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These are new or updated pages at TEFL.net.

1 May 2008
Lesson Plan: Biofuels
A very topical subject for your students to get their teeth into. Relevant vocabulary is introduced, explained and practised through carefully tailored exercises, enabling students to consolidate their understanding of words associated with the topic. A gap-fill activity provides the opportunity for students to practise forming questions with the new vocabulary and to start a topic-related conversation.

21 April 2008
ESL Recruiting Agencies
Recruiting Agencies, also referred to as Teacher Placement Agencies or Employment Agencies, are commonly used in the ESL teaching industry where employers and job seekers may be remotely located.

1 April 2008
Lesson Plan: Adventure
An unusual and stimulating topic for discussion which could bring out the spirit of adventure in your students! Two vocabulary exercises encourage students to deepen their understanding of words associated with the topic. Challenging discussion questions such as: "What can we learn about ourselves when we take risks in life?" encourage students to practise their fluency.

16 March 2008
Idea Thinktank
A library of practical ideas for teachers from classroom games and activities to discipline and teacher improvement. Feel free to submit your own ideas.

1 March 2008
Lesson Plan: Crime
A globally relevant topic for discussion – everybody will have something to say about this! Vocabulary is practised with a sequencing exercise which introduces the students to some useful topic-based words and phrases. Pronunciation is practiced through a "stress placement" exercise. Students are given the chance to practise their fluency through thought-provoking discussion questions such as: "If you found out that a member of your family had committed a crime, what would you do?"

1 March 2008
Transferable Skills for Teachers
In today's world, many people change jobs and careers several times throughout their lives. The key to a successful career change is harvesting your transferable skills.

1 March 2008
The Functional Resume
Functional resumes (also called competency-based resumes) are often recommended for those seeking to change careers. Rather than chronological resumes, which list work experience by date and highlight accomplishments from each job, functional resumes emphasize the actual skills rather than the positions held.

1 March 2008
Site of the Month
TEFL.net links ELT teachers with useful websites that offer valuable shortcuts, tips and lessons for using in the classroom. Join thousands of teachers online and become part of a worldwide teaching community. The ideas for tomorrow's class may be just a click away!

20 February 2008
7 ESL Job Interview Tips
Anticipating an upcoming interview can be a very stressful time. Whether you have numerous interviews lined up, or you have waited weeks for just one, it is important to remember that you have more to offer the world than the job you hold.

20 February 2008
What Kind of Teacher Are You?
Teaching ESL is a broad term. There are dozens of ESL disciplines, and a wide range of class types. Which of these are you best suited for?

18 February 2008
Talking TEFL - The World's FIRST TEFL Documentary
This 1-hour documentary explores everything from in-depth teaching methodology to advice for first time teachers, in a social and informal probing of today's TEFL industry.

1 February 2008
Lesson Plan: Rebellion!
A lesson that will generate a lively discussion among students. Vocabulary is practised with a gap-fill "definintions" exercise that introduces the students to some useful lexis related to the topic. Students are given the chance to practise their fluency through stimulating conversation questions such as: "If you were sent back in time to assassinate somebody, who would it be?"

1 February 2008
Site of the Month
TEFL.net links ELT teachers with useful websites that offer valuable shortcuts, tips and lessons for using in the classroom. Join thousands of teachers online and become part of a worldwide teaching community. The ideas for tomorrow's class may be just a click away!

26 January 2008
Review: The CELTA Course
Very well written and practical "how to" approach to English teaching.

19 January 2008
Review: Spontaneous Speaking
A collection of drama-based speaking activities to stimulate interaction in the classroom through imaginative language practice; ideal for large group classes.

19 January 2008
Review: Longman Business English Dictionary
An excellent niche English dictionary for business professionals and MBA students.

12 January 2008
Top 10 Interview Questions for Teachers to Ask
You've thought long and hard about what your answers will be to all of the typical interview questions. Now it's time to think about your questions.

10 January 2008
Review: An A-Z of ELT
An ELT dictionary that is more than just a reference book, Thornbury's An A-Z of ELT is practical, readable and an excellent addition to the collection of any ESL/EFL teacher.

10 January 2008
Review: Literature (Resource Books for Teachers)
A book about using literature as a resource for teaching English as a foreign language. The book includes over 50 activities, most of which come with a sample text that can be used in class.

1 January 2008
Lesson Plan: All Change!
A stimulating lesson which coincides with the start of the new year. Vocabulary is practised with a gap-fill exercise which introduces the students to some idiomatic phrases containing the word "change". Students are given the chance to practise their fluency through personalized conversation questions such as: "Do you like change or do you prefer things to stay the same?" and "Have you ever been short-changed?"

1 January 2008
Site of the Month

1 December 2007
Lesson Plan: Party Time!
A fun lesson which ties in neatly with the festive season though it can be used at any time of the year: Party Time! Vocabulary is practised in a gap-fill exercise based on the different meanings of phrases containing the word "party". Students are given the chance to practise their fluency through personalized conversation questions such as: "Do you enjoy going to parties? Are you a party animal or a party pooper?"

30 November 2007
Music in the ESL Classroom
Tips on the value and use of music and song in teaching English.

29 November 2007
Review: The Business (Intermediate)
A good textbook for high Intermediate to Advanced level Business English students, with a very useful and easy to use DVD ROM.

29 November 2007
Review: Examining Writing: Research and Practice in assessing second language writing
Written for the "Researcher as teacher" or trained interviewer / examiner rather than the "Teacher as reasearcher", this publication highlights the need for test developers to provide clear explanations of the ability constructs which underpin tests.

13 November 2007
Cool Corporate English Consciousness
Giving your corporate classes the best approach

13 November 2007
Teaching Small Classes
Tips for teachers on teaching small classes.

13 November 2007
Teaching Large Classes
Tips for teachers on teaching large classes.

13 November 2007
Teaching Multi-Level Classes
Tips for teachers on teaching multi-level classes.

13 November 2007
Teacher Taboos
Tips for teachers in the multi-cultural setting.

11 November 2007
Book Review: Straightforward (Beginner)
An engaging coursebook which takes learners further than many other beginning texts.

9 November 2007
Scrambled Word Worksheet Generator
This page will generate a worksheet with the words you enter scrambled. Students have to write the words out unscrambled. Also generates answersheet.

1 November 2007
Lesson Plan: Missing
A very topical lesson on a globally valuable subject: Missing children. Vocabulary is practised in a gap-fill exercise based on the different meanings of the word "miss". Students have plenty of opportunity to practise their fluency through stimulating conversation questions such as: "If a child is not found quickly, how long should the authorities continue to look for him/her?"

29 October 2007
Book Review: Blended Learning
A good book for novices and experienced teachers who want to add technology to their classes.

29 October 2007
Book Review: 500 Activities for the Primary Classroom
A comprehensive collection of activities for teaching English to younger children. A good resource for new or inexperienced teachers, but teachers with more experience will find much of this familiar.

27 October 2007
Book Review: Move
Short course textbooks from Macmillan which are satisfyingly NOT short on material; ideal for short intensive classes, and courses with few teaching hours.

26 October 2007
Website Review: Gateways for Teachers of English
It may take you just as long to search for exercises and texts on the Internet as it would to make them yourself. One way of saving time is to use “gateways” – websites containing most of what a language teacher may need.

20 October 2007
Dressed to Spill
How what you wear can help or hinder your students.

20 October 2007
Teacher Talking Time
Why the last thing your students need is your TTT.

20 October 2007
Silence is Golden
Have you ever seen a TV interview where the interviewer asks a question, lets the interviewee answer, and then says nothing?

20 October 2007
ESL Job Satisfaction
Is teaching English all that you imagined it to be? Do you wake up most mornings excited to teach your classes? What about your current location? Are you...

20 October 2007
What Next? Climbing the ESL Ladder
Like all jobs, there comes a time when an ESL teacher says, "I'm ready for something different."

20 October 2007
Mirroring - the Unfair Advantage
Using body language to grease your classes.

20 October 2007
Book Review: Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners
This new edition has sections on improving writing, language awareness and expanding vocabulary in addition to the main dictionary.

15 October 2007
Book Review: Longman Study Dictionary of American English
Dictionary for secondary school aged students with an emphasis on age-appropriate entries and academic English.

12 October 2007
Book Review: Ready for PET
A solid exam preparation textbook that is comprehensive and engaging, offering the student plenty of opportunity for practice.

10 October 2007
Book Review: How to Teach Speaking
An extremely valuable guide to both the nature of spoken language and possible ways to focus on speaking in the classroom.

5 October 2007
Book Review: Focus on IELTS Foundation
There must be some famous bit of market research that I don’t know about going around ELT editors’ offices at the moment, because two different publishing companies have used the word “Foundation” to describe IELTS books that came out at almost exactly the same time...

3 October 2007
Immersion Role-playing
Going Beyond John and Mary: How to Use In-Depth Role-Playing
Jason White

3 October 2007
Podcasts
How to Use Podcasts for Listening Comprehension
Jason White

1 October 2007
Lesson Plan: Healthcare
A lesson on a universally relevant topic which will really generate discussion! Vocabulary in the form of phrasal verbs and expressions is practised in a gap-fill exercise. The pace of the lesson is changed with some classic "Doctor, Doctor" puns, and students are encouraged to practise their fluency through relevant conversation questions such as: "Does the healthcare system in your country focus more on prevention or cure of illnesses?"

30 September 2007
Japanese English
Implications of unique English forms found in Japan for teaching
Glenn Huntley

30 September 2007
Teaching with Bingo
Using bingo to teach a variety of lesson points
Glenn Huntley

30 September 2007
The Name Game
A way to get students thinking about pronunciation, using common names
Glenn Huntley

19 September 2007
Book Review: How to...Teach English with Technology

16 September 2007
Tips for Tutoring Adult Students (Methods and Materials for Conversation and Writing Tutors)

15 September 2007
The Chairperson (A technique to give responsibility, and make English purposeful)

1 September 2007
Lesson Plan: Stress

1 August 2007
Lesson Plan: Magic

10 July 2007
Book Review: Total English Advanced

1 July 2007
Lesson Plan: Reading in English is a Waste of Time!

19 June 2007
TEFLtastic: News, views and reviews from Alex Case in Japan

1 June 2007
Lesson Plan: What's in the Wind?