Introduction Most teachers have experienced this moment. You finish reading a story. You pause. You ask an open question. It’s a good question. You thought about this long and hard. It should invite lots of responses. But nothing happens. The room stays quiet. A few students avoid eye contact. Someone eventually gives a short, careful […]
Why Some Stories Kill Discussion (And Others Create It Instantly) Read More »
Introduction: When stories become “time-fillers” We have all done it. It’s Friday, you’ve come to the end of a section in the dreaded textbook that your school insists you use, the students are tired and bored of endlessly trying to improve their English. So, you bring in a short story. And everyone loves stories, right?
How English Learners Misuse Stories (And How Teachers Can Fix It) Read More »
Introduction Teachers often say they want to use stories in class. And why not? It’s a great idea. But then they search for short stories online suitable for ESL classes, download a few PDFs, and bring them into the lesson with good intentions. The idea feels right. Stories are motivating. Stories are “real English”. And
What Makes a Short Story Actually Work in an English Class? Read More »
Introduction Learning English can sometimes feel like wrestling with a puzzle that has too many pieces. You study the grammar rules, try to remember endless vocabulary lists, and then someone uses an idiom you’ve never heard before. And just like that, you’re lost again. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most learners hit this
Introduction I get it. Learning a language can be very overwhelming. And this is all the more daunting when you are faced with a huge vocabulary. But, it’s like the popular saying: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. You should not look at all the words you want or need
The Power of the 1000 Most Common Words in English Read More »
Introduction So you are about to begin a reading class with your students. They are all sitting in front of you, eagerly — or not so eagerly — waiting for the class to begin. What do you do? Dive right into the reading task and tell everyone to turn to page 85? Well, no. You
Why You Need Warm-Up Questions At The Beginning Of Your English Reading Class Read More »
I wrote two articles in the last few years that outline the state of the Online English Teaching industry as it was back then. Check them out below: The Bad Side to Teaching English Online Online Teaching – A Brighter Future for ESL Teachers? Things were bad… Did they get any better since then? NO!
The Dark Side of the Online English Teaching Industry Read More »
Introduction Using realia in the ESL class is a time-tested and oft-used method of learning. It has been around for years and every English teacher has used this learning technique more than a dozen times in their own classes. It is relatively easy to do, but there
English Corner is a group activity where several English students get together and practice their English. What is English Corner? It started in China and is now a regular feature on university campuses, in training centres, parks, schools, coffee shops. Anywhere where a crowd can congregate, you may find an English Corner.
Allow me to present the ULTIMATE guide to teaching English abroad. I cover all the things you need to know. If you are thinking of teaching English abroad, this is the very article you need to read. Let’s dive right in! Why Teach English Abroad? You have just graduated with no real plans