March 17, 2010
'Let's eat Grandma!' or, 'Let's eat, Grandma!' Punctuation saves lives!
Yes, grammar - and punctuation - can completely change whatever it was you intended to say.
'Let's eat Grandma!' or, 'Let's eat, Grandma!', to put it mildly, have quite different meanings. The first sentence use Grandma as the object (both of the sentence - and of the menu) while the second sentences addresses Grandam and invites her to join the eating - not to be eaten. That little comma makes all...
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March 07, 2010
And The Winner Is....Oscars 2010
People around the world seem to love movies. One way or another, most of my students, no matter where they live or what their budget allows, always seem to to know about....
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February 26, 2010
Another Film About Food: FRESH
Every one of us eats - and some of us are beginning to care more about where our food has been before it reaches us. And many of us are taking steps to learn about or even change how we think about food.
When it comes to learning a language, I like to use something we can all relate to. Food is an ideal subject.
A great class or group project would be to work together to buy, prepare, or even....
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February 21, 2010
Read a Good Book Lately?
I love books. In fact I have more books than anyone should have in any one place.
I give books away, trade them in at book stores, but I seem to have more every time I look around around my house.
My main problem is, I know that the next book has someone's wonderful solution or brilliant insight that I need. And the great thing about book is that you never know...
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February 16, 2010
What Do Teachers Make?
Ever get frustrated with a teacher?
Ever get frustrated being a teacher?
Just as being student can be frustrating and difficult being a teacher can be worse - or some times wonderful.
Taylor Mali, a former eighth grade teacher has some interesting insights on the frustrating and wonderful world of teaching. You can see some of his thoughts and observations...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
February 04, 2010
Language Lovers and Word Nerds
If you are intrigued by word histories and the sometimes contradictory usage of common words, do I have a treat for you.
Check out A Way With Words. You can find them at...
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December 13, 2009
Classic Holiday Films
For almost every culture around the world, this is a season of holidays. This generally means a time of travel, gathering with friends and family and ...
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November 28, 2009
More Books and Films about Food
Do we really need more recipes for beef stew, polenta, and ratatouille? If they're the result of the work and creativity of famed restaurateur and "food activist" Alice Waters...
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November 24, 2009
Great Food Films
Across North America - and wherever North Americans congregate around the world - this is the season for gathering with friends and family - and of course - eating. To get you in the mood - at least for the eating part....
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November 19, 2009
The Ultimate Universal Language - Food
Every nation and culture is rightly proud of its food. The style, taste, seasoning, and of course...
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November 08, 2009
Hands-on Language Learning; Writing Your Own Story
For hands-on learners, there is no better way to learn a language than by using it - and using it by writing is probably the best...
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Posted by mmorf at 07:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
November 03, 2009
All Things Considered - And More
Are you fishing for ideas and inspiration?
As a working teacher, I know I always am. My favorite source for snippets of unlikely and useful information and provocative questions is...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
October 24, 2009
Listening Across The Years - Old Time Radio
In more ways that we can even think about, the internet has changed how we look at language and interacting with people around the world. One aspect I like about the internet is not only how to connect with people thousands of miles
but how about connecting with people from many years ago?
Yes, it's possible. Take a look at...
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October 18, 2009
TED: Ideas Worth Spreading
Want to share some great stories? Want your students (or yourself) to hear some great speeches? If you do, you have to check out...
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October 06, 2009
World Have Your Say - International Radio
Ever wonder how people around the world might respond to current events?
We all hear news that is produced by news agencies and major broadcasters - but what about normal people?
Wouldn't you like to let the world know what you think about a recent news event?
If so...
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Posted by mmorf at 09:54 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
October 01, 2009
Not Quite What I Was Planning
As a writing teacher, I see that my students groan when they hear the usual required length of the standard essay.
What they don't realize is that the shorter the essay is, the tougher it is to write.
Try writing a full story - or your own memoir - in six words. It can be done....
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September 11, 2009
Finding Your Muse
Some of my favorite things are things that I have found without looking them - or even looking at all. Some of my favorite music, for example, is stuff that jumps in front of me when I am...
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September 07, 2009
One-Stop Resource
Ever look for a single resource that seems to hold almost everything a teacher might need? I just ran into a book that seems to cover every detail of language learning and teaching. At over 500 oversized pages...
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Posted by mmorf at 01:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
August 27, 2009
Listen to the Music!
Nothing embodies or expresses a culture more fully - and more enticingly - than its music. As I mentioned in a previous post, my dream job would be to host a radio program where I could share my love of music across the 20th Century (and more). Thanks to the internet...
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Posted by mmorf at 12:53 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
August 22, 2009
Pology & Tales From a Small Planet
There are several online journals related to travel and encountering cultures around the world. It is a good idea to have as much advance information as possible. Every culture and people group has its own style and flavor - and each one see "foreigners" differently.
Here are just a few...
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August 17, 2009
Playing With Words - Vocabulary, Anagrams & Inventing Our Own Words
As we have all noticed, English, and presumably every living language, shifts continually.
My students speak in fear of "Old English" but what they don't realize is that English as they know and use it is VERY different from even that of their parents and certainly....
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Posted by mmorf at 12:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
July 12, 2009
Arabic, Pashto, French or Dari, Anyone?
Most TESOL instructors get their training and background in the civilian world, but when it comes to learning the less common languages like Arabic, Pashto, and Dari, you might be advised to look...
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Posted by mmorf at 09:50 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
June 21, 2009
More Great Music from Around the World.
I recently reviewed some of the music collected and produced by Putumayo. They have compiled some great regionally themed music by a variety of artists. There is another music company you should be aware of...
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Posted by mmorf at 10:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
June 02, 2009
Is There life After Google?
Goggle has become so common that it has become a verb - it has become a truism to say that we can "google it". But there are search engines that do more...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
May 25, 2009
Tell me a Story
Everybody like to hear stories - and when learning a language, there is nothing better than HEARING a story to learn how native speakers not only speak....
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May 19, 2009
Ixtapa - "Fostering Cultural Awareness and Learning Competencies in EFL & ESL"
Anyone up for a trip to Mexico the fall? How does this sound?
"Fostering Cultural Awareness and Learning Competencies in EFL & ESL" October 1-4, 2009
If you'd like to do a presentation, send your information here - http://anupi.org.mx/Ingles/CongCallform.php. The deadline is May 30th so you better hurry.
You can see the speakers and topics of previous conferences...
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May 15, 2009
"The Blues are the Roots; Everything else is the Fruits. Willie Dixon
As part of my series on music - and how it represents cultures - I'd like to let you know about a book I just stumbled into at my local library. With a focus on the indigenous music of North America...
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Posted by mmorf at 11:44 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
May 10, 2009
Preparing Language Teachers for the 21st Century
"Designed for practitioners and researchers involved in the preparation and ongoing professional development of language teachers, LTE 2009 will address the education of teachers of all languages, at all instructional and institutional levels, and in many national and international contexts in which this takes place including: English as a Second or Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) instruction; foreign/modern/world language teaching; bilingual education; immersion education; indigenous and minority language education; and...
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Posted by mmorf at 09:28 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
May 05, 2009
Tangled up in Blue - the Words of Bob Dylan
You might not usually think of Bob Dylan and ESL in the same sentence, but sometimes a master of language can teach us - or reach us - in unexpected ways. Dylan will almost certainly be nominated for a Nobel Prize in literature some time soon. If he is, he will certainly stretch the definition.....
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