When you are looking for a job, it is a good idea to have a Philosophy of Teaching Statement ready to go. Many jobs require one, so having it already written will be one less thing you have to do in order to put those application packets together. This is Read more…
When I used to ask my Turkish students how something was they would often reply “I was bored.” even when it seemed to me there was no possible way that could have been boring. I would correct them and say it was frustrating or challenging. Without thinking too much about Read more…
Before the internet, finding good audio content for your class meant either recording it yourself or using your VCR to record a video clip of something on TV. Nowadays, however, the internet offers a wealth of listening options if you have the patience to sift through the mountains of material out there. To Read more…
Let me start by saying that I have resisted using technology in the classroom for a long time. I am one of those “old” teachers who started teaching before the internet was widely available. For listening lessons I used to have to use a cassette tape! I still have nightmares about Read more…
8 years ago when my daughter was born I started reading picture books again. As a “serious adult reader” I had not read a picture book since I was a child; it was great! Together we would go to the library up to 3 times a week and I don’t Read more…
Two of my greatest interests in life are teaching and photography. I love to combine the two whenever I can. A great photograph can inspire interest, curiosity, stories, memories and many more great things for ESL classrooms. They can be used in warm up activities as well as for the Read more…
Happy St. Patricks Day! The day of green, leprechauns and shamrocks, not to mention green beer and getting pinched. On March 17th green is not just a color, it is a celebration of all things Irish. This fabulous Irish celebration couldn’t be contained in just one country though, so celebrations have spread around the world. Just as Saint Patrick’s Day could Read more…
Working in groups is never something that I have enjoyed, my instincts are to take a task, go somewhere quietly and work on it all by myself. Sometimes this is a great way to work and solitude certainly has it’s place in being creative, but being able to work with a Read more…
Shy students can have it tough in conversational language classes. Everyone is there to achieve the same goal (to increase their fluency in a second language) but some people just seem to have an easier job than others when it comes to feeling comfortable sharing their ideas verbally. There are Read more…
Entering a new job is kind of like getting married and entering a new family without getting to really meet them before the wedding. You have made a commitment to a group of people who you don’t really know yet. It is exciting and intimidating at the same time. You will Read more…