Category: News

Conflicting Forms of English Teaching – between the ‘Yankees’ and ‘Limeys’ (derogatory terms)  responsible for the American and British versions of the English language. Out of this competition arose terminologies that sometimes leave us bewildered, not knowing which to apply in a given context. Take ‘pants’, for instance. 

Over the years, linguists have proposed numerous theories on foreign or second language and learning approaches. Previously, Structuralist Approach (SA) played a noteworthy role where linguists concentrated further on language competence. In language development, linguists nowadays have focused more on the learners themselves or independent learner-centeredness. At this juncture, learning development has been commonly known as the Naturalist Approach (NA) since the early 1970s (Krashen & Terrell, 1983). Hence, the combinations of SA and NA in teaching methods today are designed to facilitate the demand of learners’ needs.

Conflict Resolution for English Language Learners was developed based on the United States Institute of Peace’s work on education in zones of conflict throughout the world. The guide draws on the experiences and needs of educators who struggle to deal with the conflicts in their countries. The purpose of the guide is to provide educators with a series of conflict resolution
exercises to increase students’ capacity to manage intergroup conflict. The specific focus of the guide is on improving interpersonal skills that will enable individuals to address intergroup conflict effectively and nonviolently. However, as the guide points out, these skills can be used more generally to address conflict on an even greater scale.

Taken together, these exercises will:
• Explore issues of conflict from the perspective of students’ lives.
• Increase students’ understanding of the “other.”
• Increase students’ understanding of the strategies they can use to manage
identity-based conflicts.
• Develop students’ conflict management and problem-solving skills.
• Develop students’ communication skills.
• Provide educators with the instructional materials necessary to bring conflict
resolution education into the classroom.

The guide is divided into five sections: trust building, defining conflict, prejudice awareness and reduction, communication, and conflict management. Each section focuses on one segment of conflict resolution. The concepts in the sections build on one another and work well when used in order. However, the guide is designed to be flexible, allowing educators to use activities as they see fit.

You can read the entire article on SciElo. 

After reading “Conflicting Forms of English Teaching” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

Grammar Mistakes That Aren’t Wrong – Are you the sort of person who just loves correcting other people’s grammar mistakes? Are you sure that you’re doing it right? Some things that people have been taught are rules of English grammar are really not rules at all — and some of them are flat-out wrong.

There’s actually a word for this phenomenon: hypercorrection. It’s what happens when people learn that something that isn’t a rule is a rule.

Now there are plenty of reasons for people to learn about proper English grammar; it can make you a more confident communicator and help you understand the way the language has evolved. But sometimes, when people correct other folks’ grammar in a non-education, non-copyediting situation, they’re not being helpful; they’re asserting their perceived linguistic superiority. And while some who proudly wear the badge of “grammar Nazi” or “grammar police” see themselves as defenders of the language, they’re not really enforcing grammatical rules; they’re reinforcing personal peeves.

I am by no means a grammar expert; I just enjoy reading about grammar. These non-rules are backed up by various grammarians and linguists. You can also feel free to correct my grammar. I figure that if I write a post about grammar, karma dictates that it will contain no fewer than a dozen typographical and grammatical errors.

To read the full report visit the GizModo page.

Make sure to visit our PDFs section and out social medias that are at the bottom of the homepage. To know more about my honest opinion on Worksheets you can visit my YouTube channel.

Escaping education’s death valley – according to Robinson, there are three principles on which human life flourishes and these are contradicted by the educational system of America.

First, humans are naturally diverse and different from one another. Under ‘No child left behind’, education is based on conformity rather than diversity. An extension of this conformity is the apparent focus on STEM disciplines. Real education according to Robinson, has to give equal weight to all disciplines – arts, humanities, physical education, etc. He reiterated that kids prosper best by having a broad curriculum that exercises their various talents.

Second, curiosity in kids have to be allowed ready expression. Robinson remarked that this is against the culture of ‘No kid left behind’ which de-professionalizes the teaching profession. He remarked that teachers don’t just pass on information. They engage, listen to, respond to and stimulate the minds of students while fulfilling the role of a teacher which is to facilitate learning. He commented that under the culture of ‘No kids left behind’, there is an inordinate focus on testing which, though important, should not be the dominant culture of education. He agreed that there is a place for standardized testing, but not to the point where it obstructs rather than support learning.

Third, human life is inherently creative. He asserted that education should encourage creativity and not stifle it. He noted that the culture of standardization stifles creativity and used Finland to support this point. In Finland, there are almost no standardized testing and the teachers are given a lot of latitude and discretion. The results are a non-existent dropout rate and the highest scores in the International student assessment tests. He observed that in Finland, teaching is highly individualize. Also, a high status is attributed to the teaching profession which enables an environment where the best teachers are recruited and trained. Also, the responsibility of teaching and running a school is devolved to the school level rather than a central or state government. Robinson remarked that this allowed Finnish teachers fluidity and discretion in doing their jobs.

After watching “How to escape education’s death valley” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

How To Treat Teachers – The world of teaching is a lavish one.

Hundred-million dollar contracts, female-only parties, Goyard pocket protectors—sexy stuff all around.

So finally, after all these years of going uncovered, a network has dedicated itself to bringing us up-to-the-minute news on everything from the teacher draft to controversies at the teacher trade deadline.

Thank you for “Teaching Center,” Key & Peele. I’ve been bullish on Ruby Ruhf since she was reading Harry Potter to third-graders at Piedmont North. Good to see her finally getting the big-money contract she deserves.

Teaching is largely a thankless job. The pay is low, the work never ends, and students and parents can sometimes lack respect—a real shame given the colossal scope and importance of the task at hand. Things only seem to be getting harder. Some teachers believe the public school system is under attack, and many are uneasy about what a Trump presidency could mean in the classroom, not unfounded given his choice to head the Department of Education.

Good teachers have the capability to shape lives for the better and become profound role models. But that’s becoming harder too given the attention of students’ has now turned from the head of the class and into their handheld devices. If the American education system is in crisis, the least we can do is listen to the people who work in it. As such, we asked several teachers with various years of experience how they’d like to be treated by students and parents.

After reading “How To Treat Teachers” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

Building Children Vocabulary – If you want your child to have a rich and fulfilling life, one of the best things you can do is help build your child’s vocabulary.

Research shows strong language ability is associated with a number of positive things, including happiness, friendships, connections with family, academic success and a satisfying career.

Building your child’s language ability is not something you should wait to do until they’re old enough to go to school. Vocabulary development is extremely rapid. Between birth and second grade, children, on average, learn about 5,200 root words.

The ability to quickly interpret words at 18 months can determine the size of a child’s vocabulary later in childhood.

By grades three and four, vocabulary also is closely related to children’s ability to understand what they read. This is partly because a child’s vocabulary is a strong indicator of a child’s knowledge of the world.

As one who researches the best ways to develop children’s literacy, here are seven things that I believe parents and educators can do to help build children’s language and vocabulary skills.

Learn more about this topic by reading this article on Phys.

After reading “Building Children Vocabulary” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

Coding and L2 Learning – New research from the University of Washington finds that a natural aptitude for learning languages is a stronger predictor of learning to program than basic math knowledge, or numeracy.

That’s because writing code also involves learning a second language, an ability to learn that language’s vocabulary and grammar, and how they work together to communicate ideas and intentions. Other cognitive functions tied to both areas, such as problem solving and the use of working memory, also play key roles.

Standard methods of teaching an introductory course in computer science, designed to introduce computer programming as a tool for mathematicians and engineers at the university level, are unnecessarily complicated and difficult. They lack a common thread that unifies each unit of material and frequently make use of mathematical notation, technical keywords, and other terms or symbols unfamiliar to the average middle or high school student.

Furthermore, they tend to focus on a single more advanced language, leading students to believe that each programming language is a distinct and separate
entity with a tenuous—at best— link to other languages. Ironically, traditional high school-level computer science classes are often driven by the Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum dictated by the College Board, which establishes a narrow set of benchmarks for evaluating proficiency in computer programming.

According to research done by Allen Tucker, these benchmarks promote memorization over understanding and are of limited practical use to the average student. (Editor’s note: Find this and other Resources on p. 39.) As a result, students view programming as more of a snapshot than a continuum,
failing to see the value in pursuing a higher level of programming and
computer applications proficiency.

Learn more about this topic by reading this article on Phys.

After reading “Coding and L2 Learning” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

Role of technology in education – As we embark on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it’s clear that technology will play a central role in nearly all aspects of our lives. Research by the World Economic Forum estimates that 65% of children entering primary school will find themselves in occupations that today do not exist. 

1.5 Million Digitized Jobs

By 2020 it’s estimated there will be 1.5 million new digitized jobs across the globe. At the same time, 90% of organizations currently have an IT skills shortage, while 75% of educators and students feel there is a gap in their ability to meet the skills needs of the IT workforce. To prepare the talent needed for the digital economy, education must adapt as fast as the demand for IT skills is growing and evolving.

Insights into the influence of psychological, social, cultural and environmental factors on how we learn are emerging from “the new science of learning”. This approach to understanding education argues that in our complex and rapidly evolving world today, academic models based on interdisciplinary research are necessary to create effective teaching and learning environments.

Technology and Education

Although technology is finally being integrated into education, its use for teaching and learning still remains a challenge. Despite the fact that many schools today are privileged to have ready access to technology, trained teachers, and a favourable policy environment, the use of technology in the classroom is still low. Some attribute low levels of technology use in education to the pedagogical beliefs of teachers.

With that said, the potential of technology to enhance learning cannot be overemphasized. The use of technology is something that started a long time ago for students with special needs. For example, brail machines have been utilized for the visually impaired. In addition, special needs programs that help children with autism use technology to enhance learning. By integrating technology into education, educators aim to engender pedagogical change and address fundamental issues that affect learners with special needs. Technology can therefore be seen as both a tool and a catalyst for change.

To narrow it down, we came up with 10 reasons for the importance of technology in education:

Students demand it.

Students are engaging with technology constantly outside of the classroom. Kids like to be interactive, and learning through technology has now become a part of their lifestyle.

New teachers are demanding it. 

The technology movement has been implemented in post-secondary education as well as other professional jobs. For new teachers, technology is considered a necessity for the learning environment.

Kids are the digital native.

Kids know technology better than most adults. It has become the easiest way they learn, because it is such an integral part of their life. Engaging with technology in the classroom has not only helped them learn better, but they also acquire multi-tasking skills. At this day in age, they hardly know how to learn without it. This knowledge is important, because they would be way behind in the real world without it.

Kids can learn at their own pace.

We know from years of experience that kids learn at their own pace, but sometimes the traditional classroom makes it difficult to do so. With the integration of technology in education, children have the ability to slow down and go back over lessons and concepts, and more advanced kids can go ahead. It also frees up the teacher to help kids on a more one-on-one level.

With technology, there are no limitations. 

Having access to other information outside of the book gives students many different ways to learn a concept. Teachers can come up with creative ways to teach their students that keeps them engaged. Technology has changed the learning environment so that learning is more hands-on. Schools throughout the nation are diverse in income, and often kids don’t always get the resources they need. The implementation of technology in schools helps close that gap.

Technology has the ability to enhance relationships between teachers and students.

When teachers effectively integrate technology into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun. Students are also able to collaborate with their own classmates through technological applications.

Testing has gone online

One protocol that schools don’t have control over, but must adapt to, is online testing. Testing online is the way of the future, but it has a lot of advantages. Technology can instantly assess the students’ performance. Beyond seeing test scores in real-time, teachers can better track and understand students’ grasp of the subject.

Multitude of resources 

Computers, tablets, and other forms of technology bring multiple resources for the teacher that’s not in the book. They not only keep students engaged with exciting new features and apps, but also have other ways to teach students material. Every kid learns differently, and technology helps with this gap as well.

Technology keeps kids engaged.

The students of this generation are considered technological learners. They learn best being more interactive, and technology is what helps them do that. Children often struggle to stay on task or interested, and with resources to help the teacher, they can better stay focused and learn faster.

Technology is necessary to succeed outside of primary and secondary education

Whether we like it or not, technology is an essential concept to learn. Because it changes so quickly, children are better off learning about it sooner. It is a primary part of every industry, and there is no way around it. These days, technology means more than just learning basic computing skills. Technology has made itself part of every aspect of our lives today, and the students who understand it are the ones who succeed in the business world.

Learn more about this topic by reading this article on the World Economic Forum .

After reading “Role of technology in education” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

Decrease anxiety about learning English with mobile gaming

It’s normal to experience some anxiety when s … ng a second language. When paired with large class sizes and limited … unities for practice during class time, however, this anxiety can limit a person’s ability to perform in the language classroom. In order to become proficient in a second language, learners require extensive practice with the language such as with new vocabulary words and grammar.

Due to limited class time, language teachers tend to focus more on teaching new items rather than having students practice what they have already taught. So having adequate time to practice is important, especially when it does not require the presence of a teacher. This can be accomplished via peer feedback, which has been shown to benefit language learning.

Enter a mobile game for language classrooms which allows learners to practice, and which allows for peer feedback with language: Spaceteam ESL. The game, which can be played on smartphones or other mobile devices, is a modified version of Spaceteam, created by Henry Smith of Sleeping Beast Games. Two researchers from Concordia’s Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance, David Waddington and Walcir Cardoso, developed the modified version in collaboration with Smith. This educational game is now free to download for Android and iOS.

Learn more about this topic by reading this article on Phys.

After reading “Decrease anxiety about learning English with mobile gaming” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

 

How language confounds – That’s “good day” in the Coptic language, and we thought it’s the best way to greet you, dear readers, on International Mother Language Day. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the languages spoken by minorities in Egypt, where for centuries now Arabic has had the higher power: Coptic, Siwi (a branch of Amazigh), and Nubian (in both its Fadicca and Kenzi dialects).

As we worked on this issue of Detox, we found ourselves thinking of the mother of all languages: that which humans supposedly spoke in the Tower of Babel — the city that touched the heavens — before God “confounded their speech and scattered them across the face of all the Earth,” as narrated in the Bible. 

It’s very difficult to imagine: the entire world speaking the same tongue. What did it sound like? Was it written, or only spoken? Was it used as a vehicle for literature and legislation? Does it have a legacy? What were the letter’s shapes? Does it still remain, hidden in the words of one surviving language or more? It’s like trying to remember the first word one spoke as a child, but here we’re trying to recall the first words all humanity spoke — an act rooted in imagination rather than memory. 

Learn more about this topic by reading this article on Madamasr.

After reading “How language confounds” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.

English language books in Bogotá – If you’re an avid reader or a newcomer to Bogotá, you’ll be happy to learn that the city is rich in bookstores, many of which offer a wide selection of books in English.

Whether you’re a native English speaker looking for some pleasure reading material, an English learner who wants to improve reading comprehension, or a short term visitor looking for bookish events and friends, you’ll find plenty of options to buy English titles of all genres and bestseller lists.

Librería Merlín is perhaps one of the most eclectic store on this list, if you know what you’re looking for. Its location is discreet (a small side street known as the Bookseller Alley close to Museo del Oro, in the center of the city), but its selection is staggering. Not only does it have two enormous shelves of used English books, it also features titles in French, German, Italian and Portuguese. And, of course, books in Spanish on every conceivable topic, from philosophy to literature and business administration. The store sprawls over three stories of an old house, and there are dozens of other, smaller, book stands nearby.

Learn more about this topic by reading this article on The City Paper Bogota.

After reading “English language books in Bogotá” you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs, and visit my YouTube channel.