Tuesday 31 July 2012

BBC World Service Pronunciation Resource


BBC World Service Pronunciation Tips


A very good resource to study from. I recommend it because you will hear a Standard English accent which is easily understood by yourself and by others when they hear you speak with it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/ .

  • Start by watching the video 'Pronunciation Tips from bbclearningenglish.com' 
  • After you have introduced yourself to the resource, 'the sounds of English'  tab is a useful place to start. 
  • To take your learning further than the voiced, voiceless and other consonants previously introduced on this page.I would suggest that you start learning the single vowel sounds and then the dipthongs (double vowel sounds)last as they are trickier. 

  • Alternatively, you could revise the consonants first. 


Online TEFL Presentation Resource on Climate Change


Climate Change TEFL Resource


How has it been caused?  Is it a man-made problem? Or is it an effect of the sun getting hotter? 

These questions are examined in the presentation posted on the CLIL and EAP Resources.  There are opportunities to work with sentences using specific sentence constructions that express cause and effect.

Monday 30 July 2012

Use English with Accuracy - Grammar Resource

TEFL Grammar Resource Page

This page has been reorganised and some web links added from:-

This site has superb grammar resources and is well worth a visit.  I have integrated links to some of the resources.  For example: a glossary of grammatical terms; a list of irregular verbs; a list of phrasal verbs; and grammar quizzes for revision purposes.

Go to TEFL Grammar Resources to see more.


Sunday 29 July 2012

Ballgowns at the V&A Museum

British Glamour Since 1950

  • Develop fashion vocabulary
  • Practise reading and listening skills
"Through interviews with designers Nicholas Oakwell, Bruce Oldfield, David Sassoon, Mary Katrantzou and Roksanda Illincic, this film examines the significance of the ballgown, and what it is to be truly glamorous"



Go to TEFL Vocabulary Resources


Arctic CLIL Learning Resource

Change at the Top of the World

A video report on Global Warming. Charles Annenberg Weingarten (founder of www.explore.org)
http://explore.org/#!/videos/player/arctic-change-at-the-top-of-the-world

The host and director noted above presents the land, the legal and economic issues underlying the Arctic situation. Most importantly he hears the voice of the Inuit, indigenous peoples of the region. Elisapee Sheutiapik (the Mayor of Iqaluit, Nunavut) amongst others plays a major role in assisting him in this process.
An ecosystem video report of the Arctic that defines key scientific vocabulary and phrases whilst on a round trip on Akademik Loffe (a scientific, expedition boat). The focus of the report is on the Arctic Ecosystem; Past, Present and Future; and the local inhabitants. The story is broad, accurate and far reaching in it's implications. 

TEFL CLIL and EAP Resources . 
  • Reflection on Poem
  • Introduction
  • Resolute, Meeting the Mayor of Iqaluit and the Discussions with the Women Elders
  • Oil Exploration, International Law and Mapping Territory
  • Nanisivik and the Canadian Coastguard 
  • Jacques Sirois (Naturalist). Further Discussion on Climate Change and Pollution 
  • Expedition on the Baffin Sea to Greenland
  • The 'Sister City Agreement' in Sisimiut 
  • Return to Iqaluit 
  • Summary of Video  

Plus this extra section:-

  • More Activities and Ideas for Discussions for TEFL teachers and students: 

.

Functional Language -TEFL Training Resource


Teaching Functional Language Skills

A resource from Languages International, Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand

As I was researching I came across this link and wanted to share it.  It is for TEFL Teachers. 


The resource focuses on the language of social situations and communicating effectively within them.  It concentrates on the 10 common functions of language listed below:-

  • making a suggestion
  • inviting
  • giving advice
  • requesting
  • making apologies
  • refusing
  • agreeing
  • regretting
  • offering
  • complaining

There are 4 tasks. I would recommend it fully for staff training sessions or individual study.  
Following the link through, I realised it must be part of a larger resource.  And indeed, there is a whole ESOL Teaching Skills Taskbook at:-


A very professional package which I believe would be excellent for any teacher whatever stage they are at in their careers..


Saturday 28 July 2012

'Calypso' - A Beautiful Song Resource


'Calypso' by John Denver

A Tribute to Jacques Cousteau

 


A song, a song sheet and a comprehension activity.  Follow this link:TEFL Communicative Resources

Tuesday 24 July 2012

TEFL Textbooks

Advice For Independent TEFL Learners

Studying English independently is a very cost effective way of learning.  However, you do need to be sure that you are covering what you should be especially if you are preparing for examinations. You need a good textbook and/or good applications to help you learn via your Mobile Phone or other device.

Many recently published textbooks today give you access to Internet resources via a code that you purchase with a textbook. It is therefore easy to supplement your English learning learning online. You can also check out web and blog pages such as this for other useful ideas. 

You need to be honest and realistic about your level – for advice on how to check out your level follow this link Examination and Assessment Resources

And then check out EFL Publishers at TEFL Applications and Resources

Good Luck
NB  If you need a tutor for a particular topic please approach me. I can arrange tuition online.

'Bright Dresses'

A Beautiful Poem. 

A British Council Resource

by Robert Seatter
With kind permission of the poet, previously published in Poetry as a Foreign Language, edited by Martin Bates, White Adder Press, 1999

An excellent resource to:-
  • develop adjectives, description and metaphor
  • develop functional language.

Sunday 22 July 2012

Why do People Migrate?


A British Council TEFL Immigration Resource 

  • to help build up empathy and understanding of  immigration issues 
  • to develop vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension skills, sentence formation and knowledge of articles of grammar (adjectives)  

After I had published the blog about immigrants to New York; I found this resource. It develops an understanding of the issues of migration and associated vocabulary. It is broad in it's perspective and sensitively written. 

There is a vocabulary definition exercise, a video, a matching exercise matching individuals to different reasons for moving, true/false questions, an opportunity to order words in sentences and a gap fill exercise using adjectives.

It is probably a simpler resource so it could be tackled first to build up an understanding of the main issues. Some students may want to just tackle this resource on it's own.

Go to Communicative Resources Page

Billy Elliott - The Book, Film and Musical!

Billy Elliott



An Introduction 

A wonderful short story about a boy with a special gift for Ballet Dancing. A brilliant book written by Mervyn Burgess; expressing solidarity, friendships, relationships, gender and social class issues.  The story has also been made into a film and a West End show  

Billy Elliot is a short story and is classified as a 'Quick Read' in my local library in the UK. It is therefore suitable for Intermediate Levels of TEFL Students. It is an excellent story for students showing how one very unique and ordinary boy followed his dream and succeeded in what he wanted to do. The book has been made into a show which has been on the West End and Broadway and has been hugely successful. It has also been made into a film; the trailer can be seen on You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoiVEyCosEE


Go to Communications Resource Page


British Museum Images

Quality Digital Images For TEFL Learners to Describe Museum Objects


To get images of museum objects from the British Museum follow the use digital image button with some of the objects (unfortunately not all yet) and register and order just follow the process through.  The British Museum will forward the digital image to your in box.  They allow teachers to use images for educational purposes.  You need to abide by the copyright terms. I am not sure about publishing on the web so I have not incorporated photographs.

You could laminate the images and then students can physically match simpler or more elaborate descriptions depending on their level.  I often stick things on the wall with blu tack and then students are active whilst they are investigating and matching the description to the object. This mingle type of activity generates a lot of discussion (in English of course)!


Saturday 21 July 2012

Special Objects and Belongings

Describing the Belongings Of Some Immigrants to NYC


This worksheet is a really good follow on activity from the museum posts I published earlier today. It carries on with the theme of descriptions. They are suitable for Upper Intermediate and Advanced learners and are based on a photo article from the New York Times.


Online Tours at the British Museum

Practise TEFL Reading and Listening Skills. 

A good selection of tours  from different time periods and different geographical locations. Full of images and quality information from experts.

TEFL Communication Resources

Are you a budding archaeologist or historian?

    An Online TEFL Tour at the British Museum

Find 5 objects from around the world in the British Museum on line collections and improve your English at the same time
.
Learn to ask and answer questions with yes/no or true/false or simple sentence answers if you are elementary to intermediate level; or describe the objects in more detail to your friends using your own words if you are an intermediate to advanced learner. 

With each exhibit there are a selection of exercises graded at different levels:

Friday 20 July 2012

Welcome to the Online V&A Museum


Have You Got an Eye for Objects of Art?

20 Great Reasons to Visit the V&A Museum, London

British Council Museum Activities

Do you enjoy Museum Visits?


A series of 2 lessons that use video, listening and reading resources to open up the topic of Museum Visits. From the Knowledge is Great Series. Learn English, British Council Website.

Practice gapfills, phrases and verb forms from Part 1 of the lesson at:
Match questions and answers, complete sentences and practise synomyns at:


Olympic Heroes

Reading and Writing Activities 


A British Council resource with 3 worksheets

Worksheets 1 and 2 are quizzes.  Worksheet 3 consists of 3 descriptions of Olympian athletes; Eric Moussambani Malonga, Michael Edwards and Oscar Pistorius.  Students are asked to read collaboratively and write a short story about their own favourite athlete.

Also, go to http://www.olympic.org/athletes and find out about athletes who came from your own country.  What were/are their achievements? 

More activities can be found at TEFL Communicative Resources



Thursday 19 July 2012

Pronunciation Games

Domino and Board Games

 

Summer is the time for teachers to get resources ready for the following year.  These links from the British Council can be printed and laminated for use as warm ups, time fillers and lesson closers. The aim of the games is to help improve student's spelling and pronunciation.

Find links for the resources at TEFL Pronunciation Resources.


Friday 13 July 2012

Macmillan Interactive TEFL Tool

Excellent Interactive and Irregular Verb Wheel Game

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/verb-wheel/


A visual and interactive tool to build up your knowledge of irregular verbs and your speed recalling them.  Useful I would suggest for an Intermediate level of learner.

Use the above link to find the 'ing' form, present form of the 3rd person, past participle form, simple past and infinitive form. See how many full verbs you can complete in 2 seconds.


Thursday 12 July 2012

Grammar Tenses - Wheels and Timelines


Excellent Resources for Students Who Are Visual Learners

To assist in the learning of the English Tenses; past, present and future.





A worksheet for making a time line of all the tenses. The activity will help students become aware of the position of the various tenses; past, present and future. They can add the tenses to the time line as they progress to a higher level reinforcing their learning further. 
A marvellous aid for visual learners.




Another brilliant little resource, a pictorial wheel illustrating and explaining all the tenses. Once constructed (there are multiple layers to it); it helps students to understand when they should use a tense. Print, cut out and assemble the wheel layers to form a handy tool. 


A Great Medlay of Present Tense TEFL Songs

Song Links to Help you Learn the Present Tenses




An excellent website with downloadable song worksheets to help you learn your Present Grammar Tenses.  Many of the links have video's but if not look them up on 'You Tube'. Good luck and have fun!


Songs that Practise the Simple Present Tense


Songs that Practise the Present Continuous Tense


Songs that Practise the Present Perfect Tense


Songs that Practise the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Monday 9 July 2012

The Word Family Framework (WFF)

Effective TEFL Vocabulary Learning with Word Families

The Word Family Framework (WFF) is a resource for TEFL teachers and learners that consists of over 22,000 words. Instead of words being organised in alphabetical order they are presented and can be searched for as word families. 

For example: value, valuable, valueless, invaluable, evaluate and devalue.

The underlying idea is that seeing words as families promotes more effective vocabulary learning.

The tool covers all six levels of the Common European Framework. Further details on the resource and how to use it can be found at: