Teacher Discussion Forums

These are really useful for teachers. I copy these diagrams with hand-movements in class, as I have found hand-movements the most effective way to teach new sounds like th, l and r, s and sh.

Luke Zimmermann
englishwithluke.com

Since you posted this under pronunciation, I assume you want to improve your pronunciation. Can I suggest 2 things: 1. when I was still learning English, I happen to record a conversation with someone. When I listened to my own voice, I was shocked at my strong Dutch accent. However, I realised I co...

Cool stories. Thanks. Here's another one with spelling errors and can be used to show students why spell checks are not full-proof. I live in the UAE where spelling is a major challenge. In the introduction to an essay on the conservation of water, one wrote: "Water is a problem in the UAE because t...

If I were you, I'd suggest to make it 2 lessons of 1 hour each. I think 2 hours is way too long.

Anyway, I just thought you might find some good listening and other exercises on my favourite ESL website: agendaweb.org.

Good luck

I have never done this before but i can't see why you wouldn't be able to just use a textbook. As long as your student can get the same book, you should be able to do most of the work together. Trying to have a conversation lesson for 2 hours without a textbook of some sort is pretty challenging as ...

Interesting topic. It has often struck me, too, that some presenters seem so unaware of how they present themselves. I have seen presenters with their hands in their pockets (possibly trying to look casual and relaxed), mumbling, racing through material or going over too many basics. In the classroo...

Yes we have sound and have used PowerPoint and various websites with sound. One thing that worked really well was using student video clips from their mobiles and transfer, or bluetooth, them to the computer. Students then gave presetations with their video clips on the Smartboard. This was a great ...

At the college I work we all use smartboards all the time. The most common thing we all do is to scan pages from our textbooks and workbooks into PDF and then project them onto the Smartboard. I've learnt to use the textbooks in a new way and the students love to get involved in filling in the gaps ...

OK. I see what you mean. In the end we just want them to be intelligible whether they pronounce square with the r or wihout. Who cares?

It sounds like a poroblem with the system you are working in. Good luck.

I work in the United Arab Emirates and teach Arab students. I don't know Kenyon Knott and have never been in Taiwan. I taught a lot of Taiwanese, Chinese, Korens and Japanese students in Australia over 15 years and found IPA a extremely useful tool in improving their pron. I am not sure if I underst...

IPA may not be perfect but it is a great tool to use with Asian students because many of them know it. Also, IPA is used in language schools around the world, so many are familiar with it. As a language teacher, you're not looking for a 100% linguistically accurate phonetic system but for a tool tha...

We have used mobile phones for videoing for projects. The idea came when I found that my students often wanted to show me little video clips on their mobiles. I am in the UAE and my (male) students are crazy about car racing. I asked them to turn the clips into short presentations on the Smartboard ...

Over the last 10 years I have been collecting anecdotes and examples of mistakes non-native speakers have made in the process of learning and using English as a second language. It keeps me sane during the sometimes endless marking sessions. Would you like to share your funny stories? here are some ...

Thanks, Brian, that's good to hear. I was in contact with a male editor but I don't remember his name. Would you have Helena Gomm's email address please? I might try again.

About 2 years ago i emailed ETP an article for publication and never heard anything. i sent them 2 or 3 follow-up emails to ask if they had received my article. No response. I must say that I found that quite annoying. It takes a long time to write an article and they don't even acknowledge receipt.