Blog

~~Teaching very young learners (i.e. under 5s) can be particularly daunting for many teachers. For most it is the first time they have had to cope with children this young, and many are concerned or worried about how best to approach the class. However, it is important to remember that while this age does present a set of unique challenges it is a lot of fun and very rewarding.
On the whole very young learners are focussed on having fun, playing games and being entertained; they are naturally curious and want to know about the world around them. Everything is new and interesting and worthy of exploration, using all five senses.
Most very young learners are, initially, very shy of their new teacher; especially as to them the new teacher is a strange scary looking foreigner. It is not uncommon for them to become fixed to their mothers, barely acknowledging your presence. The main thing that works in your favour is their innate curiosity, so with the aid of funny faces, silly noises etc ...

IELTS Test is regarded as one of the most popular and trusted 'English Language Test' all over the world. As per records, 135 countries accept the IELTS certificate and nearly as many as 2.7 million candidates take the test, annually. Naturally, the benchmark of the test is set very high and only the most competent candidates become able to come out with success. Candidates know that clearing the test with a high band score is as good as ensuring a bright career overseas. Though clearing the IELTS Test is not as tough as it appears to the mind of most of the non-native English speakers, but not as easy as to call it 'Anybody's job'.
1) IELTS Academic Test and the 2) IELTS General Training Test, are the two modules of the IELTS tests, and the tests are designed and structured in such a flawless pattern that, calling it 'The Ultimate Test of Proficiency in the English language' is not an exaggeration at all. So, for the ultimate test a candidate's preparation has to be absolutely ...

~~An Integrated EAP approach
Summary
The article is about a successful collaborative project within the Computer Science department. It shows how by working together with the department, the library and the study skills centre ESAP can have its profile raised and can make a real impact. It suggests that this collaboration can integrate the support the students receive, show them how the univeristy is connected and that ESAP is an important and relevant part of the university support network.
Article
Academic English is often seen as an odd on to departmental classes. Academics often do not see it as a valuable integrated part of their programmes. As a result of this students also neglect to see its value and often believe that as they are on their courses that those courses should get their undivided attention. This makes the role of the EAP practitioner extremely hard and we can often feel like we are facing an uphill struggle. However, where there is cooperation and when the role of ...

My article.
The profile of EAP and ESAP is often very low key and under the radar of many academic departments. It is often seen as remedial and an afterthought. As EAP teachers we are aware of the difficulties non-native and indeed native speakers face in becoming familiar with the academic culture and acquiring an academic voice of their own. This article shows a way that as EAP teachers we can raise our own profile and by doing so can help to raise awareness that we are not just a remedial service or a basic study skills provider. It helps to show that we are professional members of the university by achieving Fellowship of Higher Education status and have an important  role to play in learning and teaching.
 
 
I have almost twenty years teaching experience including ten of EAP and ESAP in three tertiary establishments in the UK. However, in this time I have often felt that insessional support has been viewed as an add on or as something that we give to the weaker students or just ...

Having retired from public education after about 35 years in the classroom, I encountered withdrawal and so returned as a volunteer, guest presenter, and college supervisor. There are few thrills greater in life than working with excited teachers and engaged students.
I have discovered that good teachers want to get better; great teachers wish to advance strategies and skills; fantastic teachers want to know and be and do terrific things every day in every way to reach and teach every child. Regardless of the above mentioned category, these teachers want to improve so that their lessons engage students and bring them academic success. Yes, there are a few educators who prefer the status quo, drifting along with the current while trying to avoid stress, strain, or cultivating talents. Fortunately, I know little of these folks as I am not invited into their private realms nor do I necessarily want to go.
Inspired teachers light up the room with motivation and creativity. Students here ...

Meeting the needs of all the children in your class seems like a daunting task. Because it is. However, classrooms in the 21st century are demanding this style. In fact, our whole society is demanding it. With the viral spread of technology and social media, the change in our language and ways of communicating is changing the way our education system must look.
Don't get me wrong, change is good, technology is good, and yes, social media is good. What's not good about these things is the lack of physical- social interaction skills we practice in order to get through the day. The lack of problem-solving skills we practice because our phone does it for us. Not to mention the "havoc" that we reap on our entire sensory system from all the "screen time" that we log.
What Do 21 Century Learners Look Like?
Over the past ten years of my personal experience as a Reading Interventionist, I have seen the classroom dynamic shift. Ten years ago, there was one, maybe two students that needed to be ...

Education is the primary agent of transformation towards sustainable development, increasing people's capacities to transform their visions for society into reality. Education not only provides scientific and technical skills, it also provides the motivation, and social support for pursuing and applying them. For this reason, society must be deeply concerned that much of current education falls far short of what is required. When we say this, it reflects the very necessities across the cultures that allow everyone become responsible towards quality enhancement.
Improving the quality and revelation of education and reorienting its goals to recognize the importance of sustainable development must be among society's highest priorities. It is not that we talk only about environment but also about every component of life.
We therefore need to clarify the concept of education for sustainable development. It was a major challenge for educators during the last decade. The meanings of ...

The International English Language Testing System Test or the IELTS has four parts 1) Speaking Test, 2) Listening test, 3) Reading Test & 4) Writing Test. The test has two different formats as well 1) The Academic test and 2) The general Training Test. Apparently, considering the complicacy of tests, the 'Speaking Test' seems the easiest of all the four parts. But in reality its' not that easy, especially for the candidates from non-English speaking countries. The 'IELTS' Tests are taken with a view to testing the proficiency of a candidate thoroughly in all forms of the English language. Naturally, in the speaking test, the proficiency of a candidate in 'Spoken English' is put to the ultimate test. The test is taken by a certified IELTS Examiner and the candidate has to interact with the examiner on different topics which are issues related to real-life situations. The examiner evaluates the depth and expertise of the candidate in spoken English through the discussion. In the ...

~~Stages of a Grammar Presentation
When presenting new language or structure it is important to remember that for some learners it will be a necessary review while for others it is an introduction to a new language point.
Language presentation has a number of stages:
1. Lead-in – put the language into a recognisable context so the teacher can bring out the meaning or learners can see the meaning without a lengthy verbal explanation
2. Elicitation – Increases the opportunity for STT (student talk time), keeps learners engaged, focussed & finds out what they already know
3. Explanation/Clarification – to make sure the learners have fully understood the target language, form & meaning etc
4. Accurate reproduction – help with pronunciation & encourages learners to become familiar with the language
5. Controlled practice – help learners absorb new language and help commit it to long-term memory: To familiarise them with new language, not introduce it. Focus on accuracy.
6. ...

~~Planning and executing effective lessons is of course an extremely important part of teaching. The teacher should always ask themselves the following questions:
 What is the objective of the whole lesson?
 What is the aim of this activity?
 How are learners working together?
 Who is speaking to whom?
 Is the time being used efficiently?
The focus of any class should be on developing the communicative abilities of the learners. Ideally the speaking ratio should be 30 percent maximum teacher (TTT) and 70 percent minimum learners (STT).
As such teachers need to consider the following when planning lessons to maximize learner-learner interaction.
Groupings
Whole Class Teaching: This approach is fine for controlled activities and can foster a sense of belonging in the classroom. However it can restrict learners from saying their own thing or can make them feel exposed if they are talking to the whole group (consider the culture of classes you are teaching). Also the transmission ...