a” and “the” during conversation class?
July 20, 2014
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Helping English language learners distinguish articles remains important in advanced ESL and English conversation classes “Great things are done by a series of small things…
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Paraphrasing is an Essential Conversation Skill!
July 10, 2014
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If English students can accurately paraphrase a reading, a radio segment, or a verbal statement, they can actively participate in common conversations and classroom discussions.…
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Creating Simple ESL Lesson Plans Around Top Ten Lists for Advanced English Classes
July 1, 2014
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Advanced ESL/EFL classes benefit from making top ten lists “Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.” ―Tenzin Gyatso (1950-) 14th Dalai Lama Americans…
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Learning by Doing and Making “Good Mistakes” in English classes
June 28, 2014
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Why English learners must practice and make “good mistakes” in order to grow “A man’s mistakes are his portals of discovery.” ―James Joyce (1882-1941), Irish…
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Do Our Students Need to Swim in English or Pass Grammar Tests?
October 26, 2012
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Here is a short list of important questions for our English language learners. Can they order food in a nice restaurant? Can students fill in…
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Why We Wrote Compelling American Conversations for Intermediate American English Language Learners
July 18, 2012
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“America needs new immigrants to love and cherish it.” – Eric Hoffer (1902-1983), American writer and longshoreman Compelling American Conversations: Questions and Quotations for intermediate…
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