Category Archives: TESOL

English teachers being kicked out of China

Posted on 02/07/2008 by alexcase

“We wanted to get into the way of life here,” said 24-year-old Natan Doyon, who moved from Britain last year with his girlfriend to teach English to Chinese children. He says his pupils were so upset when he told them … Continue reading →

Posted in links, Shane Language Schools, Teaching English in China, TEFL, TEFL chains, TESOL | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Are you a TEFL otaku?

Posted on 15/06/2008 by alexcase

Answer the simple yes/ no questions below and find out (one point for every “yes”, half a point for every “maybe” and zero points for every “no”) 1. Are you unable to read a newspaper or magazine without wondering if … Continue reading →

Posted in TEFL, TESOL | Tagged | 6 Comments

Digging a hole in the EFL classroom

Posted on 11/06/2008 by alexcase

As predicted, I decided that Lessons from Good Language Learners was worth dipping into after all and gave it a half decent review. I think I might have reached the limit with how much obvious-stuff-half-backed-up-by-research I can take with Teacher … Continue reading →

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The Alternative ELT JargonDictionary Part Nine

Posted on 10/06/2008 by alexcase

Consciousness-raising – Using obscure grammar questions as a path to enlightenment, similar to the Zen Buddhist use of koan such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” Content-based approaches- Doing anything that keeps your students happy Corpora- Dead … Continue reading →

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The first language teaching hippy?

Posted on 10/06/2008 by alexcase

Dr Joseph Webbe (c. 1560-1633): “no man can run speedily to the mark of language that is shackled and ingiv’d with grammar precepts” (Webbe, 1622, cited in A History of English Language Teaching by A P R Howatt and Teacher … Continue reading →

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The Alternative ELT Jargon Dictionary Part 8

Posted on 09/06/2008 by alexcase

Acquisition facilitator- A factor such as needing a good TOEIC for a promotion that will make it easier for a language school to separate a student and his or her money Affordances- Student decisions on whether a teacher with an … Continue reading →

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Numerous number games

Posted on 19/05/2008 by alexcase

Might just be the physics graduate in me coming out, but I seem to find myself teaching numbers in my classes all the time- be it shouting “seven Eight NIne TEEEEEEN!” at the top of my voice in my kindy classes … Continue reading →

Posted in Business English and ESP, EFL exams, English for Academic Purposes, Financial English, IELTS, Medical and pharmaceutical English, Onestopenglish, Pairwork and groupwork, Photocopiable worksheets, Teaching numbers, Teaching young learners, Technical English, TEFL, TEFL games, TESOL, Usingenglish | Comments Off on Numerous number games

The benefits of teaching in Japan

Posted on 12/05/2008 by alexcase

Number one is that the status of English teachers is not so obviously low that when I met the love of my life and asked her to marry me she actually agreed! You won’t hear a lot about it on … Continue reading →

Posted in Becoming a Director of Studies, Cross cultural training in EFL, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Discipline in the classroom, Eikaiwa, ELT management, English Teachers in Japan, IELTS, Job security, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching English in Spain, Teaching Japanese primary school children, Teaching older students, Teaching shy students, TEFL, TEFL working conditions, TESOL, TOEIC | 7 Comments

Am I past my TEFL peak?

Posted on 10/05/2008 by alexcase

I’ve been teaching three virtually identical classes every week for the last couple of months, something I hadn’t done since doing primary school classes in Thailand. For some reason the second attempt at teaching the lesson is always better than … Continue reading →

Posted in ELT management, Teacher training, TEFL, TESOL | 4 Comments

33 cultural differences to annoy you in the classroom

Posted on 20/04/2008 by alexcase

1. German students trying to be cool 2. Japanese students giggling at everything you say, until it just isn’t flattering anymore, however cute they are 3. Chinese students falling asleep, then making you feel guilty when you do the topic … Continue reading →

Posted in Body language in the classroom, Classroom management, Cross cultural training in EFL, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Problem students, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching shy students, TEFL, TESOL | Comments Off on 33 cultural differences to annoy you in the classroom