Category Archives: Learner motivation

Why are there so many bad English teachers in Japan?

Posted on 10/08/2007 by alexcase

After training, recruiting, observing and chatting with English teachers and students in Turkey, Thailand, Spain, Italy, the UK (meaning teachers and students from everywhere) and spending 4 years in Japan, I have come to the conclusion that the average level of … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom management, Learner motivation, Learner training, Pairwork and groupwork, Phonemic script, Pronunciation, Teacher training, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL, TESOL | 4 Comments

How the future of textbooks has to be

Posted on 09/08/2007 by alexcase

How the future of textbooks has to be Looking back on my 12 years of teaching English, if it is not just old age speaking I could swear that the first couple of years after I did my initial certificate … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, ELT publishing, General English textbooks, Learner motivation, Learner training, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, links, Mixed ability classes, Speaking, Staging, Technology, TEFL, TESOL, textbooks | 7 Comments

Read article + talk about article = learn a language

Posted on 07/08/2007 by alexcase

This is the one simple recipe that teachers all over Japan are using to raise the level of their students’ English: Take one copy of the Japan Times that you were going to read anyway Cut out one topical and/ or cultural article … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, Classroom management, EFL exams, Learner motivation, Lesson planning, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Mixed ability classes, Pairwork and groupwork, Phonemic script, Social English, Speaking, Staging, TEFL | 3 Comments

Pairwork: "It started with a kiss…"*

Posted on 06/08/2007 by alexcase

In a moment of inspiration fueled by low tolerance to the stimulating effects of real British “builders’ tea”, have come up with: The pairwork magic formula I have yet to teach a class that wouldn’t do and enjoy pairwork eventually. … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, First conditional, Grammar games, Learner motivation, Lesson planning, links, Mixed ability classes, Pairwork and groupwork, Problem students, Speaking, Staging, Teaching low levels, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TEFL blogs | Leave a comment

Ask Auntie Alex- Solve all your troubles with TEFL Part Three

Posted on 30/07/2007 by alexcase

Busy, busy, busy, busy. A TEFL Agony Aunt’s work is never done. But does Auntie Alex let it get her down. Of course she doesn’t! There’s no need, when you have the tools of TEFL teaching to save the day. … Continue reading →

Posted in Learner motivation, Lesson planning, Staging, TEFL, TESOL | Leave a comment

Authentic Materials and Student Motivation

Posted on 28/07/2007 by alexcase

Not a big enough problem to worry Auntie Alex with, so will deal with this reader enquiry myself: Some good-looking internet resources on said topic, have no more than skimmed them myself but the sites they are on are well … Continue reading →

Posted in ELT publishing, Learner motivation, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Problem students, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TESOL | Tagged | 3 Comments

Older = wiser = wider vocab??

Posted on 25/07/2007 by alexcase

It seems not just the population but also the chimps in Japan are suffering from rapid ageing, something else in which we also lead the world. (First time I’ve said ‘we’ meaning people in Japan there!) As the baby boomers … Continue reading →

Posted in Learner motivation, Problem students, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching low levels, Teaching older students, TEFL, TESOL | Leave a comment

What do you do when you're number one?

Posted on 25/07/2007 by alexcase

No, not TEFLtastic- Toyota. Now that Toyota is top of the world, it seems all some analysts can see is the inevitable decline. Understandable in a way, but it is not as if the Japanese gave up their number one … Continue reading →

Posted in Learner motivation, Problem students, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching low levels, TEFL, TESOL | Tagged , | Leave a comment