Ask more. Know more. Share more. Create Compelling Conversations.
That's the educational philosophy used in my English classes. Students learning English as a second language, third language, or fourth language want to share their...
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Ask more. Know more. Share more. Create Compelling Conversations.
That's the educational philosophy used in my English classes. Students learning English as a second language, third language, or fourth language want to share their experiences and insights. This Wkikzine, tied to my website Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics, provides articles and materials to help students open up and reflect on their lives and times.
Do your English students talk enough? Can they sustain a meaningful conversation in English on a wide range of topics? How can you help your students develop their conversation skills in English? Compelling Conversations is a recommended r esource for English teachers and language schools that want to make their conversation classes more fun and exciting. Asking questions on timeless topics is an effective way of encouraging student discussion. This exceptional resource allows students to... Read Full Story
Time flies. Or, as the Romans used to say, “tempus fugit.”
Two weeks after the CATESOL 2009 convention in Pasadena ended, I’m finally having a chance to sort through the numerous books, doublecheck website leads, and evaluate materials that I picked up. Sometimes “the eyes are too hungry”, and I went a bit overboard in collecting ESL materials and resources for advanced English language learners. Of course, English teachers love books, new curriculum materials, and free ESL materials. I... Read Full Story
Do ESL teachers want a more democratic classroom? Perhaps the workshop description discouraged English teachers, the title seemed too bold, or the other two dozen workshops held at the same time appeared more practical.
Techniques and Methods for a More Democratic Classroom
A more democratic classroom encourages student speech, features student created content, allows student choice of assignments, reflects student interests, and includes peer evaluations. Democratic classrooms create... Read Full Story
Language immersion programs are now very popular in different parts of the world and there seems to be endless possibilities to go through it. If you were given the opportunity or the choice to be enrolled in a language immersion program, would you?
First and foremost, a language immersion program is a program where students are placed in a classroom or setting in which only the target language is used. Different versions of language immersion include partial immersion or dual or... Read Full Story
Time flies - especially when focusing on taxes, grading papers, and browsing the internet!
Somehow, the calendar reads April 15. Everybody knows that this is America’s tax day. Yet California English teachers might also remember that April 16 marks the opening of our annual CATESOL conference too.
For better or for worse, that also means I have less than 60 hours before presenting my workshop for ESL teachers too. Time to review the worksheet materials and update my presentation to... Read Full Story
An ambitious, new English language university in Vietnam has just adopted
Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics
for their practical and academic English program! Even better, the American-Pacific University in Vietnam will publish a special version - with their own logo and slightly modified content - for their university and adult students.
This is the first time that a university has bought a license to print their own version of Compelling... Read Full Story
Consider my global soul satisfied this morning!
English Teaching Professional , a glossy magazine for ESL teachers and language school directors, gave a glowing review and strong recommendation to Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics. “In sum, Compelling Conversations is a recommended resource for teachers who want to make their conversation classes more learner-centered,” wrote reviewer Hall Houston. “It should be especially appealing to those who who to... Read Full Story
Let ESL Students Give Product Reviews in the New Year!
Do you let your English students write and deliver product reviews? Consumer reviews help ESL students develop research skills, use critical thinking, and share their consumer choices.
The giving and receiving of gifts has become a central feature of Christmas, Hanukkah, winter solstice and New Year celebrations. We live – for worse or for better – in a consumer age. English language learners, around the world, share in this winter... Read Full Story
Allow me to brag for a moment. Another five-star review for Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics showed up on Amazon. Consider me pleased!
Here’s the entire Amazon review:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wholesome learning resource!, December 4, 2008
By Erika Villafane “Erika” (Miami, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
When compelling conversations got into my hands I couldn’t help but to think: I wish I had this book when I was learning English!
As English as a... Read Full Story
Do you want to create a more student-centered, democratic ESL classroom? How do you tailor assignments to individual students? What websites and resources do you incorporate in your classes to help students improve their speaking and listening skills? Finally, are you an English teacher working in California interested in these topics?
If so, my CATESOL workshop titled “Techniques and Practices for a More Democratic ESL Classroom” should appeal to you. The 50-minute presentation/workshop... Read Full Story
