Comments for ESL Teacher Talk

Comment on High grammar but low speaking competence by Matthew

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:41:33 +0000

Does your podcast come in mp3 format, for us poor teachers that can’t upgrade our little players?

Comment on High grammar but low speaking competence by Carlos R.

Sat, 08 May 2010 03:22:49 +0000

Sadly, Dave’s audio was way too garbled and choppy. I couldn’t understand half the things he said.

Comment on Intergrating various methodologies into the classroom by Teach English in Italy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:41:10 +0000

Has there been any discussion of the CLIL method (Content and Language Integrated Learning)? I’d be happy to hear an expert working in Italy talk a bit about this methodology and how it is working with larger classes.

Comment on Teaching toddlers, 2-3 year olds by Mark

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:22:17 +0000

Thanks for listening!

I’ll look into it and see what’s going on. I didn’t know anything like that could actually happen …

I’m glad you like the materials and I hope they’ve been well received by the students.

Happy teaching,
Mark

Comment on Classroom Management for Young Learners by Mark

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:16:08 +0000

Amir - Thanks for the comments. This is a free podcast and you should be able to download and listen to the podcsats for free.

What problems are you having or is someone trying to charge you for these?

Happy teaching,
Mark

Comment on Teaching toddlers, 2-3 year olds by Ryan

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:42:20 +0000

Hi Mark,

I subscribe to your rss feed using my phone and the rss feed is full of spam, stuff like “cheap meds” etc. Im not sure if you can reproduce it on your end or not.

BTW I greatly appreciate all the hard work you have put into designing your websites and making teaching materials, an amazing collection like no other

Comment on Teaching toddlers, 2-3 year olds by sebastian edson macedo

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:34:55 +0000

hey guys, thx for this talking, very useful for me in teaching daily life not only languages but teaching as well. please keep working on this podcast… thnx again.
best wishes.
s.

Comment on Classroom Management for Young Learners by Amir

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:10:52 +0000

Thanks a million! Your job helps teachers a lot. I wish i could download them free. I am a teacher of young learners, and a university lecturer in Iran. The thing is that it is quite difficult for us to buy those stuff here. Is there any way i could download them for free?

Comment on A Speaking First English Curriculum by jeanne nkouadjio

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:33:56 +0000

VERY GOOD METHOD
Iwill adapt my teaching to this speaking first method; my class will enjoy my lessons more.

Comment on A Speaking First English Curriculum by jeanne nkouadjio

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:29:00 +0000

I am an old English teacher in Africa, i sincerely appreciate what i have just read; focussing on communication makes the teaching of the new language easier and children can learn no matter the time of the lesson without tears.
I have therefore decided to chage my old teaching methods, consisting of introducing the four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) all in one single lesson.
THANKS

Comment on Teaching Thematic Units by twilightstate

Mon, 11 May 2009 09:54:56 +0000

Thank you for your most helpful podcasts! I’ve discovered your site a couple of weeks ago and downloaded all podcasts. Now I’m listening to past issues.
I was wondering if there’s some way to subscribe to podcasts. I use Juice for some of my favorite BBC podcasts, but for the life of me I can’t find a link to subscribe to ESLTeacherTalk on this site. Can you help?

Comment on MES curriculum - A non-textbook approach part 2 by Mark

Thu, 07 May 2009 13:41:20 +0000

Stephanie - Thanks for the nice comments on MES and I hope the site continues to be helpful to you.

Has any of the MES curriculum information been helpful to you there. It’s a quite different teaching situation you are in there.

Do you have any other advice for using the materials?

Happy teaching,
Mark

Comment on MES curriculum - A non-textbook approach part 2 by Stephanie Vogel

Wed, 06 May 2009 01:20:08 +0000

I have written to Mark before to thank him for doing what he does. I teach in a HS in the USA and I use the MES website all the time. I love having the MES-Power Point vocabulary sets. I use the games and the pictures as I build vocabulary for the various themes that I teach throughout the year. If someone were to tell me that I had to pick only one website to use from now on, I would pick this one…THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES

Comment on A Speaking First English Curriculum by Steve marriott

Tue, 05 May 2009 23:49:00 +0000

It’s great to hear tat someone else really understands how kids really want to learn.
I am one year into running my own school and have been seeing great results by following such methods. I have my own theory that I strictly follow. It’s a three step method that consists of developing motivation,confidence and communication. I have found that the first two are most important.By this I mean that when the kids are motivated and feel confident in the world of English the communication will naturally slip into place because of their own desire to want communicate.
Having a non text book centered lesson eliminates the fear that kids get as soon as they see a text book in front of them.

Keep it real! keep it fun!

Steve

Comment on Teaching Methodologies: Total Physical Response by elt_nur

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:16:26 +0000

ı am a researcher student:)

Comment on The Silent Way in Language Teaching by agata

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:34:44 +0000

I am preparing to be a teacher. Where can I find more information on the silent way of teaching? the method itself?, examples of it? I have to present this method in class.

please help

Agata

Comment on The Communicative Approach by Robert

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:01:57 +0000

I recently discovered your podcast and listened through most of them during my last vacation. I teach high school level in Switzerland, and although not everything on the podcast is relevant for me, I really enjoy the podcast for your ideas and different perspectives you give. Please do keep the podcasts coming!

Comment on The Communicative Approach by Jackie Bolen

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:27:27 +0000

Hey guys…awesome Podcast! I’ve been listening faithfully for the past year or so and appreciate all the great ideas I’ve heard on your show. I’ve been inspired to start a blog about my experience in the Korea university classroom. Check it out

Comment on Teaching Methodologies: Total Physical Response by ESL Teacher Talk « Dream English’s Weblog

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:15:27 +0000

[…] ESL Teacher Talk December 2, 2008 at 7:15 am | In Children’s Classes | Tags: esl podcast, new teaching ideas, tpr total physical response I was talking to my friend Mark from MES English the other day and we were talking about his podcast ESL Teacher Talk. I had listened to the podcast a few times before, and decided to download a new one. This time I popped it on my ipod and listened on the way to work. This episode was on TPR: Total Physical Response, and it is excellent. I listened to the podcast in the morning, and by the afternoon I was using new things I learned from it in my classes. That’s pretty cool. Check it out here. […]

Comment on The Communicative Approach by Dahn

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:57:59 +0000

just to drop a request.
I want to hear you guys talking about teaching English/American literature in ESL class. Poetry, novel, play… etc…
Thanks!

Comment on Content and Language Intergrated Learning by Mark

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:56:03 +0000

Nicole - Sorry it took so long to get back to you.

It doesn’t matter whether the language teacher is a native speaker or not. If the content teacher is a confident language teacher as well, then you don’t even need two teachers. Many non-native teachers are teaching English. The teacher just needs to be proficient in the language to be a proper model for the language and to get the information across to the students. After all, the main point of the lesson is the content. If the content teacher isn’t getting the content across, then we really have a problem.
The reason for having the language teacher in there to assist the content teacher is that often the content teacher isn’t competent in handling language related issues and vis versa. If one can do both jobs, then you’d only really need the one teacher.

Eric - Thanks for the nice comments. It’s good to hear that people like the show and think it’s helpful. Most of the time we’re just talking to the dark …

Comment on Content and Language Intergrated Learning by Eric Roth

Tue, 06 May 2008 17:21:30 +0000

Excellent topic and podcast!

While I have only been able to teach one course this way, the results were quite satisfying.

Several international undergraduate students enrolled in a summer program at UCLA and took their first credit courses. The course, The History of American Movies, meet twice a week from 1-5 PM MW. Our small class of 8 students meet 9-12 on those same mornings, and we went over the readings and the movies in greater depth. This sheltered approach provided a safety net for the former ESL students who were more than a bit nervous about enrolling in mainstream college courses in Los Angeles. The international class included students from Japan, Korea, France, and Israel. We learned a great deal, and all the students received a B or higher in their first American university course.

This unorthodox teaching approach can create wonderful classroom experiences, even if the instructors disagree a bit. Further, this type of teaching could help dramatically reduce the drop-out rate for former ESL students in mainstream college and university courses.

As ever, your podcasts provide practical information for both ESL teachers and language learners.

Comment on Content and Language Intergrated Learning by Nicole

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:59:56 +0000

Hi guys,
I’ve just caught onto the podcast and quite enjoyed listening to it as I went through my student’s blogs. I’m currently working for the Ministry of Education in South Korea and I train public school teachers. I was quite interested to hear about CLIL as the Ministry here has been throwing the idea around.

I’m wondering what you think about having to have a native English speaking in the class for those content lessons. Is it possible to do this with a non-native speaker? I also would love to hear what you think about any available texts for teachers.

Regards,
Nicole Long
Korea National University of Education

Comment on Englipedia - “Sharing a little, gaining a lot” by Chris Cotter

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:11:33 +0000

Just listened to the show, and it was another good one.

Patrick, I wish I had access to Englipedia back when I taught in the JHS system in Japan. You’ve obviously put in a lot of work and effort.

Comment on Time Saving Tips for Lesson Planning by Ozlem Trejo

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:38:05 +0000

Hi Mark

For a major assignment, we are supposed to design a ‘unit of work’ - Following is what is required for the assignment:

‘Unit of work

The unit of work will consist of the following components. If you would like to modify these, please negotiate with your tutor and note your modifications on the title sheet of your assignment.
A brief profile of the group of learners. The learners might be actual – ones with whom you are currently working, or with whom you intend to work in the near future, or with whom you have worked previously. Or they might be hypothetical, in which case you will need to use your commonsense and imagination. Try to choose a group of learners in which you have a particular interest: young children, adolescents, adults in workplace, community, tertiary or vocational programs. Include in your profile any student characteristics which need to be taken into account when designing your unit of work.
A discussion of any contextual factors which need to be taken into consideration either with regard to the immediate context or the target context.
An overview of the unit of work (including aims/outcomes), using a format which indicates the main components and how they are related.
A more detailed outline of 3-4 lesson plans (covering a range of macroskills if possible).
An indication of where assessment and evaluation procedures might be included within the unit of work.
Any other points you feel you would like to include to help the marker understand how the unit of work is organised and how it would work (for example, whether you would be team-teaching and if so, what roles different people would be taking within the program).
It is intended that the unit of work should be a practical, useable document which you might be able to implement at some stage (for example, during a practicum). Even though in your particular case, you might not program in terms of ‘units of work’, it is a useful exercise to go through in terms of planning beyond the level of the individual lesson and seeing how different aspects of a program can work together in an integrated way.’

Comment on Time Saving Tips for Lesson Planning by Mark

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:41:45 +0000

Ozlem - I’m glad you like the show.

What do you mean by ‘units of work’?

I (we) will definitely try to toss some ideas around, but first I need to know what it is

- Mark

Comment on the Direct Method and You! by Mark

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 04:37:33 +0000

Reid - Thanks for listening. And thanks for stopping by the site. It’s great that you’re able to get something from the show. It’s very encouraging to hear that.

Happy teaching,
Mark

Comment on Time Saving Tips for Lesson Planning by Ozlem Trejo

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:18:17 +0000

Hello from Australia - I’m a first year post-graduate student at the University of Wollongong, Australia. I’m doing a PostgradDip in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). I’m doing this course via ‘distance mode’ (correspondence) and e-readings and online material. I just listened to the Lesson Planning talk and it was very informative. If you can give me some examples of planning ‘units of work’ and how they are designed, I would really appreciate it.

I will continue to listen and learn from this site.

Regards

Comment on the Direct Method and You! by reid

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:10:38 +0000

Hey guys - I came upon your podcast on iTunes and wanted to let you know that I love the show. You’re a great source for young beginning teachers such as myself. Keep bringing us the good word.

Comment on Methodologies: Grammar Translation by Mark

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:02:15 +0000

Phil - Thanks for the feedback and we’re glad you have enjoyed the show.

Your idea for a text-less plan of attack sounds like a fun topic to discuss. We’ll see what we can do.

We’ve already finished up the podcasts for the rest of this year, so hopefully we’ll be able to do it at the beginning of next year.

Thanks for listening,
Mark

Comment on Methodologies: Grammar Translation by Phil

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:42:37 +0000

I wanted to let you fellas know that your podcast is much appreciated. I am currently in northern Thailand teaching EFL to primary school kids (only recently) and high school students. I am technically only a volunteer, so there wasn’t really any certification required or training provided. (I really wish I had listened to Podcast #1 before I came over here) Thus your podcast has been a huge help by answering some of the basic questions that a new EFL teacher might have. So, thanks a lot.

I am wondering if you would consider doing a podcast on how to plan/teach when there is no textbook–a sort of basic survival teaching guide when there is no framework. It would be a good addition to your already high quality set of podcasts (and there might be a bit of self-interest vested in the topic as well).

Cheers.
Phil

Email: escapethegray[at]gmail[dot]com

Comment on Tips for Teaching Advanced Learners by Eric Roth

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:45:23 +0000

An excellent suggestion! Students often want a safe place to discuss current events. I often ask students to find a newspaper article on a set topic (housing, crime, shopping, corruption), summarize it, find a few key vocabulary words, and be prepared to share with classmates. Students begin talking in small groups and I rove around class joining in conversations and taking notes. Then we come together as a class to reflect on the topic and news. We have dynamic group discussions - and nobody has to agree with the group. Consensus is not the goal; being authentic, learning new words, and reflecting on current events remains far more important.

Comment on New Classes With Young Students by ESL Teacher Talk » Blog Archive » New Classes With Adults

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 08:21:04 +0000

[…] Mark and Ron pick up from the show two episodes ago and deal with new classes, new students and new teachers. This show covers adult classes and young adult learners. we go over some ideas for a teacher’s first class, an entirely new class, a single new student and private classes. There are tips, advice and a few things to just to be aware of. Enjoy the show! […]

Comment on Assessment by Kenneth

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:40:28 +0000

I agree with you guys that paper-based tests can be tedious, and irrelevant. Tests should measure one’s ability to perform using knowledge he has learned. For example, as a restaurant manager, I ask potential staff to perform certain action to check his or her knowledge of doing that routine. If she can’t perform it well, it just means she needs more training. In the academic world I usually see written tests that require student/learner to reproduce memorized facts. This isn’t useful. As an employee, does one ever have to remember detailed rules one had memorized in school? We usually work as teams at companies, and with open books and resources. So I really get irritated at sadist teachers who still make tests that require remembering facts (that can be outdated in 1-3 years).

The ultimate test should be this instead. A teacher will have his or her teaching contract renewed or not based on how effective he or she can impart knowledge to the learners (in this case corporate students) so that they can perform better in their work. If the students cannot increase his work efficiency, then fire the teacher (or better yet, sue the teacher for wasting the student’s time and money)!

Sincerely,
Kenneth K
MBA and TEFL certificate holder

Comment on GAME OF THE WEEK: Do you know how to… by mesmark

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:09:14 +0000

Maida - Sorry, there’s no game board for download. I just drew up the board by hand. The show explains how this can be easily done.

Maybe someday I’ll be able to get a board together and posted …

If you do make your own board, I hope the activity goes over well.

Happy teaching,
Mark

Comment on GAME OF THE WEEK: Do you know how to… by Maida Macdonald

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:07:24 +0000

where can I find the game board?

Comment on Why not start an ESL blog? by mesmark

Thu, 10 May 2007 13:13:48 +0000

Regan - I’m sorry we haven’t gotten back to you.

I think there’s good points to both doing your course before-hand or after you’ve taught for a while.

If your position will be as an assistant teacher, I would say wait and get some experience first. It will make the course easier as well as more interesting. I think you’ll get more from it and the information will seem more valuable.

If you are going to be the main teacher somewhere, you might want to take the course first. Your probably going to get a position with little direction and a lot of responsibility. You will definitely benefit from some background knowledge and training.

I hope that is helpful and thanks for listening.

Happy teaching,
Mark

Comment on Why not start an ESL blog? by Regan Shepherd

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 10:58:39 +0000

Hi Mark and Eric,

Just discovered your podcast and downloading episode after episode now - they are a bit adictive!

Do you guys recommend completing TESOL/TEFL certificate before you start teaching English overseas?

Interested to hear your thoughts… Keep up the good work!

Regan
Western Australia

Comment on Assessment by Steve in Brazil

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:49:04 +0000

I just eliminated written tests in my school this year. I think the only reason I had been giving them is because that’s what everyone does. When I stopped to think about it, I realized that I as the teacher already knew who understands and who doesn’t, who speaks and who doesn’t, who is progressing well and who isn’t. The tests, acutually were not a good measure of that.

I still do informal oral evaluations and check up on the homework and class exercises. That is all it takes to know who is going forward.

I did like the idea of having a standard questionaire with many questions on increasing difficulty, to be given every 6 months or year. Each semester, the students can see how many more questions they can answer, than the time before.

ESL Teacher Talk podcasts is a great, great program for a niche audience. We appreciate you.

Comment on GAME OF THE WEEK: RPS Challenge by nikoniko

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 01:45:49 +0000

I tried the RPS Challenge yesterday with my preschool/kindergarten class (5-6 year olds) and it was FABULOUS!! The kids loved being able to play their favorite game in the middle of a lesson.

I started with letting them just play RPS, using “Ready, Set, 1,2 3″, and they really got into it. Then I brought in the pattern we’ve been practicing, “How are you?” and “I’m …” I gave each kid a few flashcards of feelings, and they had to answer with one of their cards. I was really impressed that they all remembered their expressions (tired, sad, good, ok, hungry etc). The ‘loser’ had to pass over one of his cards.

In the end we practiced counting as we counted how many cards each kid had left when we stopped. It was really great because my shiest girl, who is usually in tears at the end of a lesson because she can’t keep up with the others, had the second highest number of cards and was really happy!

Thanks!!

Comment on Assessment by TEFL Tests: “Assessment” On ESL Teacher Talk - In The Classroom - Assessment, Cultural Differences, ESL - TEFL Logue

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:34:25 +0000

[…] I am a bit behind the times but I just had the chance to listen to Eric and Mark at ESL Teacher Talk discuss assessment. […]

Comment on Super Simple Songs by nikoniko

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 06:22:22 +0000

I was so glad to hear you interview Devon in your podcast!! I teach preschoolers, and I found the Super Simple English CDs about a month ago. I absolutely love them, and they are so easy to use!! My students love the songs we’ve done so far, and its great to finally be able to bring more music into our lessons. As Mark said in the interview, my own two boys love the songs too, and are often singing them while they play!

I only found your podcasts recently (got an ipod for Christmas!!) and I really enjoy them!

Looking forward to more!!

Comment on Super Simple Songs by troym

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:58:19 +0000

Thanks for featuring us! When I heard Eric talk about how much he dreads teaching kids with music, it brought me back to when I first started teaching and how much I feared it too. I think for any ESL teacher who teaches young kids and uses music, its important to take things slow-and don’t make learning every word the focus-the focus should be getting up and moving and just having fun. When it comes to young learners I think music is no different than English-it should be played with, not “taught”.

Of course, if you don’t have the right music for the age/level you are working with, none of that matters. I think/hope we’ve made some of that “right” music with Super Simple Songs or you can find lots more out there from some of the artists Devon mentioned as well. I am a big fan of Sue Schnitzer and use her songs a lot in my classes. (http://www.weebeemusic.com/) Her early albums in particular have a lot of useful material for young kids.

Thanks again…..looking forward to the next show!

Comment on Super Simple Songs by DevonT

Tue, 30 Jan 2007 02:03:18 +0000

Hey guys,

Thanks…I enjoyed it!

Comment on Interview with Patrick Jackson by mesmark

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:13:42 +0000

Patrick - It was a great pleasure having you on. And, I got my Potato Pals books this week. I liked them so much, that I ordered series two as well. They’ve been a big success with the classes so far.

Comment on Motivating the Motivationaly Challenged by patjack67

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 06:09:14 +0000

Great advice there, Mark! Keeping them off the walls by running into them yourself! Love it!

Comment on Interview with Patrick Jackson by Eric

Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:28:43 +0000

Thanks for coming on the show, Patrick! We really appreciate it.

Eric

Comment on GAME OF THE WEEK: Simon Says Tips & Tricks by patjack67

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 21:34:25 +0000

Another sneaky tactic is to drop something and ask a student to pick it up. They will usually, (in Japan) do so and BINGO, you’ve got ‘em!

Comment on Interview with Patrick Jackson by patjack67

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 21:31:25 +0000

Thank you gentlemen. I enjoyed being on your podcast although I suspect I rabbitted on a bit much (I do!). When I was listening to it I thought “Blimey, that guy can talk the hind legs off a donkey!”…”Oh, it’s me!” I hope that one of your listeners wins the book set on my blog for counting those potatoes and I look forward to getting together in the flesh some time to raise a glass or two (no imo shochu though). Thanks!

Comment on Intergrating various methodologies into the classroom by Insight On Total Physical Response From An EFL Notebook And ESL Teacher Talk - In The Classroom - Classroom Activities, In The Classroom, Listening - TEFL Logue

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 16:58:17 +0000

[…] For more on Sue’s take on alternative methodologies (including Suggestopedia and Community Language Learning), check out her interview at ESL Teacher Talk, or her own site: ELT Notebook, specifically her post on Using The L1 In The EFL Classroom. Tags: Classroom Activities, In The Classroom, Listening, Physical Activities, Podcasts, Speaking Activities, TEFL Blogs, TEFL Games, Total Physical Response, TPR […]