Author Archives: alexcase

Alex Case’s guide to modern online TEFL style

Posted on 22/08/2013 by alexcase

The last thing I worked on for TEFL.net/ Englishclub.com was a style guide for writers. Not all of my pet gripes made it in, and are unlikely to now I no longer edit stuff going on there, so thought I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | 1 Comment

The end of TEFL.net reviews (?)

Posted on 20/08/2013 by alexcase

After over ten years chasing up reviewers and publishers and worrying about my fascist approach to other people’s semi-colons, my reign as editor of the TEFL.net reviews pages that I set up are coming to an end in September, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English as a Foreign Language | Leave a comment

How important is observed and graded teaching practice?

Posted on 18/08/2013 by alexcase

Quote from a TEFL course provider who shall remain nameless: “Methodology is the most important thing. On 4-week courses, participants only receive 6 hours of teaching practice. You will have nearly the same number of hours on your first day … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English as a Foreign Language | 11 Comments

100 years of Cambridge ESOL timeline

Posted on 17/08/2013 by alexcase

As promised, here the more useful but less interesting list of dates and events, to accompany my list of more interesting but less useful stats and my review of the book they all came from. 1857 – Founding of the University … Continue reading →

Posted in CAE, Cambridge First Certificate, Cambridge Proficiency, Cambridge Young Learner Exams, EFL exams, ICFE, IELTS | Tagged | Leave a comment

Cambridge ESOL by numbers

Posted on 16/08/2013 by alexcase

I’ve just published a review of Cambridge English Exams The First Hundred Years. Although it’s got plenty of interesting tidbits (many of which I’ve mentioned in my review), the info isn’t exactly easy to find. I’m therefore going to publish this list of … Continue reading →

Posted in CAE, Cambridge First Certificate, Cambridge Proficiency, Cambridge Young Learner Exams | Tagged | 3 Comments

My number one rule when planning classes

Posted on 12/08/2013 by alexcase

If it can be done at home, don’t do it in class Article on my other big guideline “Don’t do anything for students that they can do for themselves” also coming up. Am I missing any even more important rules … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching English as a Foreign Language | Leave a comment

A new word formation game

Posted on 01/08/2013 by alexcase

Came up with this one a bit too late to put it in my new article on the topic, but possibly better than any of the ones that did get in there. Students get one point for each correct statement about other parts … Continue reading →

Posted in Vocabulary games | Leave a comment

Cambridge FCE ideas and materials section massively expanded

Posted on 29/07/2013 by alexcase

The last list was so long, I only had time to briefly mention the fact that I’ve gone on a First Certificate frenzy. So much so that I’ve had to split the relevant index page into ones on the different … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge First Certificate | Leave a comment

New ELT articles, worksheets and news July 2013

Posted on 27/07/2013 by alexcase

There are loads! Will give you something to read on the beach or plane, anyway… Most recent and/ or useful stuff I haven’t mentioned yet nearer the top: Articles How to teach modals of possibility/ probability/ deduction – LINK FIXED If … Continue reading →

Posted in Materials | Leave a comment

Thinking again about running around games

Posted on 26/07/2013 by alexcase

I’ve probably been more guilty than anyone of spreading the idea that students can both run around screaming and learn effectively, but I’ve recently decided it’s almost impossible to combine the two. I feel especially bad if anyone copied my idea of … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young learners | Leave a comment