I answer a listener's request for some ideas on getting larger classes to speak and talk about my current class. Specifically, I describe how I'm asking students to do a variety of tasks with the same (or similar) content in order to help their acquisition of vocab and sentence patterns. Please visit ESLetc.com for materials and related links.

I discuss how last week’s classes went, and I talk about what I’m doing this week, including a listening / discussion activity using headlines. As always, all links and materials are available at ESLetc.com.

I discuss my struggles with critical thinking in China and how I handled some awkward situations. I also talk about my lesson for this week, including activities on giving advice and sentence-level intonation. As always, links and materials are available at ESLetc.com.

I review four global issues video games that could be used in the language classroom: Stop Disasters (natural disasters), What Would You Do? (AIDS / HIV prevention), Food Force (hunger and food aid) and Darfur is Dying (the genocide in Darfur). As always, links and materials are available at ESLetc.com.

This week, I talk about the K12 Online Conference, primarily giving some of my thoughts on the pre-conference keynote. Keynote speaker David Warlick talks about how Web 2.0-type technology is changing how we should approach our students, and I reflect on how this applies to language teaching. I also make some comments about the state of education in China in light of the points mentioned in the keynote speech. Links and materials are available at ESLetc.com.

I start by introducing a roleplay in which students were asked to imagine what they would do if their boss pressured them to do something illegal or dishonest. Next, I talk briefly about how I handled a textbook dialog about Tiananmen Square. I then discuss several textbooks that I have used bring global issues and activism into my English classes. Links and materials are available at ESLetc.com.

In this ESL podcast, I talk about the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, some online work opportunities, and a job interview discussion activity.

I start by introducing a roleplay in which students were asked to imagine what they would do if their boss pressured them to do something illegal or dishonest. Next, I talk briefly about how I handled a textbook dialog about Tiananmen Square. I then discuss several textbooks that I have used bring global issues and activism into my English classes. Links and materials are available at ESLetc.com.

In this ESL podcast, I talk about the Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, some online work opportunities, and a job interview discussion activity.

This week, I talk about the K12 Online Conference, primarily giving some of my thoughts on the pre-conference keynote. Keynote speaker David Warlick talks about how Web 2.0-type technology is changing how we should approach our students, and I reflect on how this applies to language teaching. I also make some comments about the state of education in China in light of the points mentioned in the keynote speech. Links and materials are available at ESLetc.com.