English remains an often confusing and difficult language to learn (and teach!) for many reasons. The common “gap” between how a word is spelled and how it sounds is one challenge. Another source of confusion and many headaches remains the surprisingly large number of homonyms and homophones, different words with the same sound. Just as computer speech software programs like Siri on the iPhone find it difficult to distinguish the number 2 from the preposition “to” from the word “too”, so do many listeners.
Tag: ELT Tips
Vol. 5 Issue 5 – Research Paper: ‘Pedagogical Blogging: Promoting Tertiary Level Students’ Critical Thinking by Using Socratic Questions’ by Zahra Shahsavar & Tan Bee Hoon
English remains an often confusing and difficult language to learn (and teach!) for many reasons. The common “gap” between how a word is spelled and how it sounds is one challenge. Another source of confusion and many headaches remains the surprisingly large number of homonyms and homophones, different words with the same sound. Just as computer speech software programs like Siri on the iPhone find it difficult to distinguish the number 2 from the preposition “to” from the word “too”, so do many listeners.
Vol. 5 Issue 5 – Research Paper: ‘Using Facebook to Extend Learning into Students’ Digital Lives’ by Chris Harwood & Brad Blackstone
English remains an often confusing and difficult language to learn (and teach!) for many reasons. The common “gap” between how a word is spelled and how it sounds is one challenge. Another source of confusion and many headaches remains the surprisingly large number of homonyms and homophones, different words with the same sound. Just as computer speech software programs like Siri on the iPhone find it difficult to distinguish the number 2 from the preposition “to” from the word “too”, so do many listeners.
Vol. 5 Issue 2 – Article: ‘Don’t Let Perfectionism Silence You!’ by Eric Roth
Some English students make learning English even more difficult by expecting themselves to speak “perfect”, with “no accent” just like ” a real native English speaker.” May I suggest that this noble goal is both very difficult to achieve – especially for adults – and often even unwise.
Vol. 5 Issue 2 – Article: Technology is starting to change language-learning
THE teacher who corrects your correspondent’s awful Mandarin is soft-spoken, authoritative and far away. Thanks to Skype, you can have face-to-face lessons with native speakers of more or less any language without stirring from your chair. Technology may one day make language-learning redundant (see article); meanwhile, it makes it easier.
Vol. 4 Issue 21 – Article: ‘Teaching Grammar in an ESL / EFL Setting’ by Kenneth Beare
Kenneth Beare, About.com ESL Guide, has posted an informative article titled “Teaching Grammar in an ESL / EFL Setting”.
Vol. 4 Issue 21 – Research Paper: ‘The Effect of Computer- Based Classes on Iranian Secondary School Students’ Writing Development’ by Sanaz Emami & Fatemeh Ali Panahi
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of computer- based classes on Iranian secondary school students’ writing development. For this purpose, thirty students were randomly chosen, and then divided within two groups. Experimental group used computer as assistance and control group used simply paper and pencil environment. Holistic scoring was applied for scoring participants’ writings. Results showed a significant improvement in former group’s writing paragraph ability.
Vol. 4 Issue 21 – Research Paper: ‘Language materials and adaptation strategies with specific reference to Aligarh Muslim University’ by Malika Anwar Siddiqui
The present paper deals with significance of materials in an ESL setting and finding out ways to apply adaptation strategies for effective teaching of ESL in an ESL setting where ESL is taught by an ESL teacher. It is believed that a person who is not a native speaker of language is not proficient to teach any second language to the second language learner. The scenario has changed now, especially in the second language countries like India where it is spoken and learnt in almost all parts of the country. Learning a language serves a medium to communicate and this eagerness accelerates learning enthusiastically all over the nation. In Indian education system there are several boards that regulate Academic Calendar and produce study materials from primary to senior secondary standards. These Educational Boards prepare books and materials that are very much culture specific. For instance, there are state Boards like Bihar Board, Assam Board, Uttar Pradesh Board and others. There are central boards such as CBSE, ICSE which are run by the central government of India. In AMU schools, books recommended by NCERT and CBSE are followed at Secondary and Senior secondary levels. Depending upon the learners’ profile there is a need to grade textbooks for better learning of students. The focus of the paper is to understand the language materials and implication of adaptation strategies in ESL.
Vol. 4 Issue 20 – Article: ‘Top 4 Tips for Choosing the Right Assistive Technology’ by Ann Logsdon
Ann Logsdon, About.com ESL Guide, has posted an informative article titled “Top 4 Tips for Choosing the Right Assistive Technology”.
Vol. 4 Issue 20 – Research Paper: ‘Making the Teaching of English Communicative at the Undergraduate Level’ by Prof. Jinendra Jain
This paper discusses how useful documentaries are in teaching college reading courses.