Getting it Right in the Interview

It's such a pity, when you've worked so hard to get through the TESOL course, that you, so to speak, fall at the last hurdle, by under-performing in the interview with the Trinity Moderator.

Nerves often play a part, but they don't have to. If you start to get the jitters, shift in your seat, or move your hands while speaking, so as not to clam up.

The most important thing, though, is in the discussion of your materials to use as much of the metalanguage you've learned on the course. That seems to be key.

So, when practising, ask yourself, 'How can I show the moderator what I've learned in this answer?'

It will prove invaluable to do so.

Mike

Here we go again!

It's hard to believe that we've just said goodbye to a full course of teacher-trainees and now we're saying hello to a new bunch. But we are. Hello!

This course is going to be tough, but it's also going to be interesting, rewarding and life-changing.

Remember, read your assignment guides carefully, try to stay on top of the course work and if you 'hit the wall' come and talk to any of our tutors. That's what we're they're for, you'll never be rebuffed because we want you to finish this course proudly holding your certificate, with a worl of possibilities spread before you. Good luck!

Mike

Accommodation Solutions Summer 2011

FANTASTIC ROOMS AVAILABLE !

Available short term rooms to rent in beautiful university residences throughout the summer.

We have rooms available in the following two residences Liberty Fields (zone 2 nearest tube oval) and Liberty Court (zone 1 nearest tube Barbican)

You can choose stays from one week up to 8 weeks depending on availability in the months of July and August.

Prices start at £17.5 per person per night.

Contact evaldo dutra evaldo@englishstudio.com

Accent

I recently corrected a fascinating extended essay from a TEFL Lab online trainee who, in the course of outlining the different sound systems of Hebbrew and English pointed out that certain phonemes exist in different dialects of English and not in others.
It set me thinking about how fascinating the whole area of accent is. For example, while aware of the fact that I'm laying myself wide open to charges of pretentiousness and inauthenticity, I would freely admit that I have modified my accent for the purposes of teaching.
Why? Well, it's certainly not born of any desire to 'Come over all posh, like.' I think there are two reasons: the need to provide a clear model for my students and the fact that the accent of my home city is one of the language's ugliest accents.

'They grate on their scrannel pipes of wretched straw.'

Milton - Lycidas.

If you want a full flavour of just how vile the Limerick accent is, google The Rubberbandits and you'll see what I mean...

I am, however, a proud son of the Treaty City, just hate the accent..
The funny thing is that this weekend I'll be home for my dad's 70th birthday and boy, will I 'Limerick up' for that one! I will be posting more on this subject in the coming weeks and would welcome your thoughts....
Mike

Spare the Rods?

Though developed initially to aid in the teaching of mathematics, the Cuisenaire Rods are one of the greatest teaching aids available to the EFL teacher.

Sadly, they're also one of the most under-utilised, as they sit forlornly gathering dust on staffroom shelves from Holborn to Honduras. In wondering why this might be, I suppose one of the biggest reasons is our association with them as sort of childish flashback to a time when our education consisted of paint, plasticine and happy animal noises!

Another reason they are eschewed may well be that teachers aren't quite sure how to use them: they perhaps feel there is a, 'Correct,' way to employ them in the classroom and perhaps don't feel like doing the training, also fearing that their students may not be enthused by them.

Well, the good news is that there is NO 'Correct' way to use the rods. The only limit to their use is your imagination.

Of course they can be used to visually parse sentences, but they can also be used to teach lexis in a more interesting way. Take , for example, one of our students' most common social outings: the nightclub.

how much more interesting it would be to actually 'construct' the night club with the rods and elicit the relevant lexis that way?

I've found this to be a far more effective method in the classroom than mere elicitation.

So, dust off those rods, bring them into class one day - and see what happens!!

Mike

The Writing on the Wall

The other night, I was lucky enough to be invited, as a VIP no less(!) to Roger Water's The Wall extravaganza at London's O2. Apart from the free food and drink and the magical door-opening power of a VIP laminate, we also had, quite literally, the best seats in the house.

What struck me very forcefully during the gig - and rather incongruously so, given the pyrotechnics, inflatable monsters and everything else on display, was the power of the written word.

The Wall is multimedia in the truest sense of the word, with projections, models and explosions complementing the music with sometimes stunning poignancy.

Amid all of this, there was a picture of, if memory serves, Messrs Cameron and Osborne, with the message 'Trust us,' emblazoned above them. Then streaking across the Wall in that crazy red Gerald Scarfe font came the message 'No f***ing way.' (No asterisks were actually used.)

Predictably, this drew a few partisan cheers, but what struck me was the visceral power of seeing those words appear, as opposed to simply hearing them.

Indeed, sitting in the VIP reception after the show and finding myself seated at the same table as the very man himself, it occurred to me that had he actually said those words, it would have been a bit crass: sort of trite adolescent posturing. I wondered if he had realised this in the planning of the show and if he knew that saying the words would be a bit lame.

I didn't ask him though. I didn't say anything. Despite the fact that there was a free bar, I left early, got in a taxi and I suppose felt relieved that I hadn't made an ass of myself...

As teachers, maybe, if we've something really important to say, I wonder how effective it might be to suddenly STOP talking and ONLY write it on the board.

I guess I'll find out in class tomorrow..

Mike

ESL conference in Mexico!! Ariba!!!!

Dear colleagues,

The National Association of University English Teachers (ANUPI, A.C), an
Affiliate of TESOL and an Associate of IATEFL, invites you once again to
participate at our 9th International Conference
“Connecting Research and Performance in the EFL/ESL Classroom”
(October 13-16, 2011) in San José los Cabos, Baja California, México.
Our three-day conference offers an exciting opportunity to learn from one
another in the field of foreign/second language education. ANUPI is
well-known for having created a forum for presenting research, establishing
academic networks, and exchanging best practices in foreign language education.
This forum allows language educators to share and exchange ideas across
diverse language learning and teaching contexts. Our conference will also
have an exhibitors’ area.
We encourage you to submit a proposal before May 31st, 2011.
For more detailed information please visit our conference website at:
_http://www.anupi.org.mx_ (http://www.anupi.org.mx/)
We’re looking forward to welcoming you in San José los Cabos.
Sincerely,
The ANUPI Organizing Committee

Cristina Seguí R.
ANUPI, A.C.
(222) 130 77 50
2223 909 621
_www.anupi.org.mx_ (http://www.anupi.org.mx/)
Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more ~Bob Talbert~