Category Archives: English for study abroad

The best end of term revision games

One way of finishing the term is with Xmas-themed stuff (see the post below). Another good one is lots of fun revision games. As I’ve spent a few years teaching students who want to do every page in the book … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, Business English games, Collocations, ELT publishing, English for study abroad, Functional language, Grammar, links, Materials, Personalisation, Photocopiable worksheets, Revision games, Speaking, Speaking games, Taboo, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TEFL games, Usingenglish, Vocabulary, Vocabulary games | 2 Comments

Trains on time but weather delayed

The rainy season (tsuyu) is completely screwed this year. In fact, every year since I got to Japan I’ve been told that “The weather this year is strange”, same as “The cherry blossom this year is early/late”. This may well … Continue reading →

Posted in Adapting textbooks, Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, Classroom routines, English for study abroad, Teaching Japanese primary school children, Teaching young learners | Leave a comment

X in the classroom

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

The Meaning of Scotland

Great question in my senmongakko (private college) class today: “Teacher, I still don’t understand what Scotland means” I chose to take that as a geographical and political question rather than a philosophical one (Does anyone really, deep down, understand what Scotland … Continue reading →

Posted in English for study abroad, Teaching English in Spain, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TESOL | 4 Comments