September 2005
CompleatLinks
Richard Firsten's Grammatically Speaking is an ongoing feature of Compleat Links.
- What Is "Out of the Box"?
Articles in the Out of the Box section of Essential Teacher take a fresh approach to classroom work or inspire readers to look at what they do in a new way. In this article, Phil Quirke, the founding editor of the section, defines it through his own work and ideas. - What Is Grammatically Speaking?
- Project-Based Instruction: Writing Grant Proposals
Joshua P. Miekley describes his method of using proposal writing as an authentic, service-based communicative activity with adult EFL learners in Kosovo. - Wikis: One More Great Tool
Diana Booth explains how effective use of wikis creates an authentic context for communication and encourages student participation. - Gino Learns to Play Kickball: Bridging the Cultural Gap Between Teachers and English Language Learners
Michele Harr tells the story of how one teacher's experience with other cultures helped her facilitate interaction between mainstream U.S. students and an immigrant newcomer student. - The Critical Role of Guided Oral Reading for English Language Learners
Philomena Marinaccio-Eckel and Jaclyn Donahue discuss the process and benefits of using this strategy to facilitate students' comprehension through oral retelling. - Why K–12 Teachers Need to Know About ESL Grammar Issues
Keith Folse addresses the fact that the focus of traditional teacher training will not suffice in preparing teachers for the increasing numbers of ESL students in U.S. schools. - Grammatically Speaking, October 2009
Richard Firsten explains past simple versus past perfect in the indicative mood, discusses the second conditional, looks at different ways to structure negative questions, and presents a new Brain Teaser.
Communities of Practice
In-Service: Go on, Be Evaluated! (Members Only)
Sheryl Slocum
Even if the word "evaluation" sends a chill up your spine, try asking students to evaluate a course or unit you are teaching.
Out of the Box
The Heart of the Matter (Members Only)
Dina Strasser
As she works with Qaiser, a student from Afghanistan, a voice advises Strasser to shut up and stop teaching. Following the voice results in possibly the most spontaneous, effortless, honest communication she has ever had with an ESL student.
Portal
Corpus-Based Tools for Efficient Writing Instruction (Members Only)
Luciana Diniz and Kate Moran
Free, corpus-based tools and programs can help you identify the problems language students are having with form in their writing. With these tools, you can also give students clear, effective feedback on their writing.
Home and Other Pages
Words in Print: Can You Believe It? Stories and Idioms from Real Life, Book Two (Members Only)
Jann Huizenga
Reviewed by Diane Watt
This teacher- and learner-friendly text teaches high-frequency idioms, fixed expressions, and phrasal verbs in the context of quirky but true stories.
President's Message, September 2005
Elliot L. Judd
About Essential Teacher (M)
The archive of Essential Teacher is a resource for language teachers and administrators in varied ESL and EFL workplaces, including pre-K-12, 2- and 4-year institutions of higher learning, and adult education. Each of these arenas has teachers with varied experience and expertise, making for a broad and diverse readership. Essential Teacher also offers guidance to mainstream teachers who work with students for whom English is an additional language.
Compleat Links is an online complement to Essential Teacher. This section offers original articles, interviews, and other content thematically linked to Essential Teacher.
Contents
This issue of Essential Teacher is full of ideas, strategies, and technology-based ways to enrich your practice.
- In-Service: Go on, Be Evaluated!
Sheryl Slocum - Circle Time: Building Self-Esteem with Memories of Home
Judie Haynes - Home Room: Selling ESL, Part 2
Jim Hughes - The Road Taken: "I Don't Think I Can Ever Pass the Test!"
Debbie Zacarian - Multilingual Momentum: Sparking the Cultural Connection
Gu Peiya - From A to Z: TOEFL Driven
Dorothy Zemach
- Corpus-Based Tools for Efficient Writing Instruction
Luciana Diniz and Kate Moran - Blogs, the Virtual Soapbox
Elise Catera and Robert Emigh - Using CALL to Bridge the Vocabulary Gap
Chikako Nishigaki and Kiyomi Chujo - Electronic Visual Aids
Laurette Poulos Simmons
- The Heart of the Matter
Dina Strasser - Breaking out of Traditional Research and Writing
Heidi Evans Nachi and Stacey Vye - When Learners Become Vocabulary Teachers
Susan Finn Miller - Harvesting English Language Success
Rebecca Hafley Gaydos and Tammy Jo Gaydos
- Words in Print: Can You Believe It? Stories and Idioms from Real Life, Book Two
Jann Huizenga
Reviewed by Diane Watt - Words in Print: Extensive Reading Activities for Teaching Language
Julian Bamford and Richard R. Day, eds.
Reviewed by Tracy Cramer - Cybersights: Web Concordancer
Virtual Language Centre
Reviewed by Bill Walker - Soundbites: My Best Friend's Wedding
Columbia Pictures
Reviewed by Ellie Cavalcanti - Software Thumbnails: Basic Mouse Skills and Tidy Up
Grey Olltwit's Software
Reviewed by Deborah Healey
- President's Message, September 2005
Elliot L. Judd
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