I found a great site today that offers free English conversations podcasts(MP3) and videos. In fact there is a lot more as well including worksheets, games and language notes.
The name of this virtual treasure trove of English conversation learning materials is “elllo.” Continue reading
The following is a compilation of English conversation learning aids contributed by Michael Chtcherbitski, a Ukrainian Canadian and former English language teacher. Continue reading
English conversation online would like to remind you of the guest post feature that is available on this site. As part of our search for excellent resources for learners of English as a second language we would cordially invite contributors to write an article about their favourite English language resources. Continue reading
Here is a list of helpful blogs for ESL teachers. These sites abound with sample classroom activities, teaching tips, and other valuable resources.
An ELT Notebook: Written by an experienced teacher of English as a foreign language, this blog is helpful for teachers of any level and experience. Posts cover everything from learning disabilities to mixed ability classes to teacher development to exam preparation to cultural differences.
Favorite post: Cross Cultural Communication
Best English Language Games: This site boasts an assortment of games for ESL teachers to use in the classroom. You will find games for a breadth of topics, including grammar, vocabulary, phonetics, speaking, writing, reading, listening comprehension, adjectives, and adverbs.
Favorite post: To the Last Letter
Compelling Conversations Blog: This is the corresponding blog for the “Compelling Conversations” site of conversation topics for ESL teachers and learners. The blog follows relevant issues and questions in the world of ESL that teachers will find both interesting and helpful.
ELT Cafe: This site offers a forum for teachers of English as a second or foreign language to discuss a range of topics. The depth of the issues discussed is fairly great, and the discussions are rather extensive. Teachers of all different levels are sure to find a post that aids in their English language teaching endeavors.
Favorite post: They Don’t Mean What They Say
English Teaching Lab offers resources for teachers, including grammar exercises, reading ideas for students, and vocabulary tips. This site contains many links to other websites that offer sample teaching exercises and strategies.
Favorite post: Ten Suggestions for Teachers with Limited CALL Experience
English360: This site contains blog posts on a range of topics pertaining to the English language. Those categories most relevant to ESL teaching are language teaching, second language acquisition, and teacher training.
Favorite post: Leadership Styles and Communication: Tactician vs Inspirer
ESL Lesson Plan: This blog contains lesson plans for ESL teachers. You will find examples of fun and educational assignments, as well as ideas for effective class discussions.
Favorite post: Lesson Plan: Guessing unknown words from context
ESL Teacher Talk: This blog is full of podcasts of interviews, tips, games, activity ideas, and many more resources for ESL teachers. Listeners can browse through the extensive collection of archived podcasts.
Favorite post: Motivating Students
Lingual Bee: This blog, written by a native Chinese speaker who learned English as his second language, provides insight into the realm of learning and teaching English. While ESL teachers won’t find ideas for classroom activities on this site, they will instead gain a broader understanding of teaching the English language.
Favorite post: Accent and Mistake Don’t Matter
Simon’s ELT Activity Land is a site that contains games, activities, and other resources for teachers to use while teaching the English language. Topics covered include word mnemonics, grammar, language connections, and sentence structure. The grammar poems are especially helpful, serving as clever ways for students to remember common grammar rules.
Favorite post: Which is which?
Teacher in Development: This blog covers issues pertaining to the world of teaching ESL. It is less focused on specific classroom activities, and instead, presents general advice for developing ESL teachers. The site offers different approaches to teaching and ways of guiding students.
Favorite post: How a Simple Quote Became a Powerful Classroom Experience
Teach ESL English Blog: An excellent resource for ESL teachers, this blog contains lesson plans and other resources for the classroom. It is designed for both the novice and experienced ESL teacher.
Teach ESL to Kids is a blog oriented for those who teach ESL to children. Posts cover a range of topics, from classroom discussion topics to fun assignments to general teaching tips.
Favorite post: ESL Lessons on Animals
Teaching ESL to Adults: This blog, written by a private ESL tutor, is full of resources and teaching tips for ESL teachers of adults. It includes ideas for classroom activities, information on becoming an ESL tutor, and helpful articles on cultural differences.
Favorite post: 10 Conversation Starters for the ESL Classroom
UsingEnglish.com: This blog contains resources and tools for ESL teachers and students. The site is complete with a grammar glossary, reference of irregular verbs, reading comprehension exercises, sample language tests, and much more. There are also several forums which allow teachers to discuss ESL questions and issues.
Favorite post: English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Amelia Von Wolffersdoriff is a blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and writes on distance education for Guide to Online Schools.
I don’t know about you but more and more I am finding different ways of using social media to my benefit. Well I don’t teach anymore but in a way I wish I did because I firmly believe that using social media is not only possible but also fun when incorporated into things like language learning.
Now I use Twitter a lot and because of a recent Tweet from a friend I found this great web page called 100 Inspiring ways to use social media in the classroom.
There are lots of great ideas, some of which readily lend themselves to the language classroom and especially teaching English as a foreign language. There are lots of links included some of which point to actual examples.
Given that most of your learners will engage in at least one form of social media I think it makes good sense to use it to your advantage in the classroom.
