English is quite a difficult language to get to grips with. Many non-native people who attempt to learn English find themselves making a few common mistakes. However, coming up against such obstacles should not deter any language students. What follows are examples of a few commonly made mistakes, which will hopefully enable students learning English to avoid or overcome them.
May 24, 2011
Teaching 3673 Views
Even the best teachers make mistakes. So many of our classroom management strategies are used without thinking. We don't always reflect on where they originated. And what is worse, we don't monitor their effectiveness. It is important for us to be reflective teachers so that we don't perpetuate a damaging strategy. Here are five more mistakes we often make with our low achieving students.
by Hamed Ghaemi, PhD Candidate in TEFL Islamic Azad University, Gonabad Branch
May 18, 2011
Teacher Training 5324 Views
There seems no shortage of ideas regarding what defines a “good” teacher in the context of IELTS instruction. Teachers and teaching have become subjects of conversation by a wide range of interested specialists. The literature contains a vast range of ideas, preconceptions and vested interests, each with a point of view to expound. One difficulty encountered in reviewing the literature is the way in which “good teacher,” “good teaching,” and “effective teaching” are often used almost interchangeably. They are, in my estimation, not the same thing. “Good teaching practices” can be employed by nearly anyone. Employing such practices does not, in itself, make one a “good” teacher. The problem with “effective teaching” as a measure is that it is generally related to some measure of “student achievement,” most often some sort of standardized test. Are such scores a valid measure of teacher “goodness”? I do not believe so. A “good” teacher should certainly be effective, and use those methods that seem to him most suited to the task at hand. However, there is another dimension to all this which separates the “good” teacher from the skillful technician.
May 15, 2011
Classroom Management 4351 Views
Many of the classroom management strategies that we discuss have a more general application. Let's take a look at some strategies for students who need to move around during class time. The first thing we need to determine is what need is the behavior attempting to satisfy. Our best guess of the top three possibilities is a good starter. Monitor the student's behavior and his response to your actions and words. That is the best way to discover which of your explanations is correct and decide how to respond.
May 15, 2011
E-Learning/CALL 3381 Views
Information technology acts an important role in language learning. The new teaching and learning methods have proved very effective.
May 15, 2011
Other 2937 Views
If you read last week's article, you know we have had some big changes in our household with our first-grader starting a new school this week. So far, we are off to a good start! Last week, I only described one element of our challenges with the previous school. I chose to avoid getting off on other tangents, but there were other issues that led to our decision to switch schools.
May 6, 2011
Learning Methodology 3730 Views
There are some teachers who inspire strong loyalty from their students who will do anything for them, similar to a coach and her players. Other teachers have trouble just getting students to behave in the classroom, let alone work hard. What's the difference? In the first example, those special teachers are able to meet the needs of their students on a very consistent basis. While most of us will never reach the level of a Jaime Escalante, we can all focus on the importance of meeting the needs of all of our students.
May 6, 2011
Learning Methodology 3236 Views
For students to remember and be able to retrieve the information you are covering it's essential that your lesson plans always include time for these: feedback, processing and repetition. If you don't include these 3 techniques your lessons are destined to be quickly forgotten. Ironically, as teachers are increasingly pressured to increase student achievement on test scores, the amount of time spent of these 3 kings of learning is lessening.
by Rosalinda Flores-Martinez
May 6, 2011
Teaching 3930 Views
Teaching is sharing knowledge and something good about life. Teaching is giving inspiration to students and how they could be the best and good of what they are. Teaching is the teacher as a good example of truth and righteousness.
May 6, 2011
Other 2919 Views
Will we become a nation where a segment of our society is forever denied education? Will we become a nation of haves and have nots?