English Teachers Confront the Billion-Person Question
June 5, 2011
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“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…
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Speaking Together to Write Academic Definitions
March 4, 2011
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“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,…
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Globish – or Global English – Becomes Mainstream
June 28, 2010
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McCrum, who wrote the influential book "The Story of English", argues that English has become Globish because it is the world’s international language. Partly descriptive…
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Library ESL Conversation Clubs Grow
June 16, 2010
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Where can immigrants go to practice their English speaking skills in a relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere? How can American libraries introduce their wonderful resources to new…
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Passion and Persistence: Self-Published ESL Authors Tell Their Stories
January 25, 2010
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What motivates ESL teachers to become authors? Why do many of these authors self-publish? What’s their likelihood of success? Naturally, I’m quite interested in these…
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The Crazy Alphabet Game of Teaching English Here, There, and Elsewhere
December 22, 2009
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Confused by the long litany of acronyms in our fast-growing field? You’re not alone. English teachers, linguists, and school administrators must navigate an Amazon River…
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Where Do English Language Learners Live in the U.S.A?
August 20, 2009
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Check out this New York Times’ Interactive Map of English Language Learners across the United States that documents their growth since 1996 – and the…
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What will I learn today?
July 17, 2009
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Consider me psyched. I’m going to a huge conference of ELT, EFL, and ESL professionals today in Vietnam’s White Palace. The 4th-annual VUS-TESOL conference program…
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Standardized Exams: Ends or Means?
June 21, 2009
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The main focus of language programs, especially in high schools, should be helping students develop authentic language skills so they can actually read, write, listen,…
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Do You Really Use Youtube in Your EFL Classes? How?
June 7, 2009
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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…
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