~~Learning a language involves learning new words. The more words you know the more you will understand and the better you will be able to communicate.
It is said that in order to “get by” in a foreign language you need a vocabulary of at least 120 words.
 Read: The more words you are exposed to the better vocabulary you will have. When you read and see words you don’t know first try to guess the meaning from the sentence/story and then look the word up. Read and listen to things you are interested in. There are lots of graded/guided readers available and even manga/comics.
 Play with words: Do puzzles, crosswords, play scrabble etc. Many of these are available online.
 Themes: Focus on a single theme per week, the mind naturally links connected words together.
 Use context: Research shows that the vast majority of words are learned from context. Pay attention to how words are used, the sentences etc.
 Review: When you learn new words recycle them (use them again and again) this ...

Here are some effective tips for planning to write a Persuasive or argumentative essay.
--Read the topic,
--Think about positives and negatives of the issues in the topic.
--Brainstorm arguments 'for' and 'against'.
--Consider the overall picture/key idea of the topic.
--Make your sentences about ideas.
---Here is a template, like a 'recipe', for planning the paragraphs for paragraphs  for a persuasive essay.
BASIC ARGUMENTS: (Expand and adapt to each topic).
POSITIVE ARGUMENTS: (Example topic: Should sport be compulsory in schools?)
(1) Progress is good.
(2) Need to live in the 21st Century.
(3) Same methods lead to same results.
(4) We all need to be responsible.
(5) If we don't change, we might regret it.
NEGATIVE ARGUMENTS:
(1) What happens next?
(2) It is expensive.
(3) It affects people's freedom, to choose to do what they want.
(4) What is wrong with what we are doing now?
LAST PARAGRAPH (Conclusion):
Consider the topic in relation to its effect on any of these:
(1) Social ...

“Knowledge is an elixir that immortalizes you and what you create out of it.” This quote aptly explains the gravity of why one must possess sufficient knowledge. The primary source of acquiring knowledge is from the traditional setting of a classroom. Classroom learning has been prevalent since the age of Plato and Aristotle. The basic definition of classroom learning includes the imparting of knowledge from a learned individual to pupils in organized methods. This traditional approach to education is partly resilient and partly constrained. When it comes to instilling discipline into students with knowledge, this approach can be assumed viable. But when the question of an all-encompassing and qualitative education arises, this approach lags behind extensively.
To make up what is lost in the traditional approach to learning, a contemporary formula of learning outside the classroom has to be applied. This approach assists young students to relish the pleasures of learning, through ...

Here is the second part of our activities that work well with low level adult students.
 
Activity: Guess the profession
Level: Foundation – Elementary
Target Language: Present simple for routines
Materials: Job cards
Procedure: Before the lesson cut up some paper to make some cards. Give the students one of the cards and ask them to write the name of a job on each piece of paper. Take the cards in and then redistribute them. The students should then hold the piece of paper on their forehead so everyone can see it. Students need to guess which card they are holding. They should do this by going round the classroom and asking questions of the other students. E.g. Do I work in an office? Do I wear a uniform?
 
 
Activity: Shopping role play
Level: Foundation - Elementary
Target Language: Can I have…?
Materials: Whiteboard, paper, pens
Procedure: Have students come up with ideas for items they could buy in a supermarket and then board these ideas. Tell the students that they can have any ...

Communicative Activities for Low Level Adult Students: pt1
 
Communicative activities are the bed rock of the modern language classroom. However for lower level learners it can be difficult to come up with effective freer practice activities, suitable for their level. Below, and in part two, are some ideas for activities that work well with these levels.
 
Activity: Celebrity Heads
Level: Elementary
Target Language: Personal Adjectives: tall, short etc..  He/she is/has got
Materials: Poster, photos or magazine
Procedure:  Show students pictures of various different celebrities, and then ask each student to choose one. They should then write three sentences describing the person they choose. The students then read out their sentences and the others have to guess which celebrity they are talking about.
Alternatively students write sentences about the celebrities and then fold them up. The teacher then collects in the papers and put the students into groups. They give each group some of ...