Language Fuel Podcast

This week, we are reviewing a range of dictionaries! It's a bit of a hot topic here in New Zealand at the moment, with our qualifications authority suggesting that language learners are allowed paper-based dictionaries, but not electronic ones, in exams. So language schools around the country are now forced to make sure they have some good quality paper-based dictionaries on hand for students to use.

We look at three different types of dictionaries – bilingual dictionaries, English-English dictionaries, and learner dictionaries – and show you some of the features of each one.

Get in touch with us at [email protected] if you are interested in purchasing a class set for your learners.

This episode, I'm exploring the final 4 steps in Gagne's famous instructional design model: The 9 events of instruction. We looked at steps four and five last episode, and we look at steps six to nine this episode.

You can read about Gagne's 9 events, plus other key concepts in instructional design in the following book:

Gagné, R. M., Wager, W. W., Golas, K. C. and J. M. Keller (2005) Principles of Instructional Design (5th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage.

You can download the summary of these 9 steps at https://languagefuel.activehosted.com/f/43

This episode, I'm exploring further steps in Gagne's famous instructional design model: The 9 events of instruction. We looked at steps two and three last episode, and we look at steps four and five this episode. Tune in to the next episode to hear about further steps, and how they apply to the language classroom.

You can read about Gagne's 9 events, plus other key concepts in instructional design in the following book:

Gagné, R. M., Wager, W. W., Golas, K. C. and J. M. Keller (2005) Principles of Instructional Design (5th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage.

This episode, I'm exploring further steps in Gagne's famous instructional design model: The 9 events of instruction. We looked at step one last episode, and we look at steps 2 and 3 this episode. Tune in to the next episode to hear about further steps, and how they apply to the language classroom.

You can read about Gagne's 9 events, plus other key concepts in instructional design in the following book:

Gagné, R. M., Wager, W. W., Golas, K. C. and J. M. Keller (2005) Principles of Instructional Design (5th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage.

This episode, I'm responding to a thoughtful article by Sarah Priestly. See it here https://eltjam.com/author/sarah-priestley/

I explore why English teachers love fun, and suggest the underlying motivation is essentially student engagement. This then brings me to start a series of instructional videos on Gagne's 9 events of instruction. Gagne's first 'event' is GAIN ATTENTION. I suggest a couple of ways to gain attention of your learners at the start of a lesson, and ask you for your opinion on a couple things. Give me some feedback in the Language Fuel Community (free) Facebook group!

You can read about Gagne's 9 events, plus other key concepts in instructional design in the following book:

Gagné, R. M., Wager, W. W., Golas, K. C. and J. M. Keller (2005) Principles of Instructional Design (5th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage.

We're back in the podcast mode with our first episode for Season Two!

​Te Reo Is one of New Zealand's linguistic and cultural treasures, but everyone's divided about how much it should be promoted. There's been plenty of discussion in the NZ press lately about whether or not learning Te Reo should be compulsory in New Zealand schools.

​I couldn't sit by and not add my own two cents to the debate.

​Hear what I have to say below, and stay tuned for an offer for any current or future Maori language teachers!

​If you are a teacher of Maori (or are training to be), then get in touch - we want to hear from you, and we'll be giving away a free Premium Membership to the Language Fuel Academy! 

​Sign up to enter that draw at www.languagefuel.com/tereo

Swearing. Cursing. Profanity. Is it appropriate to teach swear words to language learners? We discuss this issue today, and hear about a new book by Dr. Sarah Byrne called Swearing is Good For You. The Amazing Science of Bad Language. https://emmabyrne.net/welcome/sigfy/

Have you seen the video about the man who claims to be fluent in 24 different languages? Could this be true?

​In this episode, I define fluency, and talk about the differences between fluency and competency and therefore how we might go about understanding these perhaps incredible claims. 

​Learn also how becoming fluent at every competency level can improve your overall language skills.

Check out what resources you can find at the Language Fuel Academy to improve your fluency today!

Language Fuel is celebrating the launch of the Premium Membership! We are now inviting people to become foundational members of the Language Fuel Academy. Membership includes access to all of our courses, as well as access to our exclusive Facebook group. This podcast episode, Leslie and Joanna discuss what the Premium Membership is all about, and invite listeners to sign up. We discuss what some of the course content is, in our published courses, and we explain why we are including a Facebook group in our Premium Membership service. This is also the first time we've done a video version of the Podcast, so if you want to watch us, you can do so on YouTube. See you at the Language Fuel Academy!

Jo Bell explains to us what Teaching Unplugged is all about. (In English teaching, it also goes by the name of Dogme ELT). There are three main parts to it: 1. It's conversation driven, 2. It's materials light, and 3. It focuses on emergent language.

One of the key publications in this area is:

Meddings, L. & Thornbury, S. (2009). Teaching Unplugged. Delta Publishing.

Dig deeper into this area by following some of the following links below:

www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/teaching-unplugged

www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/teaching-unplugged-activities

www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/dogme-a-teachers-view

www.onestopenglish.com/methodology/minimal-resources/the-world-around-you/