From assigning audio journals and monitoring classroom conversations to videotaping mock interviews and analyzing YouTube videotapes, Indiana ESL teachers heard presenters share practical tips and favorite lessons at an outstanding INTESOL conference today. Several INTESOL presenters also lead workshops and shared materials and techniques to incorporate the internet, radio, and other authentic materials into ESL classrooms. Further, several speakers – including keynote ESL guru Randall... Read Full Story

What pleasantly surprised you today? This question often causes people to pause, reflect, and change their dialogue. It gives us a chance to remember some moments of satisfaction, and reminds us that almost every day provides some unexpected moments. “What surprised you today” works too. But I prefer adding the “pleasantly” to counter dialogues that can run to the negative. This positive question opens up room in a conversation for people to express gratitude for wha... Read Full Story

A broad consensus exists among adult educators, especially ESL instructors, that we should take every possible opportunity to focus on job interview skills in our English classes. During these difficult economic times, however, I would suggest that ESL and even EFL instructors working with college and university students also should focus on practical employment skills. Videotaping practice interviews – and longer is better – remains an invaluable tool. Yet ESL teachers can also help ESL/... Read Full Story

A new semester begins, new students enter our classes, and returning colleagues greet us. What can talk about that will go beyond the work-related activities? Books. Teachers, especially English teachers, love to talk about their summer reading. Reading remains a cheap pleasure and an excellent conversation starter. * Can you recommend a good book? * What did you this summer? * What are reading these days - besides student papers? Books and ideas still matter in our 21st century global cul... Read Full Story

Why state the obvious? Why take turns asking questions? Why ask follow up questions? Common sense and social skills don’t seem to be universal. Conversation skills remain a vital soft skill that many scientists, engineers, shy people, and English language learners struggle to master. A key technique is just asking simple questions to keep a conversation moving forward. Asking follow up questions can provide clarity and allow our conversation partners to elaborate on details. English te... Read Full Story

ESL teachers, especially working with oral skills and pronunciation, face a difficult task. Is there a single, correct form of English that should be taught? Should all English speakers sound like Americans or British? What if EFL students plan to study in Australia or Canada? The question is far more complicated than many English pronunciation instructors admit. How do you say that again? Which is correct? What is a sound comparison? English teachers and linguists might also find website ... Read Full Story

What is your American Dream? This remains one of my favorite questions to ask new immigrants and American citizens. I asked that question, followed by, “why” in a regular column for Easy English Times this month. I gave the last words to Toni Morrison, the Nobel-Prize winning author. “The function of freedom is to free somebody else.” Easy English Times, published in California, ran an ESL conversation activity that concluded with that question. is a monthly newspaper written in simple En... Read Full Story

What is your American Dream? This remains one of my favorite questions to ask new immigrants and American citizens. I asked that question, followed by, “why” in a regular column for Easy English Times this month. I gave the last words to Toni Morrison, the Nobel-Prize winning author. “The function of freedom is to free somebody else.” Easy English Times, published in California, ran an ESL conversation activity that concluded with that question. is a monthly newspaper written in simple En... Read Full Story

What is your American Dream? This remains one of my favorite questions to ask new immigrants and American citizens. I asked that question, followed by, “why” in a regular column for Easy English Times this month. I gave the last words to Toni Morrison, the Nobel-Prize winning author. “The function of freedom is to free somebody else.” Easy English Times, published in California, ran an ESL conversation activity that concluded with that question. is a monthly newspaper written in simple En... Read Full Story

What is your American Dream? This remains one of my favorite questions to ask new immigrants and American citizens. I asked that question, followed by, “why” in a regular column for Easy English Times this month. I gave the last words to Toni Morrison, the Nobel-Prize winning author. “The function of freedom is to free somebody else.” Easy English Times, published in California, ran an ESL conversation activity that concluded with that question. is a monthly newspaper written in simple En... Read Full Story