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Sophisticated English for Global Souls
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06
JAN
2022

Riding Life’s Waves: Confronting Procrastination – The Surfer’s Way

How do we avoid avoidance? How do we find the inner resources to confront situations and move forward? “[F]eeling is what tells you you’re alive,” Bregman explains. By riding out our emotions like waves, we become less intimidated by them – and maybe even enjoy them. It’s like...
13
FEB
2021

Podcasts for Real Skills and Compelling Conversations

By Samantha Jungheim & Eric H. Roth “Any story hits you harder if the person delivering it doesn’t sound like some news robot, but in fact sounds like a real person having the reactions a real person would.” –Ira Glass (1959- ), American radio personality and host ...
22
JUL
2018

Guest Post: What are the 6 Principles for Teaching English as a Second Language?

“More important than the curriculum is the question of the methods of teaching and the spirit in which the teaching is given.”  —Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), British philosopher and 1950 Nobel Prize winner in Literature What are the most important English as a Second Language...
19
JUL
2018

Tutoring Ethics: More Dos and Taboos for Novice English Tutors

  “Good judgement comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.” —Rita Mae Brown (1944-), American writer and activist   What are some common ethical issues that arise for private English language tutors? How are they supposed to respond? What...
23
JUN
2018

Teaching Matters: Tips on Tutoring Conversation Skills to Adult ESL Students

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” ―Tony Robbins (1960- ), American motivational speaker What does it mean to effectively tutor conversation skills to an English language learner? How can you make the most of your time – typically 60-120...
05
JUN
2018

Teaching English on Skype: Practical Platform Advice for Novice Online ESL Tutors

“Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. But make sure you don’t make the same mistake twice.” —Akio Morita (1921–1999), former chairman Of Sony Corporation What are some of the advantages of teaching English on Skype? How can you, the English teacher, make the most of Skype as an...
26
MAY
2018

Teaching Matters: Observing and Leading Class Discussions

“The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man’s observation, not overturning it.” —Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton (1803–1873), British novelist/politician What do you do while students are having conversations or talking in pairs? Do you have a “formula” for...
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...
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...
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...