Category Archives: Lesson planning

Teaching quote of the day

Posted on 24/08/2007 by alexcase

“(Rod Ellis) recommends holding off teaching grammar to beginning students because the early stages of acquisition are primarily lexically rather than grammatically based and because of the evidence from immersion programs that learners are able to acquire word order and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, ELT publishing, General English textbooks, Grammar, Lesson planning, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Teaching low levels, TEFL, textbooks, The lexical approach | Tagged | Comments Off on Teaching quote of the day

PPP RIP? Part Two

Posted on 23/08/2007 by alexcase

Carrying on looking at whether teachers should still teach PPP and therefore whether teacher training courses like the CELTA should still cover it, lets look at some criticisms people could level and/ or have levelled at this approach: There is … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, CELTA, Lesson planning, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, PPP (Presentation practice production), TBA (Task Based Approach), Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL qualifications, Test teach test | 25 Comments

PPP RIP? Part One

Posted on 23/08/2007 by alexcase

Thanks to Appy Linguist for mentioning the PPP approach while talking about the CELTA because I’ve been meaning to write about it for a while. The question is: should teachers still be trained to teach PPP and it’s offshoot (or … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, CELTA, Grammar, Grammar games, Lesson planning, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Pairwork and groupwork, PPP (Presentation practice production), Speaking, Staging, Teacher training, Teaching low levels, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL games, TEFL qualifications, Test teach test | 5 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

Those pesky emails are now done!

Posted on 07/08/2007 by alexcase

Trying to find fun stuff to practice emailling in class is one of the banes* of my life, so I think I deserve a little smugness on having come up with a new idea on how to do so. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Email, Error correction, Lesson planning, Pairwork and groupwork, Paragraphing, TEFL, TEFL games, Writing games | 2 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 | Comments Off on Pairwork: "It started with a kiss…"*

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 | Comments Off on Ask Auntie Alex- Solve all your troubles with TEFL Part Three