Category Archives: Staging

Why we really do what we do Part Three- Culture

Posted on 31/05/2010 by alexcase

Finally prompted to continue this series on WWRDWWD by Scott Thornbury’s thought provoking (as ever) piece on Flow, flow being something I’ve been pondering on for a while. I have this strange obsession with making sure all parts of my lesson “flow”, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural differences/ cultural training, Lesson planning, Staging, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Korea | 3 Comments

The most overrated things in TEFL Part One

Posted on 19/04/2009 by alexcase

Preteaching vocabulary The case for the prosecution: – I’ve had to train people on a “CELTA equivalent” course to teach three to five pieces of vocabulary, but if they ever asked why it couldn’t be two or zero I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Lesson planning, Listening, Pre-teaching vocabulary, Reading, Skills, Staging, TEFL, Vocabulary | 11 Comments

New TEFL articles Feb 09

Posted on 11/02/2009 by alexcase

Feel like I should actually write something on my own blog between all these guest pieces, but am still trying to put stuff back where it was after my mother in law rearranged the flat. Instead, here is the usual … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom management, CPD, Grammar, Grammar games, links, Listening, Passives, Pronunciation, pronunciation games, sentence stress, Staging, Starting lessons, Teacher training, Teaching young learners, TEFL, TEFL games, TEFL workshops, Using a whiteboard, Usingenglish | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

An alternative way of boosting your teaching confidence

Posted on 27/10/2008 by alexcase

“She… reported that her self-esteem was raised when her [MA in TESOL] assignments were returned with comments that revealed, in her view, a degree of closed-mindedness on the part of the tutors who had marked them.” From pg 72 of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge University Press, CPD, ELT management, ELT publishing, Lesson planning, Materials, pre-school/ kindergarten/ very young learners, Staging, Teaching young learners, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL games, TEFL reviews | Tagged | Leave a comment

TEFL fun and games Part one- Guess me!

Posted on 03/09/2007 by alexcase

Mondays are not a day for pontificating, and anyway I’m a bit ponficated out at the moment, so here are some fun and games instead- This is one that fits into my ultimate TEFL desert island survival game kit. It … Continue reading →

Posted in adjective plus preposition, Adjectives, Grammar, Grammar games, Mixed conditionals, Photocopiable worksheets, PPP (Presentation practice production), Present perfect, Second conditional, Staging, TEFL, TEFL games, Third conditional | Leave a comment

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

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