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
As the man said, preparation is everything. And this applies no greater than to teaching English. If you are new to teaching English, you should have the words prepare everything tattooed on your forehead. That way you will never go into a class unprepared or with no lesson plan at all. Just think of this:
So you’re all set and ready for the big plane journey abroad. You’ve got your ticket, applied for the perfect English teaching job overseas and been accepted. Got your visa, got that weird feeling in the pit of your stomach — a combination of excitement and absolute dread. But it’s happening. You are going. But
The ULTIMATE Checklist of What to Take When Teaching Abroad Read More »
Canada is rapidly securing its place as the ideal choice for studying. Every year thousands of students arrive in the country about to embark on their academic journey in Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal. In 2018, 572,000 international students studied in Canada — and that is a massive increase from the previous year. The most common
Writing can present enough of a challenge to a native English speaker. But to someone whose second language is English, it is a major hurdle. To write something in English they not only have to think of the correct grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary and spelling but also they have to consider all their thoughts, ideas