Saturday, May 31, 2014

About the Globalization of English (Englishes)

Foreign influence is piling up...this is the key, and all nations speaking English are turning it...

Zoe Marlowe
May 31, 2014 (Yes, I came up with that after reading David Crystal)

Friday, May 30, 2014

English Tips for TESOL Students...Never Too Much

I shared this from my friend and fellow student of MA TESOL program at USC, Laurie Hamilton.  I thought this was a 'short and sweet' list for people who might get these often confusing words confused!


Please feel free to comment and/or send me more little pieces of grammar like this, all people can benefit thank you!


Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Change Up Your Lessons - Location Location Location!

Take your university English students to Starbuck's or anywhere near that you can sit like a group and chat.  This improves their mood, it improves their ability, lowers their affective filter, makes them feel like talking more!! Hey, anything to change up your lessons and get those students speaking, writing, chatting, in ENGLISH!! 

Here's a shot of one of my classes enjoying an afternoon lesson on campus at Starbuck's.  Lots of discussion ensued... Just do it!!

Updates and New Content!

Well I have just finished my amazing two year program at USC's MA TESOL program...

I have learned so much these last two years, and I have to thank my wonderful instructors, including but not limited to Dr. Melanie Calvert, Dr. Candace Kelly-Hodge, Dr. Emmy Min, Dr. Todd Kolberg.  I was not able to walk with my classmates at the commencement exercises, but I was there in my heart and spirit with my fellow Trojans...love you guys!!

What is next?  Well, I am looking for a really academically committed and strong English program to become a teacher for here in Istanbul.  I want to be able to put much of what I learned in the MA TESOL program into practice.  I have studied Gardner, Jenkins, Richards, and Nunan, and really I just want to become the new and improved TESOL teacher that USC taught me to be.

I also have some great material to share on this blog with all TESOL teachers worldwide.  If we can engage in fellowship and help our peers, keep the conversations about English teaching to foreign students open, we can make a difference as influential, dynamic English teachers in foreign countries.  We are needed out here in the world!

In the next few days I plan to post some links to specific educational sources, some dynamic software that will help us teach better, and, maybe most importantly, I will be posting some video footage of interviews I conducted with my peer group here in Istanbul, in which I speak with seasoned veterans of English teaching here in Turkey.  I always want to have that connection with my peer group because it is so important that we TESOL teachers fellowship with each other and SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE that will enable us to be better, more engaging instructors!  So, please keep reading my blog and feel free to comment!