Category Archives: Teaching teenagers

English teacher presents past perfect, fights for freedom

Posted on 15/12/2007 by alexcase

Although I often feel disappointed with the lack of any social value in my life of teaching adverbs of frequency to spoiled teenagers who want to be dolphin trainers and finding grammar points in Friends videos and typing up worksheets, it … Continue reading →

Posted in British Council, Learner motivation, links, Teaching English in Russia, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TESOL | Comments Off on English teacher presents past perfect, fights for freedom

Japanese college students learn slower than chimps

Posted on 04/12/2007 by alexcase

The BBC reports…  

Posted in Teaching English in Japan, Teaching teenagers | 1 Comment

Unautomating teaching with Summerhill English Schools

Posted on 02/12/2007 by alexcase

Following my own advice for automated teachers, I’ve been trying to use my search for something to write about Japan and or teaching English on my blog as a way of expanding my horizons rather than shrinking them. Recent semi-successful … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, Discipline in the classroom, Humanistic language teaching, Learner training, links, Mixed ability classes, Pairwork and groupwork, Problem students, Teaching methods and methodologies, Teaching mixed level classes, Teaching teenagers, Teaching young learners, TEFL, TESOL | 1 Comment

I’ll believe in technology in the classroom when… Part three

Posted on 20/09/2007 by alexcase

I’ll believe in technology in the classroom when… … interactive whiteboards tell the students to stop misbehaving when your back is turned

Posted in Interactive whiteboard, Teaching teenagers, Technology, TEFL, TESOL | Tagged | Comments Off on I’ll believe in technology in the classroom when… Part three

It’s a games games games games games games TEFLtastic world- Politeness competition

Posted on 07/09/2007 by alexcase

Here’s another nice one for Business English classes, study abroad classes and others. You can also turn it into a board game. I could too, of course, but quite frankly I think I’ve done enough for one week… Politeness competition … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, English for study abroad, Functional language, Language of negotiation, Politeness, Requests, TESOL | Comments Off on It’s a games games games games games games TEFLtastic world- Politeness competition

Travel English links

Posted on 15/08/2007 by alexcase

Here are some game-like resources for teenagers and adults who are going to travel and/ or are working in the travel industry: Travel English and Tourism All tried and tested, but feedback still gratefully received

Posted in Compound nouns, Determiners and articles, English for study abroad, False friends, Grammar games, links, Modals, Past continuous, Speaking, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TEFL games, Travel and tourism | Comments Off on Travel English links

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…"*

Emotican't, emotiwon't

Posted on 30/07/2007 by alexcase

You may have noticed that this blog is entirely emoticon free. Partly choice, partly old-fogey-beyond-my-years-ism. Couldn’t work out any of these either: 3:-o @>–> — ~(_8^(I)  

Posted in slang, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TESOL, Writing ELT textbooks and materials | Comments Off on Emotican't, emotiwon't

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

Mini reviews

Posted on 24/07/2007 by alexcase

Books I’ve been reading recently that I haven’t had time to review but would highly recommend (in no particular order): Office Ladies and Salaried Men- Yuko Ogasawara (University of California Press). A real inside look on what goes on in … Continue reading →

Posted in ELT publishing, IELTS, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, pre-school/ kindergarten/ very young learners, Teaching low levels, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TEFL qualifications, TESOL | Comments Off on Mini reviews