The culture of optimization: Maximizing listening performance
The culture of optimization refers to current societal trends or mindsets where there is a strong emphasis on continuously improving
5 Tips for Learning English Through Movies
Movies are a great resource for language learning. A good movie is a work of art – it is a
Intervention points for teaching listening
In my experience with learners, there are 6 “intervention points” in which listening skills can be practiced: pre-listening, while-listening (first
Supplementary activities for online classes
One of the major challenges of online classes is keeping students engaged. In face to face classes, the teacher can often
Speaking tasks for online classes
(referenced to Contemporary Topics, 4th edition, Pearson) A key to creating and maintaining engaging online classes is to structure in “social learning”
Flipping the classroom to maximize interaction in online classes
(referenced to Contemporary Topics, 4th edition, Pearson) A key to creating and maintaining engaging online classes, with maximum student participation, is to “flip”
Coaching tips to promote active learning in online classes
(referenced to Contemporary Topics, 4th edition, Pearson) As teachers, we know that a major part of our job is coaching students: providing
5 Ways to Be a Great Online Conversation Teacher
Many teachers now have one-on-one or small group Zoom classes with their students. These can be great opportunities for learning
Going beyond the classroom with blended learning
The necessity to prepare online classes amid this unexpected coronavirus shutdown has put a lot of pressure on teachers and
3 Mindset Shifts for Teaching English Online
As we move to more online teaching, we may feel conflicted, especially if we consider ourselves “communicative language” teachers. Or
5 Tips for teaching English online
Online teaching can present challenges for teachers, particularly if we feel we have to create a class quickly, or in
“Gamify” to promote engagement
Gamification is the use of game design elements and game mechanics in non-game contexts, such as language education. The concept
“Deliberate Practice” for improving speech processing
Bottom up listening refers to speech processing skills for detecting sound: identifying phonemes, rhythm, cadence, stress, word recognition. Our first
Deliberate practice: essential for bottom-up listening skills
Probably the least popular approach to teaching listening is "deliberate practice." It's not popular because, well, it's not fun. It's
Some Features of Pearson English Interactive
Michael Rost, author of Pearson English Interactive, talks about the benefits of the course and blended learning.
Active Learning and Classroom Practice
Michael Rost, Series Editor, English Firsthand Every language teacher knows this contrast: Some students sit silently in the classroom and feel
Pearson English Interactive: Benefits of a Blended Learning Model
Sharing learning resources with students is a great way to utilize technology in language teaching. Like a lot of teachers,
User Experience and Instructional Design
When we discuss technology, we often refer to “user experience,” that is, the user’s sense of ease of navigation, ease
