#50, Book of the Month: ‘Provoking Thought: Memory and Thinking in ELT’ by Hall Houston
By Tarun Patel
Provoking Thought: Memory and Thinking in ELT
Authored by Hall Houston
This book, Provoking Thought, is a resource book of activities for the language classroom. The activities are designed for an ESL/EFL context,
but they can also be adapted for teaching other languages.
The five chapters of this book cover five areas: thinking, memory, creativity, critical thinking, and expressing thought in writing. These areas can enhance language learning, impelling students to develop greater fluency. This book is ideal for teachers who want to help students improve their English as well as develop thinking skills that can be useful in everyday life.
Aims of this book
Hall says, “One aim of this book is to create a learner-centered atmosphere. These activities encourage students to share their thoughts, feelings, ideas, and opinions. This can make learning English more personalized and therefore more motivating than following a coursebook written for a mass audience which may not appeal to your students.
However, many activities in this book can be used in combination with a coursebook.
Another aim is to emphasize real topics and ideas, not grammatical structures and sentence patterns. The activities contained in this book will take students away from rote learning towards meaningful learning which can help increase the rate at which students improve.
Still another aim is to help develop academic skills. You can use some of the activities in this book to help students produce their own ideas, create sound arguments for a position, participate in debates and discussions, and write academic papers”.
OVERVIEW OF CHAPTERS
Here’s a summary of what you will find in this book:
Chapter One, Thinking, covers the topic of thinking. It includes activities such as lateral thinking puzzles and riddles, which involve asking students to speculate and guess. Other activities focus on our everyday thinking patterns. Use activities from this chapter as a starting point for activities from other chapters in this book.
Chapter Two, Memory, is about how we learn and remember. While memory is not thought of as a skill in the way that creative thinking and critical thinking are, several memory techniques, such as the story method, can be extremely beneficial in helping students consolidate what they’ve learned. This chapter contains numerous practical suggestions for helping students remember new language and review vocabulary from previous lessons. Using the activities in this chapter, students also will learn some effective ways to remember names, talk about their own memories and discuss some common memory problems.
Chapter Three, Creativity, emphasizes motivating students to generate new and interesting thoughts. Creativity is a skill that writers, advertisers, artists, businesspeople and musicians strive to develop. In order to be creative, it’s important to suspend judgment and be open to looking at things from new perspectives. With the activities in this chapter, students can develop their creativity through idea generation and problem solving. You might use these activities for fluency practice or as a way to help students come up with ideas for a project or writing assignment.
Chapter Four, Critical Thinking, is about getting students to judge their own ideas, as well as the ideas of others. Critical thinking courses teach valuable skills including how to structure an argument, how to find support for your arguments, and how to spot logical fallacies.
Using the activities in this chapter, students can learn how to develop their critical thinking skills as they read news articles and advertisements. In addition, they can learn to examine arguments skillfully.
Chapter Five, Organizing Ideas on Paper, contains a variety of ways for students to express their thoughts in writing. These include graphic organizers, which are useful in reading classes. The chapter also contains some creative projects and ways of getting feedback from students.
Another feature of this book is a series of interviews with experts on memory, creativity, and critical thinking. These interviews show how these three topics intersect with education and share expert information on these subjects for teachers who would like to learn more.
At the back of the book, you will find an index where you can see activities organized according to type. This can save time when looking for a particular type of activity to use in class.
READERS’ VOICES
This book is a very useful tool for esl teachers. It is full of fun and practical methods for engaging esl students. It’s obvious that the author is an actual teacher and knows what is needed when facing the classroom each day. – JBiker
Houston`s work is a valueble guide for teachers wishing to deepen their perspectives on cognitive processes in the classroom. Full of practical knowledge based on a life time`s experience in teaching. A must -read for any aspirant teacher embarking on an overseas career. – David Bennette
An original, practical and very useful collection of activities. – Lindsay Clandfield
A terrific addition to classroom life and language learning! This book will make us better teachers, and make learning more meaningful. – Dr. Natalie Hess.
#46, Book of the week: ‘500 Activities for the Primary Classroom’ by Carol Read
By Tarun Patel
Every primary teacher and teacher trainer will want a copy of this book!
The definitive handbook for all primary teachers and teacher trainers,written by Carol Read, a well-known primary specialist and teacher trainer and primary author.
500 Activities for the Primary Classroom is the answer to the perennial question of “what on earth am I going to do with my class tomorrow?” Aimed at teachers of children between the ages of 3-12, this is a lively, varied compendium of ideas and classroom activities.
Key Features
- A wide-ranging resource of activities which are easy to set up
- Up-to-date approach covers current approaches in teaching children including content-based learning
- Ideal for all primary-focussed teachers
- Designed to be flexible to supplement a wide range of syllabus-types (story-based, grammatical, etc.)
ELT Newsletter, ELT Research Papers, ELTWeekly Issue#46, English Language Teaching, ICT and ELT
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January 11th, 2010
#41, Book: ‘The Internet and the Language Classroom’ by Gavin Dudeney
By Tarun Patel
The Internet and the Language Classroom
by Gavin Dudeney
Book Details
Editorial Reviews
‘The Internet and the Language Classroom’ certainly lives up to the promise on the sub-title: “a practical guide for teachers”. Many of the activities can be adapted for the Business English classroom.’ – BESIG Business Issues Newsletter
ELT Newsletter, ELT Research Papers, ELTWeekly Issue#41, English Language Teaching, ICT and ELT, Tarun Patel
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November 21st, 2009
#37, Book of the week: Internet English: Www-Based Communication Activities
By Tarun Patel
Internet English: Www-Based Communication Activities
by Christina Gitsaki & Richard P. Taylor
Book Description
“Internet English” helps students develop the skills to surf the Internet, while providing a structured framework to practise their conversation skills through communicative tasks. It can be used in traditional or computer-equipped classrooms.
ELT Newsletter, ELTWeekly Issue#37, English Language Teaching, ICT and ELT, Tarun Patel
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October 9th, 2009
#36, Book of the week: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language
By Tarun Patel
The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Crystal, an author, lecturer, and BBC broadcaster on language, here approaches English with the same combination of scholarly seriousness and inviting visual presentation that made his Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (LJ 5/1/88) so successful. This large, lively, and lavishly illustrated volume is divided into six broad topics that cover the English language’s history, vocabulary, grammar, writing and speech systems, usage, and acquisition. Within these major topics, the book is divided into logical subtopics and finally into the basic unit of the text-the two-page spread. Nearly every individual subject is treated without turning a page, and how these pages are packed! The clear and spirited text is stunning, enhanced with over 500 illustrations, making this a particularly rich reference work and a browser’s dream. The history part consists of chronological chapters that trace the language’s development. It offers a fascinating treatment of the growth of English during Shakespeare’s time as well as its adaptation to the needs of international trade and late 20th-century technology. Crystal is attuned to the diversity of English usage around the world, providing a variety of wide-ranging quotations, photographs, newspaper clippings, poems, ads, and cartoons. The text treats controversial topics such as black English, word and place origins, regional English, dialect, the U.S. movement to make English the official language, politically correct language, and the future. The book’s layout, three indexes, and glossary will make it useful both at the reference desk and in the circulating collection. Crystal has created an attractive and readable work for the lay reader as well as the specialist. For most academic, public, and school libraries.
Paul D’Alessandro, Portland P.L., Me.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
This attractive resource is organized thematically in segments covering the history of the English language (Old English, Middle English, Modern English, English in different parts of the world); English vocabulary (its nature, structure, sources, etymology, and the dimensions of the lexicon); English grammar (structure of words and sentences, definitions of the main branches of grammar); spoken and written English; English usage (varieties of discourse and regional, social, and personal usage variations); and how people learn English and new ways to study English. Appendixes include a glossary, a list of symbols and abbreviations, references and addresses, further readings, and indexes of names, items, and topics. Crystal, a linguist, is the compiler of many reference books published by Cambridge, for example, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (1987).
Throughout the book (which focuses on British English, not American English), readers will find liberal use of color in the many charts, illustrations, reprints of pages from historically significant works, maps, and photographs. The author does not shrink from exploring and delivering opinions on controversial topics such as the “opaque inspecific, or empty” language of politics and the dangers of “political correctness.”
Each segment can be read as if it were the only section of the book, or, the work can be read cover to cover so that a cumulative effect is achieved. The only comparable resource that provides the same type of broad-ranging coverage in one volume is The Oxford Companion to the English Language [RBB O 15 92]. That work is arranged alphabetically within 22 themes (e.g., geography, history, media) and provides “an interim report on the nature and use of the English language” in all nations that speak English. The two works complement each other; Cambridge provides historical perspective and Oxford a snapshot of current English. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language lives up to the reputation of other resources published under the Cambridge imprint and will make an excellent addition to the collections of large public libraries and all academic libraries.
Book Details
Customer Reviews
“Adelie” (Grass Valley, CA, USA)
This is essentially a “twofer” review – everything I say about this book also applies to Crystal’s “Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language.”
I fell in love with language long ago, so pounced on this book when it first appeared on my horizon several years ago. Since then, I have learned to keep it close by – it migrates from the coffee table to my night table to the bathroom to the breakfast table – I need it handy. I refer to it constantly, and often find myself opening it at random and immediately being hooked by whatever subject comes up.
It’s a tremendous compendium of easily accessible information on all aspects of the English language, and there are nuggets of value throughout. It is well-written in a lively, non-pedantic style, and has plenty of illustrations to reinforce understanding and make it more interesting. It’s appropriate for most ages except very young children, and is a terrific way to introduce anyone to the wonders and mysteries of our language.
The same remarks hold true for Crystal’s “Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language.” That work is presented in the same way, but with much a broader scope – it covers all aspects of human language. I like to browse in it and then get greater detail from the English Language book – they work very well together.
I’m in awe of Crystal’s ability to present such huge subjects so coherently and in such a comprehensive and fascinating way.
I strongly recommend both books, for you or for anyone you care about.
M. Rittman (PA)
Crystal’s _The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language_ is not really the type of book I would use for reference. There are much more appropriate books when I want to learn about the proper use of a gerund. This is, however, an absolutely fascinating and addictive book! It is the type of book I pick up to read and get so involved I lose track of time. It is also a beautiful book. The color, illustrations, and publishing quality are magnificent!
The focus of this book is not American English. The flavor is cosmopolitan. Questions are answered like how the variations of English in New Zealand and the Caribbean affect road signs. If you ever wanted to know how morphological, lexical, syntactic, and discourse humor compare and contrast, this book is for you. This encyclopedia also features a brilliantly edited collection of poems interspersed in the pages. _The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language_ will remain one of my favorite books.
Chris Crawford (Oregon USA)
David Crystal impresses me with his combination of elegant erudition, intellectual open-mindedness, and conciseness. In writing this book, he imposed a harsh constraint upon his writing: every topic had to fit into a two-page spread. The result is insidiously like potato chips: it’s such an easy read, you can’t help but reading “just one more spread”.
The breadth of knowledge that he brings to bear on the subject is astounding; his bibiography reads like a catalog of Western intellectual history. Time and again, I found myself marking a point with a note to delve into the matter more deeply.Intellectual integrity is another impressive component of his writing. He cheerfully acknowledges difficult issues and treats linguistic variation with respect, yet never descends into cover-your-ass academic frippery. The effect is to provoke deeper contemplation in the mind of the reader; language truly is endlessly complex!
A confession is in order here: I did find the last few score pages rather tedious. Perhaps it was merely the fatigue arising from my breathless rush through the first 400 pages; more likely the subject matter does not suit my tastes. But in a grand parade of ideas of this size, I cannot complain if a few floats or marching bands fail to excite me; there’s more than enough here to keep anybody dazzled.
The greatest tribute to this book that I can offer is the revelation that I have been too reluctant to shelve this book in my library; it remains on my desk, bedstand, or next to the computer, ready for a quick re-read of some random topic.
Buy ‘The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language’ from Amazon.com
ELT Newsletter, ELTWeekly Issue#36, English Language Teaching, ICT and ELT
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October 3rd, 2009
#35, ‘Globish The World Over’ Paperback Version Released
By Tarun Patel
David Hon & Jean-Paul Nerrière have released the paperback version of ‘Globish The World Over’.
In ELTWeekly issue #33, I had posted a review of this book.
Globish, as a concept, takes to task the world hegemony of arrogant English-speakers. Hence the landmark book Don’t Speak English – Parlez Globish became a best-seller in French, and other languages, but it never appeared in English.
ELTWeekly Issue#31, Book of the Week: The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher
By Tarun Patel
The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher
by Harry K. Wong
Book Description
The best-selling book ever on classroom management and teaching for student achievement with over 3.3 million copies sold. The book walks a teacher, either novice or veteran, through structuring and organizing a classroom for success that can be applied at any time of the year at any grade level, pre-K through college.
The book is used in thousands of school districts, in over 100 countries, and in over 2,000 college classrooms. It’s practical, yet inspiring. But most important, it works!
The new 4th edition includes updated research, photos, and more examples of “how-to” along with an implementation DVD, “Using THE FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL” featuring Chelonnda Seroyer.
This is the most requested book for what works in the classroom for teacher and student success.
More Details
- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Harry K. Wong Publications; 4 edition (January 1, 2009)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0976423316
- ISBN-13: 978-0976423317
- Price: $20.98
About the Author
Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong are award-winning teachers and new teacher advocates. Harry is a native of San Francisco and is arguably the most sought-after motivational speaker in education today having given some 3000 presentations to over a million people. He has been called “Mr. Practicality” for his common sense, user-friendly, no-cost approach to managing a classroom for high-level student success. The March 2006 issue of Instructor magazine named him one of the 20 most admired people in education along with Maya Angelou, Howard Gardner, and Oprah Winfrey. He has received numerous other teaching honors.
Rosemary is from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her classroom success led to her selection as one of the first Mentor teachers in California. She has received many Silicon Valley business honors and the Southeastern Louisiana University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Profits from the sale of their book fund “The First Days of School Foundation.” That foundation has built and funds the 250 student “Wong Mean Reth Learning Academy” in the jungles of Cambodia.
Customer Reviews
I recently received a copy of the newly revised version of The First Days of School, and I love it! I’m enjoying it so much that I don’t want to rush through it. I read it a little at a time, savoring it like a wonderful piece of chocolate. Everything is clearly written, and much of what is written is quite profound in its simplicity. I love the sidebars with extra information and inspirational stories, as well as the internet links to additional resources. The page layout is attractive and easy to read. Many people are familiar with this book as a “must have” for beginning teachers, but as a 27-year veteran, I can say that this book is just as powerful today as it was when I first read it years ago. There is much wisdom tucked inside its pages!
Last night I sat down and started reading this book from the beginning and somewhat past midnight I had to force myself to put it down to go to sleep.
Why is this? It’s not that it’s such a sweeping, romantic epic — my
other bedtime reading just now is War and Peace. (Also quite good!)
Partly because I’m just very interested in teaching and everything to do
with it. But there’s something also about how it exactly models the
behaviors and attitudes the authors are trying to cultivate. It’s extremely well organized and well-paced — in a nutshell, well-managed. It’s also very inviting and warm. To make advice about posting assignments somehow draw you further into the text is quite an achievement.Erica Schoenberger
Professor
Dept of Geography and Environmental Engineering
The Johns Hopkins University
I am a high school science teacher. My principal gave my a copy of this book when I started teaching 13 years ago. Since then, I have read it every August before I start the school year.
I enjoy reviewing the components of good teaching (positive expectations, classroom management, and lesson mastery). However, my favorite part is the section called, The Teacher as a Professional. It helps me maintain a positive and professional attitude during the school year which is not always easy to do. Thank you Harry and Rosemary Wong for inspiring me to be a teacher-leader, not a worker!
ELTWeekly Issue#30, Book of the Week: ESL Active Learning Lessons
By Tarun Patel
ESL Active Learning Lessons: 15 Complete Content-Based Units to Reinforce Language Skills and Concepts
by Imogene Forte
Book Description
ESL Active Learning Lessons\nThis book offers an invaluable resource for English as a Second Language teachers. Each unit provides practice and reinforcement in the use of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Vocabulary will develop as students acquire basic content, concepts, and skills related to a variety of fundamental subjects. Topics covered include: The Human Body, Following Directions, Fruits, Insects, Animals, Money, Measurement, Signs, Plants, Cafeteria, Safety, Weather, and Transportation. 144 pages. \nGrade Level: All\n \n
Book Details
- Paperback: 144 pages
- Publisher: Incentive Publications (January 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0865304734
- ISBN-13: 978-0865304734
- Price: $10.87
Children: this is a good working manual for an elementary teacher, it has vocabulary, and things to do, but I bought it to round out an order ($$$ free shipping) thinking I might find some stufff to use but so far I have not. No reflection on the authors, for what it is it is good. I teach in Brazil. adults. and this is pretty useless for me, but for kids I would say it is fine. Big print, simple vocabulary words. Diagrams, pictures, good stuff. Not past age 12 I would say.
I just used the first lesson from this book. The reproducibles were fun and easy for my 3 refugee ESL teenagers to work with. I like it when the worksheets make my job easy.
ELTWeekly Issue#29, Book of the Week: Research-Based Strategies for English Language Learners: How to Reach Goals and Meet Standards, K-8
By Tarun Patel
Research-Based Strategies for English Language Learners: How to Reach Goals and Meet Standards, K-8
by Denise M. Rea
Book Description
As a teacher, you know that two ofthe biggest issues in education today are increased accountability and surging ELLenrollments. So what do you do when every student in your class is expected tomeet standards, but some dont speak English? You reach for Research-Based Strategies for EnglishLanguage Learners. It features ways to support all students while meetingcurricular mandatesand without losing any precious planning or teaching time.
Research-BasedStrategies for English Language Learners addresses standards through four proven,effective scaffolds for learning: modeling, contextualizing, thinking aboutthinking, and reframing information. Within each scaffold Denise Rea and SandraMercuri offer ideas for strategy-based instruction that make learning moreactive, experiential, collaborative, and cognitive for all children. Rea andMercuri give you everything you need to use these strategies, including lessonplans and suggestions on implementation, as well as a review of the researchsupporting each lesson and scaffold. Finally, they tie it all together withlessons on conversational and academic English that give students thelinguistic awareness needed to become more proficient in their new language andto succeed in school.
Useable across curricular areas,adaptable to grades K8, and ideal for classroom teachers, ELL specialists, andTitle I teachers, Research-BasedStrategies for English Language Learners is the practical, classroom-testedresource youve been looking for. Use it and discover reliable strategies for connectingsecond language learners (or any learners) to content and curriculum.
About the Author
Denise Rea is the Director of Multiple Subjects for Fresno Pacific University. She hastaught the primary grades in bilingual and English immersion classes, and hasworked as a teacher educator and literacy coach. She currently teacheselementary student teaching candidates language and literacy methodology, andembeds strategies for working with English language learners and Title Istudents in her instruction.
Sandra Mercuri is the Director of the TESOL program and theBiliteracy/Cross Cultural program at Fresno Pacific University.She currently is working on a doctorate degree and teaches languagedevelopment, critical pedagogy, and methodology courses in the Language,Literacy, and Culture department. She previously coauthored two other Heinemannbooks with Yvonne and David Freeman: DualLanguage Essentials (2004) and Closingthe Achievement Gap (2002).
More Details
- Paperback: 128 pages
- Publisher: Heinemann (August 28, 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0325008108
- ISBN-13: 978-0325008103
- Price: $15.75
This book explains what good teaching is for English learners. It talks about why certain strategies work and why teachers should use them. The authors also include concrete lesson plans that show exactly how to teach lessons using the strategies. When there are so many SDAIE strategies out there, it’s helpful to know which ones are effective and when to use them. The book is a quick read and easy to use.
ELTWeekly Issue#28, Book of the week: English Teacher’s Survival Guide
By Tarun Patel
English Teacher’s Survival Guide: Ready-to-Use Techniques & Materials for Grades 7-12
By Mary Lou Brandvik
Book Description
For both new and experienced English teachers, grades 7 through 12, here is a unique time-saver and problem-solver packed with tested techniques and materials to assist you in virtually every aspect of your job, from dealing with discipline problems and handling paperwork, to teaching the writing process. Included are 175 easy-to-use strategies, lessons, and checklists for effective classroom management, and over 50 reproducible samples that you can adopt immediately for planning, evaluation, or assignments. The Guide helps you create a classroom that reflects the excitement for learning that every English teacher desires.
From the Back Cover
For both new and experienced English teachers, grades 7 through 12, here is a unique time-saver and problem-solver packed with tested techniques and materials to assist you in virtually every aspect of your job, from dealing with discipline problems and handling paperwork, to teaching the writing process.
Included are 175 easy-to-use strategies, lessons, and checklists for effective classroom management, and over 50 reproducible samples that you can adopt immediately for planning, evaluation, or assignments. The Guide helps you create a classroom that reflects the excitement for learning that every English teacher desires.
It will also show you how to practice the art of teaching English effectively and leave labor-intensive ways behind by…devising a fair grading system…creating a positive design for discipline…delegating tasks to students that can become learning experiences for them and time savers for you…arranging the room for efficient classroom management…and more.
For your convenience, the materials are printed in a big 8-1/4″ x 11″ lay-flat binding for easy photocopying. In addition to scores of specific activities for reading and writing activities, the Guide includes:
- techniques for integrating the teaching of speaking, listening, writing, and literature,
- a plan for managing and monitoring cooperative learning activities from determining group size to evaluating group work and grading projects,
- steps for creating a master plan, individual units and daily lessons with guidance on team teaching, and
- advice on how to reach the learning diabled students who are mainstreamed into your classroom
For both new and experienced English teachers, grades 7 through 12, here is a unique time-saver and problem-solver packed with tested techniques and materials to assist you in virtually every aspect of your job, from dealing with discipline problems and handling paperwork, to teaching the writing process.
Included are 175 easy-to-use strategies, lessons, and checklists for effective classroom management, and over 50 reproducible samples that you can adopt immediately for planning, evaluation, or assignments. The Guide helps you create a classroom that reflects the excitement for learning that every English teacher desires.
It will also show you how to practice the art of teaching English effectively and leave labor-intensive ways behind by…devising a fair grading system…creating a positive design for discipline…delegating tasks to students that can become learning experiences for them and time savers for you…arranging the room for efficient classroom management…and more.
For your convenience, the materials are printed in a big 8-1/4″ x 11″ lay-flat binding for easy photocopying. In addition to scores of specific activities for reading and writing activities, the Guide includes:
With this resource you will gain the perspective of a master teacher in working with students as well as others— parents, colleagues, substitute teachers, administrators, and community resources— and regain or maintain the idealism that originally caused you to become a teacher.
More Details
- Paperback: 246 pages
- Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (June 19, 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0130456810
- ISBN-13: 978-0130456816
- Price: $23.36
As a first year teacher, this book saved my life on more than one occasion. Like most new teachers, I had been taught a great deal of educational theory, but was given very little practical advice about arranging my classroom, managing my class space, and making lesson plans. Brandvik’s book provides a ton of useful suggestions and ideas that can be put to use in any classroom. I highly recommend this book to any teacher, from those in their first year who are hungry for new ideas to those who have been in the profession a while and want to rejuvinate their methods.