Category Archives: Humanistic language teaching

Mario Rinvolucri Handed Over to English UK

Posted on 25/06/2011 by alexcase

Photos have just emerged of the English UK Special Forces taking away a handcuffed Mario Rinvolucri from his secret lair under Pilgrims school in Canterbury. Rumours are that the management of the school have known for years that he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Pilgrims | Tagged | 5 Comments

New TEFL.net articles and reviews May 2010

Posted on 30/05/2010 by alexcase

By me 19 ways to make sure students understand your instructions English is everywhere for everyone (Was writing this for English Teaching Professional magazine, but then thought, nah can’t be arsed, so you get to read it here for free … Continue reading →

Posted in Humanistic language teaching, Interactive whiteboard, TEFL games, TEFL reviews | Leave a comment

Experimental lessons

Posted on 03/03/2010 by alexcase

Was hoping some of you could help me brainstorm things that could be done for the Cambridge DELTA experimental practice lesson, as well as any other advice on being experimental that they may have. The main difficulty in the DELTA is that you need … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, CLIL, Community language learning, Dogme, Humanistic language teaching, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Suggestopedia, TEFL, The Callam Method, The Silent Way, Using L1 in class | 16 Comments

What was the biggest change in TEFL in the Noughties?

Posted on 21/12/2009 by alexcase

If you’d asked me in 1999, I probably would’ve predicted that Task Based Learning was going to take over the TEFL world, for better or worse. What a damp squib that turned out to be, with apparently even Cutting Edge … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council, Dogme, Electronic dictionaries, ELT publishing, Humanistic language teaching, IELTS, Interactive whiteboard, International House, Pilgrims, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Thailand, teaching online, Technology, TEFL blogs, TEFL in the UK, Twitter, Wall Street | 10 Comments

A fireside chat with Sandy McManus

Posted on 22/09/2009 by alexcase

He’s been the most famous/ notorious online TEFL figure for around five years, and the age of Twitter doesn’t seem to have calmed him down at all. In this exclusive TEFLtastic interview, Sandy shows his sensitive side

Posted in Dogme, EL Gazette, first TEFL job, getting out of TEFL, Guardian TEFL, Humanistic language teaching, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Teaching English in Spain, TEFL blacklist, TEFL blogs, TEFL career planning, TEFL chains, TEFL heroes- Mario Rinvolucri, TEFL heroes- Sandy McManus, TEFL heroes- Scott Thornbury, TEFL in the UK, TEFL villains- Paul Lowe, TEFLtrade | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Psychology for English teachers May 09 Part Two

Posted on 27/05/2009 by alexcase

From the article “All together now” in Scientific American Mind April/ May 2009Chip Heath and Scott S. Wiltermuth got groups of students to march around the Stanford university campus and tested them against other groups who just strolled together along … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, Humanistic language teaching, Technology, TEFL | 6 Comments

Slogans for crap English schools

Posted on 07/09/2008 by alexcase

1. “Officially the blondest teachers of any school in Japan/ China/ Taiwan etc” 2. “We’ve never changed because we are perfect” 3. “Come and see the new batch of teachers, fresh off the plane” 4. “The youth of our teachers … Continue reading →

Posted in Humanistic language teaching, Job security, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Europe, TEFL, TEFL working conditions, TESOL | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

25 motivational messages for TESOL teachers

Posted on 29/08/2008 by alexcase

Positive messages to chant to yourself in front of the mirror or record on your iPod include: 1. “I will make my students love English so much that they cry when they can’t come to class” 2. “Having no money … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Humanistic language teaching, TEFL celebs/ TEFL heroes and villains, TEFL heroes- Jeremy Harmer, TEFL heroes- John and Liz Soars, textbooks | Tagged | 4 Comments

TEFLing quote of the day

Posted on 29/05/2008 by alexcase

“Our profession is notorious for exploiting its most valuable asset – language teachers – for financial gain. I remember a teacher recalling taking a summer job where he and his fellow teachers struggled to teach competently in a school with … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Cambridge University Press, Class-centred teaching, Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, Dodgy TEFL school owners, ELT publishing, Humanistic language teaching, Job security, links, TEFL, TEFL celebs/ TEFL heroes and villains, TEFL heroes- Rose M Senior, TEFL in the UK, TEFL working conditions, UK summer schools | Tagged | 1 Comment

CPD= Exploitation?

Posted on 05/12/2007 by alexcase

I’ve been ruminating on for several years of how Continuing Professional Development like observations, workshops and being given responsibility for a supplementary file or two often start off seeming like an opportunity and then gradually come to seem like just … Continue reading →

Posted in CPD, HLT magazine, Humanistic language teaching, Lesson observations, links, Pilgrims, Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL celebs/ TEFL heroes and villains, TEFL heroes- Mario Rinvolucri, TEFL working conditions | 10 Comments