Blogs

  • Lindsay at IATEFL 2010 videos

    Published on 26th July, 2010 in Author Blog by Matt Kay

    This session was recorded at the IATEFL 2010 conference earlier this year in Harrogate, UK.
    Content, culture and critical thinking in an era of Global English
    Given English’s status as an international language, what does this mean for the topics and texts we use with students? Published material has been criticised for more…

  • Latest from rainy Auckland

    Published on 23rd July, 2010 in Global Bloggers by Martin McMorrow

    This has been one of those mild and wet winter weeks here in Auckland. But good weather to sit inside and catch up on some studies! I had the pleasure of meeting my new student through English Language Partners: Navinder, who has come here from India and is starting a more…

  • Lesson plan: hindrance or help?

    Published on 22nd July, 2010 in Teaching Tips by Frances Watkins

    Is the lesson plan like having a ball and chain around your ankles? Some would argue that it limits a teacher’s ability to respond to students. In focusing on getting through the plan from A–D, any deviation off the pre-determined route is viewed negatively by the teacher. Thus, any sort more…

  • When words are not enough – wear a funny-looking hat!

    Published on 20th July, 2010 in Global Bloggers by Patrick Talty

    I received a rather unusual looking hat as a gift from a student recently. I won’t say from which country, but it is … unique. My students love the hat, and have been pestering me for days to put it on. I declined. ‘I tell you what, I said, if more…

  • A review of Global

    Published on 15th July, 2010 in Author Blog by Matt Kay

    We’ve just been sent this, and wanted to share it. It’s an independent review of Global by Martha Hendra, an educational consultant in Australia.
    “The GLOBAL 6 level adult General English course has been specifically designed for the more mature language student and introduces English as an international language through more…

  • Winter in Aotearoa

    Published on 15th July, 2010 in Global Bloggers by Martin McMorrow

    Brrrrr! We are in the coldest week of the year down here in Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand). I had to pour water over my windscreen every morning this week before driving up to the University. However, the days have been bright and sunny – ideal weather for more…

  • I remember when …

    Published on 15th July, 2010 in Teaching Tips by Frances Watkins

    I used to spend hours preparing a lesson. I was newly qualified, teaching in my first post overseas, and fired up with a passion for the subject. My planning time was at least equal to, if not more than my contact time with the students, for at least the first more…

  • Just what the doctor ordered!

    Published on 13th July, 2010 in Global Bloggers by Patrick Talty

    Yes, indeed. When the temperature hits 34 degrees Celsius, and you are looking at vocabulary of health and fitness, the only thing missing is calorie-laden ice-cream, and lots of it.
    My conversation/vocabulary class were inspired by the chocolate-hazelnut combination, and though relaxed in approach eventually got going. Vocabulary exercise 1 on more…

  • Time is money, except for the World Cup!

    Published on 10th July, 2010 in Global Bloggers by Patrick Talty

    My Brazilian students arrived into class today after missing Monday’s session.
    ‘The World Cup, Teacher.’
    Several dramatic shoulder shrugs later, and we settle into Unit 7 of Global. I have been looking forward to this unit as I know my students will get their teeth into it. The exercise What’s the best more…

  • Sentence stress 2

    Published on 8th July, 2010 in Teaching Tips by Frances Watkins

    How to provide more opportunities for students to listen intensively was the subject of the tip two weeks ago. The following suggestion kills two birds with one stone: it practises intensive listening and also raises awareness of sentence stress. It can be adapted for any level. In my experience, by more…

  • Kia Ora to our latest Global Blogger

    Published on 5th July, 2010 in Global Bloggers by Matt Kay

    We have a new Global Blogger starting with us this week. He’ll be with us over the next couple of months and giving us a Global perspective from the other side of the world. Over to Martin…
    My name is Martin McMorrow. I am from London and have taught English in more…

  • Sentence stress 1

    Published on 1st July, 2010 in Teaching Tips by Frances Watkins

    A few weeks ago (12 March) we looked at how to work on word stress. This tends to be easier to practise than sentence stress, probably because the units of sound are smaller and generally less variable. However, spending time on sentence stress is also very valuable, particularly with a more…