Archive for the ‘Using songs with kids’ Category

All that TEFL International stuff below is not only depressing, I’m starting to think it is actually quite pointless. For example, if we compare the number of teachers who have paid money to TEFL International, let alone the number of people who felt unhappy afterwards, how does that compare to the number of teachers who need some new games for the Present Simple? One percent? Less? Not forgetting of course that 99% of English teachers in the world are not native speakers and have never heard of the CELTA or any of the “equivalents”.

Luckily, I have found time between training to be a TEFL boxing referee to continue writing some practical ideas that anyone should make teachers’ lives easier. You can find them here:

Usingenglish.com (which seems to be active again after going veeeeery quiet)

Business English Present Continuous Sounds and Mimes- contrasting with the Present Simple, and with loads of useful office and other Bus Eng vocab

Why does my teacher skip exercises in the textbook?- article for students, but could also help teachers answer their questions and think through their classroom activities

TEFL.net Idea Thinktank

The 15 stages of using pre-school English songs

The first 15 stages in using worksheets in pre-school English classes

15 ways to personalize your young learner classes - also suitable for very young and very low level learners

15 criteria for a good kindergarten English song- how to choose and use them

15 techniques for calming down a pre-school class

15 variations for large pre-school classes- the best games with small classes and how to make them work with 50 or more kids

15 fun sit down activities for pre-school classes- to save both your energy and theirs!

15 flashcard activities for any pre-school English class- simple, cheap and exciting!

TEFL.net TEFL Articles

15 criteria for a good TEFL workshop

TEFL.net Reviews

Teacher Language Awareness book review

Telephone English (Macmillan) book review

Lessons from good language learners book review

If that ain’t enough for you, here is the same for new stuff in May:

New Worksheets and Articles May 2008

Putting the seasonal cheer back into grammar (and putting the grammar back into Xmas)

Some of you might be thinking that the problem with Xmas today is an excess of commercialism or the lack of real religious feeling, but the way I see it the problem is an excess of worksheets teaching students vocabulary like “holly” that they will have forgotten by the same time next year (if they even understand the concept of holly anyway) and a lack of tie ins between those seasonal worksheets and everything else students do in the classroom. For those that agree with me that what is needed to make your Xmas complete is lots more grammar, here are some ideas on how to tie in your Xmas lessons with whatever grammar point you are studying at the time (the ideas should work with other major festivals and celebrations too)…

See below for not only shed loads of good grammar ideas in the continuation of this article, but also a whole stocking full of other ideas for Chrimbo-themed lessons for kids (from pre-school) to adults- “Christmastastic fun for all the family” (R)

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