Author Archives: alexcase

The most useless listening exercise in the whole of TEFL?

Posted on 22/07/2013 by alexcase

There’s quite a lot of competition for this prize, but the task I’m talking about is astounding not only for it being almost impossible for students to either learn language or improve their listening skills from it, but also for … Continue reading →

Posted in Listening | 3 Comments

New language of speculation pages

Posted on 19/07/2013 by alexcase

11 worksheets and one article, with more to come: Speculating games and other photocopiables Modals of probability/ possibility/ deduction

Posted in Functional language, Modals of deduction, Modals of possibility probability | Leave a comment

I may not be the best teacher, but…

Posted on 13/07/2013 by alexcase

… since that new guy joined I’m no longer the worst. … I’m not nearly as bad a teacher as I was two years ago. … I didn’t realise I could have got a job without a CELTA until I’d … Continue reading →

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

Theory and reality of the Business/ ESP approach

Posted on 09/07/2013 by alexcase

It sounds like a great approach most General English classes taught the CELTA way could also learn from – find out what students need and give it to them. However, it rarely works out to be quite that simple in reality. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP | Leave a comment

Review of new course Super Minds – the unedited ranty version

Posted on 08/07/2013 by alexcase

If you want to more carefully thought through and edited version, you’ll have to read the July edition of Modern English Teacher magazine. I think this more direct response to the materials also has its merits though…  This is mainly … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young learners | 6 Comments

The missing year of TEFLtastic humour

Posted on 07/07/2013 by alexcase

Thought I’d make fixing all the broken links in 2010 less tedious by making the Most TEFLtastic Attempts at Humour in 2010 post that I never got round to putting together back then. In approximate order of how amusing I … Continue reading →

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

An alternative to getting students to write second drafts

Posted on 05/07/2013 by alexcase

Although I can absolutely understand the language learning value of it and IELTS and Academic Writing students sometimes ask me if they can try again, I somehow can’t get myself to ask adult students to write second drafts. It’s probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | 2 Comments

New ELT photocopiables May and June 2013

Posted on 28/06/2013 by alexcase

See the post below for articles in that same time. Illegal downloads reading and discussion Describe the transport guessing game Food vocabulary word formation game Transport and travel Avoiding absolute statements Public spaces Brainstorming and speaking Opening and closing formal … Continue reading →

Posted in Photocopiable worksheets | Leave a comment

New TEFL articles June 2013

Posted on 27/06/2013 by alexcase

The only reason I started this blog back in June 2007 was to give links to my articles and worksheets elsewhere. Somehow I haven’t found time for one of my regular monthly lists since January this year, while I have … Continue reading →

Posted in ELT publishing | Leave a comment

The main reason why I don’t like teaching kids

Posted on 24/06/2013 by alexcase

One major reason is that I have a constant feeling that I should know more about what I’m doing. My employers and people like MET and Macmillan who’ve published my ideas on teaching young learners seem perfectly happy with my … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching young learners | 6 Comments