Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Word scraps
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 14/12/2010
» As teachers, I believe it is important that we also experience the joys and frustrations that come with learning a new language. With this in mind, I usually share some of my experiences with students when they seem to be frustrated or unhappy with their lack of progress or motivation to continue.
Classroom dynamics
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 30/11/2010
» In discussing the personal relationship between a teacher and students, insight into classroom dynamics can offer clues to how teachers can best create a positive, and therefore beneficial, learning environment since the ability to encourage significant student learning comes from student-teacher attitudinal qualities.
Vocabulary-and-reader relationship
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 16/11/2010
» Much of the difficulty experienced in learning a new word comes from the relationship between that word and the person trying to learn it.
Summertime reading
Mylife, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 02/11/2010
» When I am teaching a class that extends over a number of months, perhaps with a break in the middle, I like to ask the students to undertake an extensive reading assignment.
Vocabulary
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 05/10/2010
» Why is vocabulary so important? The simple reason is that words are fascinating, and they constitute a complete history of the ideas people throughout history have considered important enough to name.
Textbooks: Blueprint or just guidelines
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 21/09/2010
» While teachers should not be a slave to a textbook, meaning that it is okay to skip some parts in a lesson they feel are not needed, are too easy or too difficult, or are just something they do not like, there is still a strong need to follow the book from unit to unit.
Practice teaching
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 07/09/2010
» When I first started teaching, I had the opportunity to watch a few senior educators in action in class. Extremely informative, and certainly a revelation, it helped to make my transition into a class with 48 Japanese teenage girls much easier.
From a million words, pick the best
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 24/08/2010
» When we went through our own education, did our teachers identify, present and ensure that we retained the vocabulary we use as adults?
Importance of listening
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 10/08/2010
» Many EFL teacher manuals complain that the importance of listening in curriculum design is often neglected. If students are being taught in English, they should have some meaningful practice with listening during each class. While this might not be enough, unless English is being taught in the students' mother tongue, Chris' Delivery for example, or by non-native speakers who seldom lecture in English, students still need to be helped to improve their listening skills during class.
Student feedback
Learningpost, Timothy Cornwall, PHD, DTM, Published on 27/07/2010
» Students constantly provide feedback, both subtly and overtly, on how they view class. While sometimes there are unrelated reasons for the measures used to gather feedback, keeping a close eye on a number of factors helps to maintain student numbers, increase student motivation and, of course, lead to more students acquiring more language and skills over the duration of a course.