Video Lesson on Culture

5 Techniques for Increasing Student Vocabularies

Set Up a Word Wall

Invite your students to take a role in increasing their own vocabularies with a word wall. When students encounter an unfamiliar word outside of class, whether while reading, watching television, or talking to a native speaker, have them write down the word. At the next class, ask your student to write down that word on an index card in large letters and then check an English dictionary for the definition. The student should write the definition on the back of the card. Then post that card on your vocabulary wall where all of your students can see it. They should feel free to check the definition any time they want to learn one of the words. But you can make your word wall more than just a word bank. Use some of the words posted there to supplement your next vocabulary unit, or take your entire unit from the wall. Students will love that they had a hand in creating their next set of words to learn. And they may even have a leg up learning that unit if they were the ones who posted the words to begin with.

Play Games

Do you know that there are many games you can use to increase student vocabulary? Scrabble is perhaps the most common. When you play along with your students, you will undoubtedly use words they are not familiar with. They’ll also learn words when they use the dictionary to try and figure out how to use up all of their letters.

Another great game for vocabulary learning is Scattergories. The point of the game is to think of a word that fits one of several categories, and all of those words must begin with the same letter. For ESL students you might want to limit the letters you choose from since they will have a huge struggle with letters like J or V.

Another DIY game you can play is to display a picture with many little objects in it, such as a picture from an I Spy book. Have students label their paper from A to Z and then try to find an object in the picture that begins with each of those letters. It’s unlikely anyone will get all twenty-six, but they will still encounter new words and synonyms when you review the words everyone has written down.

Teach Word Families

If you could teach your students five words or one word, which would you choose? Naturally, we want our students to learn as much as they can, especially when it comes to vocabulary. Teaching word families is one way to accomplish that. Instead of simply teaching one word, such as run, teach five words with similar meanings such as dash, race, sprint, rush, and surge. Then have students use a dictionary to determine the nuances of each word. Now they will have five words they can use instead of one.

You can let your students be a part of this process, too, by inviting them to find synonyms of the words you put on your next vocabulary list. As homework, ask each student to find one synonym of each of your vocabulary words. The next day, compare notes and make a list of each of the words your students found related to your original one. Then make sure students learn these words as well as the originals on your list.

Use the Right Tools

A thesaurus is one of the best tools for increasing ESL student vocabulary. I make sure each of my students can use one and that I have several on hand in class. Though similar to a dictionary, a thesaurus is better for finding synonyms and related words. Often, too, an entry will contain one or more antonyms. I teach my students to navigate a thesaurus and then encourage them to use one whenever they are writing.

Thesauruses don’t have to be musty old books, either. Did you know you can highlight a word in your word processing program, right click on it, and bring up synonyms for that word? Make sure your students know how to do this and they will have a digital thesaurus at their fingertips whenever they are typing.

Make a Banned Word List

You can only encourage your students so much to expand their vocabularies. Sometimes you just have to put the cheerleading aside and get tough. I’m not talking about going crazy with the red pen. I am talking about designating banned words. Banned words are just what they sound like – words students are not allowed to use. You should come up with your banned word list by noting what simple words your students use over and over when they could be using more complex words (for example, big, nice, good, etc.) You can also ask your students to identify one or more words that are boring or common and add them to your list.

For each banned word, take a moment in class to talk about alternatives your students could use. For example, if you were to ban the word big, write it at the top of a large piece of paper or a poster board. Then ask students for synonyms of the word big and write them underneath it. (Huge, gigantic, enormous, massive, etc.) Post the paper in class and declare that “big” is now banned. Students will not be allowed to use it in their writing or speech. They can however use any of the words listed beneath it. This will encourage your students to expand their vocabularies without putting an undue burden on them to do so.

Phrasal Verbs

9 Ways to Help Students Say What They Really Mean

Be Honest

It is so easy to minimize one’s feelings or downplay a negative situation.But when your students need to have a tough conversation with someone, they need to be honest. This can be especially difficult for ESL students whose home cultures value saving face over brutal honesty or students who are nonconfrontational by nature. Suggest this middle road that Dr. Phil advises. You don’t have to say everything, but make sure that what you are saying is true. In other words, you don’t’ have to go into all the ugly details, but make sure the things you are saying are truthful.

Be Specific

It doesn’t do much good to tell someone they make you feel bad and leave things there. Without specifics about what exactly caused the negative feelings, a person cannot do much to act differently next time. That’s why it’s helpful to be specific. Encourage your students to pinpoint problematic behaviors or words as closely as possible, and their tough talks will likely be more productive. It’s especially important to make sure emotions don’t obscure meaning in a tough conversation, so make sure your students are able to distinguish feelings from fact before they approach someone for a tough talk.

Be Aware of Your Audience

Not everyone will react to certain words the same way. That’s why it’s important your students think about who they will be talking to and how that person might interpret what they will say before approaching them for the conversation. Some people are less reactive and take offense less easily. Those people might be easier to talk to than their opposites, or at least require less specific planning for what you will say when you talk to them. Culture also comes into play if they are talking to internationals, so encourage your students to think about the cultural norms for the person they will be approaching.

Be Clear about Your Expectations

What is the point of your students’ conversation? Do they just want to raise their partner’s awareness of a certain issue? Do they want that person to stop acting a certain way or saying something? Are they arguing for an apology? Knowing what you expect of a tough conversation is key for success, so encourage your students to think about what they want from a conversation before they have. That way they can communicate with the other person with that goal in mind, and they will be sure when they have achieved what they set out to do.

Ask for Feedback

Talking with someone and talking at someone are very different things. To make sure tough conversations are productive, encourage your students to ask for feedback and clarification when they talk with someone. You might take a few minutes to teach them how to get feedback appropriately such as using phrases likeDo you see where I am coming from? Can you understand what I am saying? Am I making sense to you?When your students are sure their partner has heard and understood them, they will be able to approach a solution together and both walk away from the conversation feeling good about their talk.

Give Factual Support for Your Opinions

I can give opinions from sun up to sun down, but without factual support, those opinions probably won’t mean anything to the person I am talking to. People believe facts not feelings or opinions, so help your students think about the difference and then be clear with themselves about the facts of the situation. That way they will be able to share those same facts with the other person to make their opinions have more value.

Use Strong and Direct Language

Sometimes we choose to express our sentiments with soft words or indirect language in hopes of softening the blow. It didn’t take long into my marriage for me to figure out what I thought was being kind was actually obscuring what I was trying to say. My newlywed husband just wasn’t getting it. That’s not a flaw in his character. It was a flaw in the words I was choosing. Sometimes we think we are using softer expressions or being indirect in what we say to make things easier, but we aren’t. We are just complicating the situation. To prepare your students for successful conversations about unpleasant topics, help them understand the difference between strong and weak words and direct and indirect language, always choosing the former. And help them understand that this is not acceptable in all cultures, so it’s okay if direct words make them comfortable. They are still the best choice when it comes to tough conversations in English, and it’s not wrong for them to express themselves that way.

Listen

Tough conversations aren’t productive when one person does all the talking or when things get so heated one person is talking over the other. Point out to your students that they will need to listen to what their partner is saying and they should respond to what they hear. We can be tempted in a heated discussion to react – say the first thing that comes to mind or what our emotions tell us to say – rather than respond – think about what we want to say and express ourselves without letting our emotions take control of us. The respectful thing is to listen to the other person, hear what they are saying, think about what you want to say, and then say it calmly and clearly.

Don’t Give Up

That is until the other person understands what you are saying. If your students have their goal clear in their mind before the conversation, they will know when they have achieved that goal. And they should. Not giving up or giving in is essential to tough conversations also being productive ones.

LINKS TO HANDOUTS AND INTERACTIVE EXERCISES ON TOPIC "TRAVELLING&TOURISM"

1. http://www.channel4learning.com/sites/gcsease/leisure_tourism/t_lesson_ideas.html
2. http://www.boardworks.co.uk/btec-first-travel--tourism_426/product-blog
3. https://tefltastic.wordpress.com/worksheets/travel-abroad-tourism/
4. http://www.esolcourses.com/topics/holidays-and-travel.html
5. http://www.talkenglish.com/speaking/listtravel.aspx

HOW TO RECORD A PODCAST

     In this article I'm going to explain what a podcast is and why it's becoming such a popular media. This is going to be an easy to understand podcast definition in everyday terms.

      Not only that, but anyone can create his or her own “radio”-style show and broadcast it to the world in very little time and at very little cost. All you need is a computer, a mic and the internet.

      When I first heard about podcasting I was blown away. I spent a week reading everything I could about podcasts and finding new podcasts to listen to. I was so excited about the idea of so much free, original and interesting content to listen to.Podcasting is an escape from the same old, corporate conglomerate, worn-out, Clearchannel controlled, pre-programmed, blah blah blah radio. Podcasting has personality and variety that run-of-the-mill radio does not.

You Can Create or Listen to Whatever. Kind of Audio Content You Can Imagine.

Anyone can create a podcast. All over the world, people are creating podcasts on subjects ranging from movies, to technology, to music, to politics and whatever else you can think of. This is new original content made by passionate people who want to share their creativity with the world.

The cost to start podcasting is so low that anyone can do it. Most podcasters are everyday people like you and me. They could be talking to you driving in their car, sitting in their living room or speaking at a conference. You get to glimpse into their life and into their interests.

Podcasters are creating very raw and real content and listeners are responding. Free from corporate radio and broadcast regulations, you can create whatever kind of show you can imagine.

Some podcasts are “talk show” style. Others introduce you to the latest bands and music. With podcasts you can stay current on the news, get a glimpse into someone’s life, listen to move reviews and the list goes on.

Most podcasts are made by people who are very passionate about their subject. Passion is infectious and interesting to listen to. Since the birth of podcasting, a huge variety of shows have shown up on the internet.

In addition, many major media outlets are also now offering podcasts. You can listen to NPR, Rush Limbaugh and many major news outlets by podcast.

Go to this link to learn how to create a podcast of your own. This is a step-by-step tutorial that will take you from concept to launch in just a matter of days. You can get started with stuff you probably already own and for very little cost, or you can watch a video here on how to record a podcast.

In addition, I give you a few links where you can listen to some podcasts:)

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pc9zn/episodes/downloads
• http://learningenglish.voanews.com/podcast/0.html
• https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/elementary-podcasts
• https://www.eslpod.com/website/

People will be listening to what you have to say. They will be enjoying your own creation. You can become and a recognized expert on the topic of your choice. This makes podcasting valuable for business use.

References: http://www.howtopodcasttutorial.com/what-is-a-podcast.htm

Family handouts

Family printables

This section contains free ESL materials for teachers and parents to copy for their students and kids. We offer a collection of worksheets that can help children learn and practise English vocabulary connected with the theme Family:

http://www.anglomaniacy.pl/familyB.pdf - bingo! cards

http://www.anglomaniacy.pl/familyM.pdf - flashcards

http://www.anglomaniacy.pl/familyC.pdf - crossword puzzles

http://www.anglomaniacy.pl/familyW.pdf - wordsearch puzzles

HOW TO CREATE A GOOD PREZI

             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mesd637Z1IE

Useful Tips for Students (10 links)

 Have been trying to learn English the same way for the last year? Three years? Seven years or more? Try something new! Change is good for you. It will help you grow. 
Learning English doesn’t always

 have to mean sitting in the classroom and studying tricky grammar. 

There are a number of ways to improve your understanding of the language, many of which can actually be a lot of fun.

• Perfect English Grammar | Lots of free explanations and exercises to help you perfect your English grammar.
• English Daily: TOEFL vocabulary practice, grammar lessons and exercises, transcripts from movies, ear training, and sections on slang, idioms, and proverbs.
• Voice of America Learning English: Satellite TV, radio and website for people around the world to improve their listening, pronunciation and understanding of American life and world news. The short sentences, limited vocabulary and slow pace of speaking make it easy to understand. Internet and TV users can also listen to programs on the Special English Web site while reading the text. 

• easyworldofenglish.com  An attractive, user-friendly website including grammar, pronunciation, reading and listening practice and an interactive picture dictionary.
• bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish
  An array of wonderful activities for practice, some relating to current events. Includes videos, quizzes, vocabulary practice, idioms, crosswords, and much more, though all with British accents.
• gcflearnfree.org/everydaylife
  A well-designed site with interactive tutorials for everything from operating an ATM machine to reading food labels. If you click on the main page icon and then click on reading, the site has resources for English language learners as well, including stories to listen to and read along, and picture dictionaries.
• elt.oup.com/learning_resources
  This site from Oxford University Press has activities to practice spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and listening. A bit difficult to navigate, so more suitable for advanced learners and savvy internet users.
• languageguide.org/english
  This is an online picture dictionary, with everything from the alphabet to parts of the body to farm animals.
• cdlponline.org
  Read and listen to a news stories on topics including working, housing, money and health, then work on activities based on the stories including matching pairs, vocabulary, and quiz questions. Some stories also include videos.
• manythings.org
  This website includes matching quizzes, word games, word puzzles, proverbs, slang expressions, anagrams, a random-sentence generator and other computer-assisted language learning activities. The site also includes a special page on pronunciation, including practice with minimal pairs. Not the fanciest or most beautiful website, but with lots to see and use and no advertising.

Also, don't forget YouTube. Whatever you'd like to learn — an explanation of a grammar term, idioms, a set of vocabulary — enter it in the search field and an array of videos are sure to come up.

I hope some of these sites prove useful. Enjoy!

References:
http://www.really-learn-english.com/useful-links.html

http://www.really-learn-english.com/useful-links.html

USEFUL TIPS FOR TEACHERS (10 links)

      

In this Teach English section you'll find materials and pages designed to help in your teaching. Don't forget, there are many resources in here that you may also find useful.
       Teaching articles, ideas and tips to top up your teaching and support your professional development.

• 2scholastic.com: This site is sponsored by well-known educational publisher Scholastic. Here you will find videos, essay competitions and expert advice from veteran teachers.
• A to Z Teacher Stuff: This site was created by teachers, for teachers. It includes strategies for dealing with ADHD children, surviving parent-teacher conferences, and filling out report cards.
• PBS Teachers: The educational channel PBS operates this dynamic website with teaching material for all grades. Some of the material ties in with PBS shows, such as a new approach to teaching The Diary of Anne Frank that corresponds to an upcoming documentary.
• Teachers Net: This is a gigantic resource for connecting with other teachers in order to share and receive advice, encouragement and, of course, lesson plans. The site also maintains an impressive gazette full of journalistic articles about the current state of American education.
• TeacherSn.com: A social network just for teachers. Once you register, you can upload and download handouts and lesson plans, as well as joining groups of other teachers interested in a particular topic.
• Teach With Movies: This site specializes in showing teachers how they can use video clips to enhance the classroom experience. For $11.99 per year, teachers get learning guides and lesson plans for over 300 movies.
• TeachersFirst.com: This easy-to-navigate site will be a key resource for any serious teacher. Peruse their thoroughly reviewed list of links, or become a member to get access to the site’s unique content.
• English Teaching Resources: This site, maintained by a teacher of English at a Catholic school, hasn’t been updated in a while, but the information is still useful. Ideas for poetry, narrative fiction and metacognition exercises are included.
• Much Ado About Something. Based around the documentary, Much Ado About Something, this guide leads teachers through ways of teaching about Shakespeare, his work, and the era.
• Great Advice for New Teachers: This series of short articles, all of which originally appeared in Teacher Magazine (registration is free) focuses on what first-time teachers need to know. The articles are engaging, informative, and written with a sympathetic eye toward the teaching newbie.

Use these sites to plan your math lesson, launch an arts and crafts project, or motivate those hard-to-reach students.

References: http://www.studentguide.org/50-fantastic-resources-for-new-teachers/
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/12/16/100-incredibly-useful-links-for-teaching-and-studying-shakespeare/