Finding input which will engage English learners.

One of my online Spanish student has an advanced level of English and she wants to practise her speaking skills but she lacks confidence. I have noticed that most language learners often lack confidence when it comes to having a conversation. They can comprehend a lot but they fear of speaking because they think people will not understand them or they will make too many errors.

[read more…]

conversation12 document1 Education8 engage14 esl2 ethnic1 fluency15 fluent12 food13 free4 input39 inspire4 inspiring3 interesting9 international1 output10 practise2 practising1 questions19 quizlet5 resource4 speak2 speaking37 talk4 talking1 teacherspayteachers11 TEDx1 Thai1 video32 vocabulary18 world3 youtube17

Resources for English learners: shopping and the issue of being a shopaholic.

Last week, I was writing about my new "job" which is to teach online private lessons to Spanish students who want to improve their English. (via Google hangout or Skype). For now, it is going very well and I am receiving positive feedback from my students which is always good!

[read more…]

acquire28 acquisition33 activity13 answers8 article5 communicate5 communication7 communicative7 compelling10 comprehend10 comprehensible41 comprehension31 conversation12 culture22 debate3 edmodo3 Education8 esl2 fluency15 input39 interesting9 language26 learner8 learning14 meaning3 meaningful4 personal8 personalized13 practise2 questions19 reading36 teacherspayteachers11 theme3

Reviewing holidays with IGCSE students

We are now reviewing for the IGCSE speaking examination in less than two weeks time! As I mentioned in an earlier post, I created different boards on Audioboo related to the different topics my students will be asked about. I posted samples of questions and answers which my students recorded in groups so that they can review at home or in the bus or wherever and whenever they want!

[read more…]

answers8 audio file1 audioboo3 board4 brainstorming1 conversation12 converse3 difusionELE1 Education8 examination4 file1 grade 108 holidays1 IGCSE12 oral11 questions19 record2 review4 reviewing2 revise1 revision2 Spanish27 speaking37 theme3 video32 youtube17

Different language projects around the topic of school

The topic of school in grade 6 (11-12 years old) gives the opportunity to learn about the facilities at a school, the different subjects and the time (here is the curriculum I planned for this topic). At the end of the topic I like to have a my students work on a project to recap all the new vocabulary and structures they have learned.

[read more…]

assessment1 connective1 creativity3 curriculum5 design2 Education8 engage14 fluency15 grade 68 key structure10 leaflet1 map2 peer assessment2 picture3 presentation10 project10 recap1 record2 school5 Spanish27 speaking37 structure10 video32

What do the other students do when some are recording a podcast?

When some students are recording their IGCSE questions and answers to practice for the oral examination, I like to have the other students work in different stations so that nobody misses out during the lesson. The recording process is one station and I am lucky enough to have a spare room next to my classroom which is rarely used so that my students can record themselves in a quiet space.

[read more…]

answers8 audioboo3 board4 book10 cd1 computer1 Education8 flashcards4 group work5 home town2 IGCSE12 listening29 local area2 memorize5 oral11 pair work2 pinterest6 podcast3 questions19 skill4 speaking37 station1 station work1 textbook1 vocabulary18

Describing your home town and local area in Spanish

Another IGCSE topic is about describing where you live. First I had my grade 9 students watch this excellent video about a girl describing where she lives near Madrid (you can watch it with or without subtitles):

I then asked my students to produce a short movie like the one above about their local area.

[read more…]

criteria1 describe4 description5 Education8 feedback3 film7 home3 home town2 homework2 IGCSE12 local area2 Madrid1 oral11 peer assessment2 publish2 publishing1 skills24 Spanish27 speaking37 speaking skills2 technology2 town1 video32

More on Spanish food

Last night I posted a video about Spanish table manners from Ben and Marina. Here is another video from Ben and Marina to learn and/or review Spanish fruit and vegetables:

As well as the video, you can get the full list of vocabulary on Ben and Marina's website.

[read more…]

activity13 Ben and Marina2 conversation12 curriculum5 drinking2 eating2 Education8 expressions3 fluent12 food13 fruit5 grade 108 grade 98 IGSCE1 learning14 list3 listening29 memorize5 Notes in Spanish2 Spanish27 speaking37 table2 talk4 vegetable1 video32 vocabulary18 wiki5