Category Archives: Cambridge University Press

Next time a publisher tries to sell you a new textbook

Posted on 15/03/2010 by alexcase

… remind them that there is already a title available that is, according to their own website, ‘Flexible, stimulating, enjoyable, simply PERFECT.’ That’s right, it’s The New Cambridge English Course, still being sold and with its own brand new, funky … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge University Press, ELT publishing, ELT World, General English textbooks, New Cambridge English Course, TEFL forums | 7 Comments

ELT publishing trendspotter

Posted on 07/09/2009 by alexcase

New ways of getting content – Big publishers have been buying up books from smaller publishers (e.g. a couple from Helbling Languages ending up on CUP and Oxford buying up some business skills books) and even self-published books (I gave … Continue reading →

Posted in board games, Cambridge University Press, Critical Mass ELT, Delta Publishing, EFL CD ROMs, EFL geek, ELT Journal, ELT publishing, getting into ELT publishing, Helbling Languages, links, Macmillan, Marshall Cavendish, Materials, modern english teacher magazine, online games, Oxford University Press (OUP), Pearson Longman, Technology, TEFL, TEFL blogs, TEFL e books, TEFL games, TEFL reviews, textbooks, Writing ELT textbooks and materials | 7 Comments

Cambridge ESOL pops up in the strangest places

Posted on 27/01/2009 by alexcase

“Cambridge University Press had committed to publishing the book with minor revisions, and then they suddenly decided not to publish the book. They had committed to it and suddenly changed their minds. Prof Herzfeld was on the editorial board of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge ESOL, Cambridge University Press, EFL exams, ELT publishing, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Teacher training, Teaching English in Eastern Europe | 2 Comments

My top 10 books for/ about EFL for young learners

Posted on 09/01/2009 by alexcase

Wrote this list for a (teacher training) student and thought it might be worth a blog post and maybe a bit of friendly debate. Here are my all time favourites- off the top of my head, but if they’re that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Young Learner Exams, Delta Publishing, EFL exams, ELT publishing, Macmillan, Materials, Oxford University Press (OUP), Photocopiable worksheets, pre-school/ kindergarten/ very young learners, Teaching young learners, TEFL, TEFL reviews, textbooks, Using songs with kids | 4 Comments

TEFL conspiracy theory of the day

Posted on 12/11/2008 by alexcase

Talking of TEFL jargon , am I the only one to notice that since Scott Thornbury wrote “An A to Z of ELT” his other books have suddenly become full of more jargon than you can shake a dictionary at? … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge University Press, ELT publishing, links, Materials, Speaking, TEFL heroes- Scott Thornbury | Tagged | 2 Comments

Nutty TEFL idea of the day

Posted on 07/11/2008 by alexcase

“Sole Mates” from “The Grammar Activity Book” Tie words that go together (such as collocations) to different students’ shoelaces. They then walk around putting their feet next to each other to try to match them up. If they make an … Continue reading →

Posted in adjective plus preposition, Alternative teaching techniques, Cambridge University Press, Classroom management, Collocations, Dependent prepositions, ELT publishing, Grammar, Grammar games, links, Materials, Photocopiable worksheets, Prepositions, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL games, Vocabulary, Vocabulary games | 3 Comments

A little bit more reality in TEFL theory

Posted on 06/11/2008 by alexcase

Continuing my occasional series (as occasional as reality coming into TEFL theory): “…it is relatively rare for language teachers to negotiate overall learning goals with their classes at the beginning of courses in an open, direct manner. However… it is commonplace … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, Cambridge ESOL, Cambridge University Press, CELTA, Classroom dynamics, ELT publishing, Learner training, Lesson planning, Materials, Syllabus negotiation, Teacher training, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL heroes- Rose M Senior, TEFL qualifications | Tagged | 2 Comments

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

An unusual way of preparing for your CELTA

Posted on 23/10/2008 by alexcase

Heartbreak: “One teacher reported that she had been the least nervous of all the people on her course – attributing this to the fact she already knew what it felt like to be deeply hurt…” The Experience of Language Teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge ESOL, Cambridge University Press, CELTA, ELT publishing, KOTESOL, links, Teacher associations, Teacher training, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Korea, TEFL, TEFL certificate, TEFL heroes- Rose M Senior, TEFL qualifications, TEFL reviews | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Surprises about English spelling

Posted on 27/07/2008 by alexcase

More bits and pieces that I didn’t know, had never thought about or had doubts about from The Cambridge Grammar of English: – The reason why you don’t double the p in “developing” is because the previous vowel isn’t stressed. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge University Press, Grammar, Grammar books, links, Materials, Self-study materials, Skills, Spelling, Spelling rules, TEFL, Typical spelling mistakes, Writing | Leave a comment