“I have lunch”, or “I’m having lunch”? Which is good English? That’s an easy question: they’re both good, but they have different meanings. But then it gets more complicated, and here lies a problem for teachers. Do we offer a simple explanation which is true up to a point, or a full explanation which (like… Continue reading Present Simple and Present Progressive by Nick Shepherd

A partial-immersion K-12 Japanese-language program teaches students that it’s easy to make friends if you speak the same tongue.

Here is a video from Edutopia. Research shows that students can benefit cognitively, socially, and academically from instruction in two languages.

SUSAN VERNER’s article on BusyTeacher features some useful tips on engaging your students in speaking activities using games. Many ESL teachers find that their students are timid speakers or reluctant to participate in class discussions. It’s only natural. After all, they are trying to talk in a language they are still working on learning. Still, silence can… Continue reading 6 Fabulous Games to Get Your Students Speaking

A recent Cambridge English article features some great tips to improve your teaching in socially distanced classrooms. During the lockdown, learners have had to be more self-sufficient, take responsibility for their learning, and manage their own time. They have had no choice but to work out problems on their own with no classmate and no… Continue reading Teaching in the socially distanced classroom

Oxford University Press ELT team has announced the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (OALD) competition. The announcement The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (OALD) was first published in 1948. Since then, over 100 million English language learners have used OALD to develop their English skills for work and study, and that’s why it’s the world’s bestselling advanced-level dictionary for learners… Continue reading What’s Your OALD Story?