Category Archives: Lesson observations

A short diversion in which we advert to ancient Chinese wisdom

Posted on 15/12/2009 by alexcase

A guest piece by Sputnik of The TESLA Coil ” All teaching is based on deception While everything may seem hunky-dory to outsiders, those of us in the profession know that TESL is, in fact, beset by problems.  Chief among these … Continue reading →

Posted in Lesson observations, Teaching teenagers, TEFL blogs, TESLA Coil | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Some new ideas about CPD in ELT

Posted on 22/07/2009 by alexcase

From July’s MET, and now here on my “CPD portfolio”* The aptly named article “CPD” by Keith Harding has some interesting ideas I hadn’t come across like a Self-SWOT Analysis and a snap-shot observation, but the really weighty matters are … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, CPD, Diploma in TESOL, ELT publishing, Lesson observations, modern english teacher magazine, Peer observations, Teacher training, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL qualifications, TEFL working conditions, TEFL workshops | 5 Comments

Can teacher development make you happy?

Posted on 06/07/2009 by alexcase

I’m reading The Developing Teacher by Duncan Foord, the latest title from the always interesting Delta Publishing and it popped into my head that teacher development does provide a way of getting satisfaction and a feeling of progress out of … Continue reading →

Posted in CPD, Delta Publishing, ELT publishing, Lesson observations, mentoring, Peer observations, Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TESOL | Leave a comment

Big Brother is teacher training you

Posted on 20/02/2009 by alexcase

‘“Gabriela, I want you to ask Kieran a question please,” [the head teacher] Benigno says into a microphone that conveys the instruction to the teacher’s earpiece. She’s noticed the boy turning round in his seat [on her monitor connected to … Continue reading →

Posted in CPD, Lesson observations, PGCE in TEFL, Teacher training, Technology | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The CELTA- what you’re letting yourself in for

Posted on 29/12/2008 by alexcase

The second in a new set of guest pieces (more writers wanted!), this time from recently CELTA certified blogger Jon Bellwood   “Thinking of doing a CELTA? Then before you take the plunge and lay down a substantial sum of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bruce Veldhuisen, Cambridge ESOL, CELTA, Lesson observations, links, Teacher training, Teaching English Abroad, TEFL, TEFL blogs, TEFL career planning, TEFL certificate, TEFL International, TEFL qualifications, TESOL in Australia | Tagged | 12 Comments

Do you want the temporary buzz of moving on and/ or up too?

Posted on 21/09/2008 by alexcase

Doesn’t last of course, especially the initial thrill of being in the chaos of a third world city or in the chaos left for you by the last person who had that DoS job, but if having some kind of … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a Director of Studies, becoming a teacher trainer, Business English and ESP, CPD, EFL exams, ELT management, ELT publishing, finding good TEFL jobs, getting into ELT publishing, Lesson observations, links, Materials, Peer observations, Teacher training, Teaching English in Asia, TEFL, TEFL career planning, TEFL CV/ TESOL resume, TEFL qualifications, TEFL reviews, TEFL working conditions, TEFL workshops, TESOL, Usingenglish | Tagged | 2 Comments

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

Richard Dawkins says you should take that promotion

Posted on 12/11/2007 by alexcase

As the token scientist in almost every TEFL school I have worked in, I have decided to move on from telling all your English Lit graduates how to work out percentages on your end of year grammar tests and move … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a Director of Studies, ELT management, ELT publishing, Lesson observations, Teacher training, TEFL, TEFL career planning | Leave a comment

What is a lesson plan? (metaphors for teaching)

Posted on 11/10/2007 by alexcase

A great question in the comments box of the TEFLtastic Link Up post below from Sandy of TEFLtrade fame, almost Japanese T Shirt-like in the zen stages of enlightenment it can lead you to- first it seems silly and you laugh, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge Delta, Lesson observations, Lesson planning, TEFL | Leave a comment

X in the classroom

Posted on 19/06/2007 by alexcase

Teaching (college student) teenagers again despite my best efforts to avoid it, there is one factor in the classroom that stands out more than other kinds of classes and, subtly or sometimes not so subtly, affects the classroom dynamic of … Continue reading →

Posted in English for study abroad, IELTS, Lesson observations, Needs analysis, slang, Teaching shy students, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TESOL | 20 Comments