In the News: Will the U.K. Debate over Teaching English to Reduce Islamic Extremism Travel Here?
February 6, 2016
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“Education is an ornament in prosperity, and a refuge in adversity.” ~Aristotle (384-322 BCE), Ancient Greek philosopher and scientist Can teaching English to new immigrants…
Read MoreTeaching 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),…
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Conversation Tip #1: The right attitude is key
September 20, 2014
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Positive attitudes generate positive experiences Photo by Teresa Ling “In order to carry a positive action, we must develop here a positive vision.” -Tenzin Gyatso…
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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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What Three Tips Would You Share with Novice ESL / EFL Teachers?
August 15, 2013
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What three tips would offer new a ESL/EFL teacher? Hall Houston, author of Provoking Thought: Memory and Thought in ELT, posed this question to several…
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How democratic is your ESL classroom?
October 27, 2008
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Who gets to speak in class? Whose ideas count? Who chooses the assignments? How do students receive feedback? Do students have a chance to conference…
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Make time for conversations – in and outside of English classrooms
June 15, 2008
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The art of conversation, once considered the sign of a civilized individual, seems less common today. Yet I treasure the moments of sharing experiences, collecting…
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English Language Teaching Tip #12: Ask a Question While Taking Attendance
June 15, 2008
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Make a bureaucratic procedure more engaging by asking questions “The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” -Thomas Berger (1924-2014)…
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ESL classes should include more conversation activities!
June 15, 2008
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Conversation activities need greater presence in classrooms “Speech is civilization itself. It is silence which isolates.” -Thomas Mann (1875-1955) German novelist Conversation remains a vital…
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Choosing to speak English opens doors
June 15, 2008
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As ESL and EFL teachers, we should encourage all English language learners! “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love…
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