Words of solace for a crammed semester
September 8, 2008
Eric Roth newBlog
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are,” advised President Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt. These words of solace often comfort me when I…
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Does Uncle Sam want immigrants to learn English?
July 18, 2008
Eric Roth newBlog
Yet funding for English language classes, especially for adults, remains quite limited. Government programs only help students learn rather basic English, often around 1200 essential…
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Can I turn that paper in next week?
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
Accommodating English teachers, students and the need for more time Sometimes time just seems to escape, and we fall behind. Despite the alarm clocks, cell…
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Make time for conversations – in and outside of English classrooms
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
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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ESL classes should include more conversation activities!
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
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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Why not create a culturally sensitive Compelling Conversations?
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
Why I chose not to censor Compelling Conversations to increase accessibility “Only the educated are free.” Epictetus (55-135), Greek philosopher Many English teachers have asked…
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What should every (college) ESL student know?
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
What should every ESL student know? Beats me. One size fits all philosophies often seem a bit strange to me. Can anybody really answer this…
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Teaching Immigrants English makes daily life better, safer for citizens!
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
A good society helps its citizens flourish and visitors feel welcome. A good society also invests in education, including teaching immigrants enough English that…
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Negative headlines and trendlines for ESL in California
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
Adverse effects of public education budget cuts “Only the educated are free.” -Epictetus (55-135), Stoic Philosopher The dollar continues to decline in value. The national…
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Unexpected events at TESOL Convention
June 15, 2008
compellingconversations-admin
Pleasant surprises at TESOL Convention “Expect the unexpected.” -ProverbI kept an open schedule, previewed some workshop titles, and conducted more research than usual before going…
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