Teachers may be known for their quirks and faults in the media.
Ben Stein’s “Bueller? Bueller?” from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” has become the classic trope for the apathetic teacher.
Señor Chang spends all his class time harassing students …
Isn’t there something romantic about the past?
I don’t know about you, but growing up, I loved the “Little House on the Prairie” and “Anne of Green Gables” series.
Both paint a picture of the past, including one-room schoolhouses where …
Have you ever watched a grown man put a turkey on his head and think to yourself, “Hmm, this could make a great English lesson”?
Probably not.
What person in their right mind puts food on their head, …
Can you smell it in the air?
No, I’m not talking about what the Rock is cooking. I’m talking about autumn!
Take a moment and breathe in the scents of pumpkin spice, caramel apple and falling leaves. Isn’t it …
Ever find yourself staring at a blank page for extended periods of time?
We all do, even the most experienced writers.
But for many ESL students, the dreaded blank page isn’t just intimidating—it’s immobilizing.
After all, they’re working in …
If only these walls could speak?
If only these walls could teach!
In fact, they can.
Class walls will not exactly have the same effect as, say, Robin Williams standing on a desk talking about the universe, but they …
Things that happen in a flash are usually pretty exciting.
Think about it.
A flash of lightning, a flash in the pan, The Flash…
So why should flashcards be so boring?
Most of us associate flashcards with late-night study drills. …
Once everyone has had their fill of Halloween candy, the words on lips all over the United States are “Happy Holidays.”
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah (or Chag Sameach)!
Happy New Year!
Wonderful wishes abound from November through January, often over …
Do you ever feel sluggish and unmotivated when you teach? Do your students?
If so, that’s okay!
Even if it’s not ideal, it’s completely normal for all of us to feel low on the motivation scale every now and …
Can someone truly find love on a game show?
“The Bachelor” aside, love is possible, even on a show like “Jeopardy.” Just ask Maryanne Lewell and Michael Townes who met as contestants and went on to find their happily ever …
Many of us have seen over-used or boring icebreakers fall flat, whether leading them or enduring them during conferences or training sessions.
But don’t let bad experiences with icebreakers turn you off to them altogether!
There are actually fun, effective …
In other classrooms, students run out the first chance they get.
But not in your class.
You’re just wrapping up class when you hear someone call out from the back of the room, “Please, please, teacher, you forgot to give …
What do the words photobomb, binge-watch, throw shade, face-palm, NSFW and trainwreck have in common?
No, I’m not talking about the movie “The Hangover” or your students’ stories about their crazy weekends.
These are …
Do you ever feel like your classroom is more like one from “The Flintstones” than “The Jetsons”?
Are you ready to leave the Stone Age?
For many of us who are teaching today, we learned how to teach in the …
My high school years were the best years of my entire life. I would do anything if I could live them again.
My high school years were the worst years of my entire life. You couldn’t pay me a million …
I’m not much of a fancy coffee drinker.
A little sugar and cream is generally all I need to be happily caffeinated.
But on a recent road trip I splurged. I got a very large, very chocolatey frozen coffee concoction …
Teaching and apples have gone hand in hand for far longer than any of today’s teachers have been in the classroom.
The classic picture of an apple on the teacher’s desk is one we all know, and odds are that, …
Reading, writing and ‘rithmetic might traditionally go together.
And of course there’s that other great combo for the ESL classroom—movies and books.
In native speaking classrooms, many teachers start with students reading a book and then …
Writing projects that ESL students actually enjoy are more elusive than Bigfoot.
You might have stopped believing that they actually exist.
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I know they’re out there.
In fact, I have the evidence that …
Have you heard the expression “all boy”?
It fits my son to a T. He’s “all boy,” all right—rough and tumble, never stops moving, loves swords and superheroes. Oh, and one thing I never would have expected from him: …
I cannot tell a lie—Presidents’ Day is an incredible opportunity for ESL teachers.
You can teach interactive English lessons and discuss American history in one fell swoop.
Not to mention, American presidents are fascinating, important figures for students to learn …
Are you a fan of Bill Murray?
“Zombieland”… “Ghostbusters”… “Lost in Translation”…
You’ve got plenty of movies to choose from when picking from the best this seasoned actor has to offer.
One of my favorites just happens to resurface …
Can you picture an NFL quarterback and pee-wee football players on the same team?
Sometimes teaching a multilevel English class can feel like that.
And as teacher, you have the job of being coach to all, bringing out the …
Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future.
Do you ever feel like I do? Like there are too few hours in the day (or night)?
Like there isn’t enough time to do everything you want or need …
While vinegar may be a good dressing for a fresh garden salad, it’s not the way to attract bees.
They say honey does the job, but I’m pretty sure brightly colored flowers would produce the same results, because bees like …
One of these things is not like the others. Three of these things are kind of the same.
Do you hear the music in your head yet?
If you’re like me, these lyrics bring back images of a split-screen …
Not everyone is a foodie, but most people know at least something about celebrity chef Alton Brown.
His quirky mix of science and cuisine made him a sensation on the Food Network and propelled him to success and fame.…
“You are really…bringing me over, man.”
You may not have seen the classic 1980s movie “Better Off Dead.”
But if you teach teenagers, you could probably relate to John Cusack’s character’s dad when he tries, unsuccessfully, to bridge the gap…
Do you have a special place you go every summer?
Someplace that—for you—means summer has begun?
For people around Pittsburgh, that’s going to Kennywood Park. When the gate opens and the rides start moving, that’s when summer is …
Have you ever seen “The Gong Show”?
This game show was popular in the 1970s, and for good reason.
For thirty minutes, acts of questionable talent performed in front of three celebrity judges for the daily prize.
What made …
Where do you sit when you go to the movies?
You might be a front row person, so close to the screen and speakers that you can’t help but feel you are part of the world in front of you.…
What’s your style?
Do you like to move and groove? Do you just listen to the music? Do you like to partner up?
No, I’m not talking about party personalities. I’m talking about learning styles.
Intentionally planning …
Have you found it?
It’s that nugget of language gold that comes when you teach content areas!
You know, subjects like social studies, math and science.
Perhaps you have never considered teaching these areas before, but the truth …
Teaching overseas was one of the best experiences in my entire life.
It was also one of the most difficult.
Though I did some preparation before my thirty-six hour trip to East Asia, I could have done much more.
In …
They’ve won capture the flag.
They’ve played sardines in the dark and have the bruises to prove it.
They’ve swum and glued and roasted, but how much English have your campers learned?
If you (or your students) think you can’t …
Two heads are better than one.
This is the oh-so-simple answer to the oh-so-common question, “Why the heck are we doing group work in class?”
You might ask yourself this question in more challenging moments, when it has become exceedingly …
Do you really want to be stuck in your classroom when the first signs of spring are calling from the other side of the window?
Not me.
I’ll use every excuse in the book to get my students and myself …
Is a bird in the hand really worth two in the bush?
The answer is yes, when you’re talking about teaching.
Making teaching sensory—that is, getting students’ senses involved while learning—is the ultimate way to teach.
And while most …
Want to truly engage your students with English in a creative way?
Art connects with students on a sensory level, getting their whole bodies involved as they learn language.
All that, and it’s enjoyable to look at, too!
Luckily, you …
Do you wish your students would do more than look at the words on the page when they read?
Of course!
I had this same problem, but now use an amazing tool that will give your students a hands-on …
Who doesn’t love a good role play?
They get students talking.
They use key vocabulary.
Plus, they mimic real-life situations.
Role plays have everything good to offer!
And that’s true not only for academic ESL classes, but …
Do you hear bells ringing?
Are the chestnuts roasting?
Are your jingle bells rocking?
That’s right. I’m talking about Christmas! And whether or not it’s a white Christmas, it’s a good time to celebrate.
Oh yeah, and to teach …
Are you talking turkey?
You should be.
Many ESL students know little about the holiday we Americans celebrate each fall, yet it’s one of our most popular holidays. It’s a staple of American history and culture.
That’s why …
If your students are anything like mine, they love movies!
English-language movies are great, guilt-free entertainment for ESL students.
Action-packed blockbusters take the excitement to a whole different level.
If movies weren’t entertaining, we wouldn’t watch them. Plus, …
Boo!
October is here, and so is the time for haunted houses, spider webs and Halloween activities for your ESL classes!
For some ESL students, this will be their first introduction to the late October holiday. It’s always fun to …
Huh?
What’s that?
Excuse me?
There are tons of ways to ask someone to say something again, and this makes sense if you think about it.
After all, you can’t know what a person means if you don’t hear …
Shall we play a game?
The words made famous by the Matthew Broderick movie thirty years ago are still useful in the ESL classroom today.
Games are fun and can have lots of linguistic advantages.
But it’s a lot of …
All ESL teachers are familiar with this awkward moment:
You ask one of your students a question, and in response you get…
“…Yes.”
Don’t be discouraged, though. Your students have a lot to say!
If they’re not speaking up…
Do you often hear precious little laughs and dramatic sobs in the same day?
Is your classroom is filled with color and creativity?
Have you ever felt like you’re becoming your mother (“Stop making that face or it will freeze …
