In most English listening classes the students sit in class and listen passively to a tired old recording. Then they answer mundane questions to check they understood everything. It is no wonder that when students hear real English it sounds something like this: Howzitgoing?Didjagettaclassontimthotherday? (Interpretation: How’s it going? Did you get to class on time […]
The examiner might ask you to describe one of your parents in English. This could also be in your class or it could be as part of the IELTS speaking test. In which case, you need to be able to describe your mother or father in some detail. When describing people, students often fall into
How to describe your Mother or Father in the IELTS test Read More »
Introduction Should all women give birth? Is this their role in life? How are women with no children regarded in your culture? How about men with no children? Childless or Child Free? Today, half of all UK women under the age of thirty do not have children. In America, there has been a sharp decline
Childless or Child-Free? — a Talking Points lesson for English reading and speaking Read More »
Something I have seen many times is students in an IELTS or TOEFL class and completely out of their depth. They sit in the class and labour through the exercises, barely able to comprehend what is going on. Every time they come across a new or strange English word they pull out their phone. They
In the IELTS test, the examiner will ask you to compare people or things. This could happen in Part One of the Speaking test but more likely in Part Three. The examiner will then expect you to make comparisons between the two things at length. You may have to make comparisons between two objects, two
Talking about Similarities and Differences in the IELTS Test Read More »
The worst thing you can do in an English reading class is to go through some dreary reading material and expect the students to engage well with it. The standard English reading articles for ESL classes can be so dull. Do you like to read it? No? So why do you imagine your students want
Introduction What is a vegetarian diet? How about a vegan diet? What is the difference? Could you eat this way? Why/why not? A Vegan Diet — The Pros and Cons In the last few years, veganism has exploded in popularity. It has developed from the early beginnings in the hippie culture of the sixties to
Many students have great difficulty in trying to improve their English writing. They simply don’t know where to start. What do you have to do? Unlike speaking which seems far more natural, with writing you see the words appear on the screen and they may appear clumsy or disjointed. You know there is something wrong
11 ways you can improve your English writing today Read More »
Introduction How often do you check your smartphone? How many apps do you use? Do you think you are addicted to your smartphone? Why/why not? Smartphone Addiction Smartphone addiction today is a very real problem among younger people. In the past, when people talked about addiction, they usually meant serious drugs like heroin or cocaine.
Smartphone Addiction — a Talking Points lesson for English reading and speaking Read More »
First a disclaimer — I do not recommend giving yourself only one month to improve your English. You should give yourself longer than that. Regular daily practice in all English skills is a much better method. You will learn more, remember more and see a marked improvement over the weeks, months and years. Slow and