learn English

A Quick Writing Sponge Activity

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One of the challenges associated with the art of teaching writing is time management. I think managing pace is an acutely important skill that can kill or motivate a class of student writers. C’mon, not many people can put their head down for 50 minutes and crank out a nice readable piece of writing. So, why should expect ESL students to do that?

That’s why sponge activities are vital. They ask students to write a chunk of writing, with a definite start and finish, in shorter

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Odd Bits About Writing

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Here is a small collection of online resources that might be use to ESL teachers who help students learn how to write English well. Some are directly related to the art and science of teaching writing to ESL students. Others are food for thought.

  1. A neat list of basic writing elements that ESL have learned but find difficult to put into practice.
  2. Sticky Teaching. An interesting info graphic, not directly related to ESL writing, but the ideas are certainly applicable.
  3. Ten Steps to Becoming a Better Writer. A neat graphic – ideal as a 5 minute sponge activity – that gets to the point of what is required to improve writing skills.
  4. 40 Things to do with a text. Looks like a semester of sponge activities for the writing class.

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5+1 Teacher Training Program: Week 6

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This is week six of the Teacher Trainer English program. It is also the last week of regular lectures for this session. Next week the trainees will be doing their oral presentations.

CURIOSITY AND IMAGINATION

This segment is about curiosity and imagination. I suppose we could combine these and call it creativity.

Today let’s investigate a couple of dimensions of

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Learn English Vocabulary

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Here is a link to a long list of ideas for learning English vocabulary. Some of the learning techniques are old, though useful (I still remember my high school teacher refusing to accept one word answers to questions in the classroom). Others might offer a new approach. Read the article or skim the list below.

  1. learn English phrases instead of single words (chunks)
  2. frequent review of word lists (keep lists handy)
  3. graded readers to attach sentiment to words

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