Grammar Comic Strip

Technology today offers us teachers a large variety of mediums through which to present grammar structures. Last week I discovered a great comic strip maker called toonlet and tried my hand at making a few strips. I can't wait to show my 5th grade.  

These strips feature my favourite grammar robot Serious Grammaticus, who has started to become popular among my students. Maybe I should start writing his adventures down!

How to teach reading in a second language.

Parents often ask me what they can do to help their child become more proficient in the second language. My answer has always been the same; Read to your child, buy books with your child, encourage your child to read alone. Read, read, read and then read some more.  Reading has always been the most neglected skill in the ELT classroom, probably because of its complexity to teach. We tend to underestimate the power of free, voluntary reading, because its benefits are not instantly evident in our conscious learning classroom environments.

At this point we must make a distinction between acquisition and learning. Acquisition refers to the subconscious comprehension of a linguistic system, which is profound and leads to fluency and accuracy in grammatical forms. Conscious learning refers to the explicitly taught rules of a language. In his Comprehension Hypothesis Krashen maintains that L2 (Second Language) acquisition takes place in only one way: when we decipher the message, when we understand what is said or read. In other words we don’t acquire language when we produce it, but when we understand it (1).

Teacher Education: When Teachers Never Stop Being Students or Seven Books Every Teacher Should Read.

As teachers we spend a lot of time reading and correcting other people's work, preparing for our next lessons and grading the ability of our students to perform. However, we some times tend to forget that we belong in that category of professionals that can never stop studying themselves. Teacher education is something that we tend to neglect either because we rarely have time to join online courses or read for ourselves or because teacher training books are considerably overpriced and can't be easily found in countries like mine. Some of us are lucky enough to be able to afford a second master's degree or even a doctorate, but the rest of us have to do with reading and re-educating themselves over and over again.  In this attempt the Internet has been my valuable friend and supporter. There are numerous sites that offer free online programmes that offer insight and advice from qualified teacher trainers. What is more nowadays us teachers can find books to buy online in considerably lower prices than in the bookstores. 

What follows is my top seven books that have helped me the most and that I turn to from time to time when in doubt.

1. Music and Song By Tim Murphy

As a student I was very certain that listening to music improved my vocabulary and confidence in the target language. I seemed to remember words, structures and phrases much better when they were embedded in one of my favourite songs. In his book, though an old publication, Tim Murphy shows us how to integrate popular music in our lesson plans in order to strengthen certain language skills. I personally love this book. 

2. Language Testing in Practice: Designing and Developing Useful Language Tests by Lyle F. Bachman and Adrian S. Palmer

How can we be sure we test our students correctly? This book offers the theoretical base behind ESL testing as well as practical advise. 

3. Computer Applications in Second Language Acquisition, Cambridge Applied Linguistics, by Carole Chapelle 

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4. Grammar Games: Cognitive, Affective and Drama Activities for EFL students by Mario Rinvolucri

5. How to Teach Grammar by Scott Thornbury

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6. Beginning Syntax by Linda Thomas 

Know your syntax before you can teach it. 

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7. Learner Contributions to Language Learning, Applied Linguistics and Language Study edited by Michael Breen, general editor Christopher N. Candlin

I am specifically attached to this one since it reminds me so much of my student years. I was lucky enough to have met Michael Breen since he was my Professor during my MsC. He is one insightful linguist and a charismatic teacher.