1^st Conditional (Real Situation) vs. 2^nd Conditional (Unreal Situation)

Level: Intermediate (350 TOEIC score)

Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to differentiate and use the first conditional and second conditional to talk about real and unreal situations.

Why is English So Difficult to Learn?

You have probably had at least one ESL student ask you, “Why is English so difficult to learn?” Were you able to answer the question to their satisfaction? I imagine, that like me, you may have started answering the question only to realize that there are many reasons. Trying to pinpoint one or two reasons that would be a segue into you giving advice to the student only ended up confusing the student more.

The English language is known for its complex grammar rules, extensive vocabulary, and challenging pronunciation. Many non-native speakers of English find it difficult to learn, even after years of study. While there are many reasons why English is challenging, one aspect that often goes overlooked is its pragmatic complexity.

Pragmatics is a subfield of linguistics that deals with how context contributes to meaning. It looks at how people use language to achieve their goals and communicate effectively. Pragmatics is concerned with the many ways in which people can convey meaning beyond the literal interpretation of words. This includes things like tone of voice, body language, and social cues.

Lesson Plan: Earth Day and Ocean Pollution

(Link to Printable PDF Version)

Level: High school students learning English as a Foreign Language with a TOEIC score of about 450.

Time: 45 minutes

Materials:

Video: "How Plastic in the Ocean Impacts Your Health" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQQajO5yIUE )
Short reading: "5 Ways You Can Help Reduce Ocean Pollution" (attached)
Cloze exercise: "5 Ways You Can Help Reduce Ocean Pollution" (attached)

Objectives:

To develop students' listening, reading, and writing skills in English.
To increase students' vocabulary related to environmental problems and solutions.
To motivate students to take action in addressing environmental issues.

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Passport For Global Citezenship E1644987914211

Studying a Second Language is a Passport to Global Citizenship

Learning a foreign language is a passport to global citizenship. The commitment to learning a new language demonstrates an interest in broadening one’s view of the world and the desire to understand other cultures. As a language learner’s worldview expands, so should knowledge and interest in global issues.

Wider View of the World

The acquisition of a second language and the acquisition of socially responsible behavior are similar in that they are both processes that affect a person’s view of the world and foster the development of a global mindset. As a person’s view of the world expands, it becomes easier to understand how global issues transcend political and cultural borders. Addressing those global issues and planning sustainable global development require communication among all members of the international community. Therefore, people learning a second language have the opportunity to become ambassadors for peace, equality, human rights and the environment.

A Critical Thinking Lesson for Teaching Argumentation and Persuasion

This is a great interactive lesson to get students talking and thinking about a number of controversial issues. The lesson is designed as an idea-generating activity for advanced ESL/EFL students who are preparing to write an argumentative essay or do a persuasive speech. The lesson takes about 90 minutes. The best way to do the lesson is put students in small groups. First, go over the vocabulary. Next, explain that they will watch several videos and then in their groups, they will discuss and answer the questions on their worksheets. Here are the links and videos for teaching the lesson:

Academic Writing: Recognizing Red Flags on the Road to Revision

Red Flag # 1: Avoid Using First or Second Person in Academic Writing

There is a debate over how appropriate the use of “I” and “You” are in academic writing. However, especially for less experienced writers, these pronouns tend to reduce the level of formality in academic writing. Often personal pronouns make a paper or an essay much like a letter to “Mom” rather than academic prose. There are several solutions to using personal pronouns.

Using Environmental Themes in the Language Classroom

In his book The Lorax, Dr. Seuss ingeniously communicates a message about environmental stewardship through witty rhymes from his colorful cartoon characters. The message is obvious, but delivered via his unique brand of edu-tainment. Seuss creatively uses a children’s book as a vehicle to raise awareness of sustainable development among the young generation.In the same way, language teachers can help to raise awareness about current environmental issues by incorporating environmental themes into lesson materials. Such topics can be suitable content for all levels of language courses. Therefore, this paper proposes that the commonalities between environmental education and language education merit the consideration of using “green themes” in content-based instruction. In addition, this paper will offer suggestions for designing green lessons that facilitate language acquisition.

Designing Web-Based Materials for ESL/EFL Lessons

It has often been said that computers will never replace teachers; however, teachers that use computers to facilitate learning for their students will always have one more “tool” than those that do not. Although the use of computers in language teaching is ubiquitous, many teachers are still unsure of how to design Internet-based lessons that encourage students to communicate in the target language.