February 03, 2012
Do You Have A Dominant Impression?
A dominant impression is another way of saying topic sentence in the context of writing. I define topic sentence as the...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2012
Favorite Words?
We all use words continually as we speak or write. It can be a useful exercise to...
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Posted by mmorf at 10:57 AM | Comments (0)
December 30, 2011
Good-Bye 2011
For most of the world (except those who follow the Chinese calendar) we are coming to the end of 2011 and...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2011
Word Portraits
The most vivid and memorable writing is writing that appeals to the...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:18 AM | Comments (0)
August 17, 2011
Of Books And E-Books
I'm a reader. It doesn't matter where I see words, I read on paper, online and pretty much anywhere I see ideas...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:50 AM | Comments (0)
December 07, 2010
You May Say That I'm A Dreamer But I'm Not The Only One
The whole idea of a world language is rather odd, don't you think?
I love the whole idea of people from every culture and language group being able to....
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Posted by mmorf at 11:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
November 24, 2010
OK, OK, Revenge Of The OK Corral
One of those puzzles about language is where words come from and how they spread. By most measures, the word "OK" (if you can even call it a word) is by far the most....
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Posted by mmorf at 09:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
October 08, 2010
"You May Say That I'm A Dreamer" John Lennon
If there was ever an anthem for our times - or perhaps for our earth - could a better suggestion be....
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Posted by mmorf at 09:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
September 22, 2010
You Are What You ...Read?
Several years ago I had a beginning Asian ESL student whose vocabulary and pronunciation were excellent. I had assumed that she was far along in her language studies.
I was stunned when I found that she was just beginning her English studies. She was further along - and far more confident than students with years more study behind them. How did she do it?
Her secret was beautiful in its simplicity...
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Posted by mmorf at 10:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
September 12, 2010
How do YOU Learn?
Ever wonder how you picked up your native language? You know, the pronunciations, grammar and vocabulary you just absorbed from those around you when you were a little kid?
Ever wonder why we just absorb a language at one stage in life....
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Posted by mmorf at 09:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
August 09, 2010
Misheard Song Lyrics - 'Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy
I like to use songs and music to teach English. Movement and rhythm add to the learning experience. Sometimes however, the words can be a little hard...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
February 07, 2010
Got A Story to Tell? Here's a writing Contest
It doesn't take long, in a foreign country, for a traveler to encounter (or create) ridiculous, impossible and even life changing events.
Don't forget them - share them!
Yes, share these experiences with friends and family, but don't forget to share your experiences with the world...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
December 03, 2009
What Were You Born To Do?
What were you born to do? It's an interesting question and one worthy of personal - or group- exploration. I found a website that helps individuals or groups...
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Posted by mmorf at 10:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
August 07, 2009
What'd I Say? Slang and Informal English
In informal conversation, English, especially American English, holds endless, sometimes dangerous and occasionally contradictory hazards for...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
July 30, 2009
It's Not Easy Being Green - Or Even Keeping Track Of What "Green" Might Mean
"It's Not Easy Being Green" was originally from the children's television series "Sesame Street". It was a phrase used by Kermit the frog as bemoaned the various indignities frogs (like all living creatures) must...
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Posted by mmorf at 12:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
June 16, 2009
What's Your Ideal International Job?
Is there a particular place you'd like to live? Is there some specific attribute that you'd like to experience - or share....
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Posted by mmorf at 11:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
March 29, 2009
Who Is The Real Foreigner?
So who's the real foreigner?
Have you ever noticed that in just about any ESL context, someone is the foreigner?
Whether the teacher or the student, someone....
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Posted by mmorf at 08:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
January 25, 2009
Finding Your Voice
Colleagues,
Most students of other languages lack confidence in public speaking of the new language. Shyness is a major barrier to making a language your own.
In essence, the main principle is practice, practice, practice.
But what is a safe and practical way to to do this?
Thanks to the internet there are . . .
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Posted by mmorf at 02:41 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
December 11, 2005
Teaching ESL WITHOUT An Employer
"Early to bed, early to rise. Work like hell and advertise." ~Ted Turner
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Posted by lhobbs at 11:06 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack (2)
December 09, 2005
Workplace Issues - The Problem with Private ESL Classes
"They're called lessons because they lessen from day to day." ~Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
How are your private lessons going this semester? I hope that they’re not anything like mine! Speaking of which, the topic of this entry is private ESL classes. I have talked to many ESL teachers about this topic, and it’s surprising to see how quickly the conversation can become heated. It seems that everyone has a strong opinion about whether or not a teacher can make a decent living giving them.
In the places I've taught ESL, salaries aren’t necessarily known to be top rate. After trying to live on the school’s salary, I eventually decided . . .
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Posted by lhobbs at 11:57 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack (2)
December 01, 2005
Workplace Issues - What Do You Do About Missed ESL Classes?
"The joys of meeting pay the pags of absence / Else who could bear it?" ~ Nicholas Rowe
Dear Readers,
Private lesson no-shows
Has this ever happened to you? You spent an hour preparing for a private class, then rush to get to it on time. You set up your props or whatever you will be using, then sit back and wait for your students to arrive. Ten minutes later, you're still waiting, but you have faith. After all, they've been late before. Twenty minutes later, you begin to get that "feeling," but decide to stick it out. Forty minutes later, which is exactly twenty minutes before the class is scheduled to end, you begin to pack up to go home.
If you work in a school, you may be silently cheering your luck. (Extra time to goof off!) But if this happens in a private class, you have . . .
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Posted by lhobbs at 08:13 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack (3)
