Teacher Discussion Forums

Does anyone know how to type the long and short sound symbols using Microsoft Word? For long sounds, I mean the straight line above the vowel. For short sounds, I mean the crescent-like symbol above the vowel. You can respond here or to [email protected]. Thanks loads!

My word, I got beeped using medical terminology!

My perspective is that of an ESL teacher in San Francisco. Probably 85% of my students are Chinese. (1) How do you think chinese students' communicative competence generally? b. fair (2) What do you think is chinese students' weakest skill in communication? a. listening (3) Chinese students lack con...

I agree with Fluffy, if indeed s/he means that one would more likely say He was promoted to general manager and He advanced to general manager.

I would take that to mean What kind of clothes do you like to wear? (formal, informal, etc.) I don't get my clothes tailor-made, but a couple of friends have told me that if a man is ordering a pair of slacks, this question can actually mean Which side do you tuck your *beep* on, the left or the rig...

I, too, think of journey as something longer and more involved, and certainly in the metaphorical sense, as the previous writer illustrated: Clearly, I have been on a personal journey for years and hope it will someday be fruitful. Journey just doesn't work in the following sentence: We took a trip ...

For me, 2 and 5 are OK. 1. He teaches a university. no He teaches at a universtiy. 2. He teaches university. OK with me! (Sorry, Lori!) However, being American, I'd be more likely to say, "He teaches college." 3. He teaches Tokyo University. no He teaches at Tokyo U... 4. He teaches a high school. n...

Please don't pose as a teacher when you are actually marketing a product.

No, I don't believe it is commonly used as a noun. In fact, this is the first time I've ever seen it used that way. We would more likely use the French expression, "He made a faux pas." When you come across these expressions, you might consider doing a computer search for an exact phrase. Then you c...

For a general text, BASIC TELEPHONE TRAINING, by Anne Watson-Delestree, isn't bad. ISBN: 0906717426 I suggest assignments where the student actually has to make various phone calls for a certain reason. For example, I've had my students call theatres to obtain ticket price/seat availability informat...

I would go as far as to say that, in U.S. business letters, putting a colon after the salutation and a comma after the closing are required. We also must use a period after Ms., Mr., and Mrs.

If you send me your e-mail address, I can send you a sample as an attachment. Are you a teacher? This letter is a template for students in our ESL Vocational Office Training Program at City College of San Francisco, but I think it would work well for you with a little personalization. If you e-mail ...

I would say 'complaint'. I think of a claim more in terms of insurance or the law, e.g., "In his claim, he is asking that we reimburse him for his expenses to have his car fixed." A complaint simply lets someone know that you are unhappy with something. A claim is a formal request for money or other...

You might be interested in these picture dictionaries: The English You Need for the Office, a Picture Process Vocabulary, ISBN 962-328-019-X and The English You Need for Business, a Picture Process Vocabulary, ISBN 962-328-021-1 They both come with a CD and are published by Asia-Pacific Press Holdin...

I can't help you with lectures, but if you want your students to listen to newscasts, using the following site can make your life easier: http://www.euronews.net/create_html.php?lng=1&page=home It has broadcasts in several languages. The emissions are in British English. The big plus is that each ne...