Make it attractive
If you want to become fluent, there's a way to do it all on your own, it just requires this...
nondas
Praising and Criticizing (culture lesson)
Understanding cultures is a major aspect of learning language. Too many educators and schools ignore it and that’s a monstrous mistake. Here I discuss specifically criticism and praise and its impact on our communication at work in a global world.…
No accounting for taste
This episode(82) is on a proverb that can help teachers prepare a topic and/or conversation lesson for their class. It covers the definition as well as ideas on how to incorporate it into your class. Versatile and flexible for many…
What you write matters
I came to this realization fairly recently, with COVID frenzy still surrounding me I was reading a book and the authors made a passing mention of the importance of writing. I focused and read slower. If you’re ever hiring someone…
There is many a slip between cup and lip
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Pandemic contingency plans for teachers and students
There is no denying that there’s been a huge disruption for many of us because of the lockdown With language learning students will feel that the face to face interaction just simply cannot be replaced with online learning and live…
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
It’s the perfect time isn’t? Quarantine has got us locked down and isolated. Can’t go to class, can’t have lessons. When we sign up for a language course we are sending a signal that says we are serious about learning,…
No pain, no gain – language fluency practice
Fluency practice is a NO pain, NO gain proposition. Here's how to get started.
The nearer the bone the sweeter the meat
This proverb series episode focuses on speaking opportunities, for use in the ESL classroom. Encouraging students to speak more and use vocabulary fluently. Teachers can use this proverb in a variety of ways and offer some clear explanations and examples…
Every cloud has a silver lining
Here’s a great proverb idea for speaking in the ESL classroom. In this episode I cover how teachers can use this proverb in class with their students, living it open to some interpretation. Want more ideas sign up for the…
Talking about risk
Sign up for the newsletter: This week’s episode is on Risk. I’ve focused on common collocations, verbs used with risk or to talk about risk as well some common adjectives to describe risk. There’s a lot of vocabulary in…
Full cup, steady hand
When we’re comfortable we enjoy showing it. But a misstep can quickly turn that smile into a frown and then we’ve lost the pleasure we felt a moment ago. I guess the proverb is a reminder that modesty, appreciation, calmness…
The customer is always right
Whose interests are more important? In the long-run? in the short-run? That’s the key. Are you playing the long game or the quick fix? I’m not an economist but if you want a relationship with your customers it would make…
Professional vocabulary: Describing Trends
This week’s episode covers language for describing trends. It’s an incredibly practical topic for university students writing a dissertation/thesis paper or for IELTS exam students because they need this language to describe their research results and graphs respectively. Additionally, professionals…
Ep.77 It’s not what you know…
Need something to compliment your lesson? This proverb does just the trick for teachers looking for a time-filler or a discussion starter. Speaking and vocabulary-use opportunity.