Teacher Discussion Forums

[Karenne]

Hi

I'm Karenne and I've been creating conversation/speaking materials for the language classroom for a few years now.

My materials are called SimplyConversations - I have designed a website(!) and have posted up some samples for free.

If you would like to visit the site, download materials and let me know what you think, that'd be great.

Take care
Karenne Sylvester

www.kalinago-english.com

(I also write a blog where I rant about issues related to teaching, review the conferences I attend, talk about teaching business and esp english plus provide advice for using technology in the classroom + lesson tips, that's at http://kalinago.blogspot.com.

[Karenne]

Hi Colleagues

Here's one of my latest blog entries - it's on the GM, Ford and Chrysler bailout:

There are lots of videos and links to articles plus tips for using in your BE lessons.

http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2008/11/where-does-buick-stop.html

Take care,
Karenne

[Eric18]

Thanks for those timely, topical suggestions!

As the economic woes grow, our classroom conversations will begin - I suspect - to lose some of the naive corporatist flavor that often dominates in Business English classrooms.

[Karenne]

Hi Eric,

Yup, and about time too LOL.

Here's my latest addition to the blog, this one's on using slideshare to teach Business English.

http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2008/12/using-slideshare-for-teaching-business.html


Take care,
Karenne

[Karenne]

Another lesson plan!

http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/02/history-and-future-supplementing-your.html

This one is on using the history of the internet, video and lesson plan.

Do hope it's useful and you enjoy using it.

Karenne

[Karenne]

Do you ever talk about anger with your language students?

Why not?

Probably for the same reasons that textbooks avoid this like the plague. But if you, like me, live in a country where my native language isn't spoken then you'll know exactly how hard it is to express the things that just piss you off.

But sometimes we have to. And sometimes your students need to talk about what's going wrong in their projects and they lack the vocabulary to express their frustration.

Here's a posting on using storytelling to teach this lexis, in particular, the expressions and idioms used to talk about displeasure...

http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/04/anger-in-efl-and-scandalous-price-of.html

Take care,
Karenne

[Karenne]

Are you or your students on twitter?

If you are then you've probably been following the news or blog postings on whether or not they'll be able to make money from their platform.

Why not get your students to come up with a plan for the Twitter bosses:

Another lesson plan/tip:
http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/05/business-of-twitter-english-for-special.html

Aimed at students of IT English/ Financial-Investment Bank types or Business English students with an applicable interest.

[Karenne]

Recent posts on the Kalinago English blog:

Smartphone meetings (getting your students to use their computers in their back pockets, in class!)
http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/07/business-english-lesson-smart-phones.html

The God in Marketing (aimed at ESP:marketing students, using Seth Godin's blog postings)
http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/07/god-in-marketing.html


Use it, don't let them lose it! (on vocabulary)
http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/06/use-it-dont-let-them-lose-it.html

Murder of a Superhero (using drama and humor in the classroom)
http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/06/murder-of-superhero-weapon-item-of.html

How to keep language learners learning...
http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-keep-language-learners-learning.html

Hope you enjoy!
Karenne