Motivating speaking activities At this age, the learners aren't motivated by new language, they're motivated by an activity. It can be very difficult to get them to speak if they really don't see the point. You can approach this by focussing on the following. The function of the language and using an authentic or near authentic task (e.g. get them to sit back-to-back to practise speaking on the telephone).A motivating task, which uses the language you want them to practise (e.g. students write questions on small squares of paper using the target language, then form the papers into a board game to be played using dice and counters). Here are some possible examples, which apply to one or a combination of the above. A popular, well-known type of activity is the information gap. Making an arrangement: Each group has a diary, with appointments already filled in. Here are some examples of other activities I use with my younger learners:
Anglais en primaire - CRDP de l'académie de Dijon Vous enseignez l’anglais en cycle 2 ou cycle 3 et vous souhaitez gagner en aisance à l’oral ? Ces trois magistères, réalisables en 1h30 vous aideront à acquérir une meilleure prononciation en anglais. M@gistère : Développer ses compétences phonologiques pour enseigner l’anglais au cycle 2 Formez votre oreille aux phonèmes anglais qui posent le plus de difficultés avec les dispositifs d’écoute et entraînez-vous à les reproduire avec le système d’enregistrement. Avec ce parcours, vous disposez non seulement d’un outil de formation, mais aussi d’un ensemble de ressources (flashcards et posters à télécharger, suggestion d’activités…) à utiliser en classe avec vos élèves. En savoir plus M@gistère : Développer ses compétences phonologiques pour enseigner l’anglais au cycle 3 Ce magistère s’inscrit dans la continuité du précédent. En savoir plus M@gistère : Accentuations et intonations en anglais aux cycles 2 et 3 En savoir plus
Strategies for Helping Students Motivate Themselves My previous post reviewed research on extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, and described the four qualities that have been identified as critical to helping students motivate themselves: autonomy, competence, relatedness, and relevance. In this post, I’ll discuss practical classroom strategies to reinforce each of these four qualities. Autonomy Providing students with freedom of choice is one strategy for promoting learner autonomy. Educators commonly view this idea of choice through the lens of organizational and procedural choice. Organizational choice, for example, might mean students having a voice in seating assignments or members of their small learning groups. Some researchers, however, believe that a third option, cognitive choice, is a more effective way to promote longer-lasting student autonomy. Start of newsletter promotion. Sign up today for the Edutopia Weekly, a newsletter packed with innovative, evidence-based strategies tailored to your educational interests. Sign me up 1.
SpeakyPlanet | Des jeux pour apprendre l'anglais aux enfants Edpuzzle on the App Store Once upon a time I was riding a bike on my way home. It’s a long ride and my legs were getting tired so I stopped for a break at the side of the road. The forest besides me was gorgeous and so I sat down by a tree and downloaded an app my teacher needed us to use called Edpuzzle.
List of Conversation Topics | Conversation starters One of the most frustrating things I have ever experienced around a girl, is if I and her run out of things to talk about. Since you found this post I assume you know what I’m talking about, and maybe you are interested in learning how to avoid awkward silence. I’m thinking about the teeth pooling moments where the awkward silence just takes over the situation, you are just sitting their smiling while desperately in your mind scrambling for something just mildly interesting say, but you just can think of anything, you mind is a total black out, you can’t even remember your own name at this point. Finally you hear yourself saying something completely uninteresting, like: “sooo.. do you come here often”, she says “no its my first time!” It’s a horrible horrible situation to be in, I have thus decided to make this cheat sheet of interesting conversation topics to ensure, that you will never run out of things to say again. Talk about Past Experiences: Talk about Current Experience:
ESL apps - games and activities for smartphones and tablets - ESL games These ESL apps consist of games and activities to play online with smartphones and tablets. 500 Conversation Questions This web app features randomised conversation questions from the book 50 Conversation lessons. It’s also available as a free Android app. What happens next? Use this web app for practising describing a situation and predicting what will happen next. Countdown This simple web app (and Android app) is based on the UK game show Countdown. Describe the (Imaginary) Picture This web app works best on tablets. Fortune Telling Want to play the fortune telling game without cutting up all those bits of paper? Phrasal Verb Match Up Get students familiar with phrasal verbs with Phrasal Verb Match Up. Picture Taboo Now you can play Picture Taboo online with your phone or tablet. Picture Taboo: In the Office, Summer, Halloween, Christmas Snap (to be) Play Snap! Question prompts This app is a simple random question prompter for practising the form of present simple questions. Number Bingo Master
for the Camera Shy □ — Flipgrid Savvy Tip #5: Use Whiteboard mode or record something else! The Flipgrid camera is filled with powerful features, such as Whiteboard Mode, emoji, inking, and text, that allow your students to share their voice without their face being on camera. Check out every update in the all-new Flipgrid, launched on August 1, 2019! Students can also use the rear-facing camera (on any device that has one) to capture their world as they share their voice. Savvy Tip #6: Moderate Topics. Savvy Tip #7: Use Sticky Notes. Savvy Tip #8: Interview a friend - This is a great way for students to help each other become comfortable recording while also practicing speaking and listening skills. Savvy Tip #9: Create paper slides videos - Paper slides allows students to unleash their creativity by creating a slide for each of their big ideas.
Apps to Explore: - Create Only available for paid subscribers. Email Sent Email Your Friends /250 characters Url copied Copy URL Get Embed Code Dimensions (WxH): Max Size: 800x600 <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="//vhss.oddcast.com/voki_embed_functions.php"></script><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">AC_Voki_Embed(225, 400, "",, 1, "", 0, 1, 0);</script> Embed Code copied When should I use 'No Javascript' Embed Code When should I use Embed Video Note: Shared Vokis will be available for 14 days and then removed, if not saved to account.
19 Successful Online English Teachers Share Their Tips and Resources for Planning Online Lessons Thanks to everyone who contributed! I receive A LOT of emails from online teachers (and online teachers to be) about planning; namely, what they should include in their lessons and what resources they should use. As there are many areas of English and different teaching methods, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are some common practices and amazing resources that you can use in your online lessons. And as a way of celebrating the incredible teachers who create their own content so that we can use it with our students, I have put together this super post. I asked 19 online teachers for a tip or an app when it comes to lesson planning, and for them to share their resource. As well as being a handy guide for you, this might also inspire you too to create content for your learners (if you’re not doing this already). (At the bottom of the post there is a chance for you to add your own resources.) Gabby Wallace Make sure that each lesson has a clear takeaway. Kieran Docherty
365 Creative Writing Prompts As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support! Sharing is caring! If you want to become a better writer, the best thing you can do is practice writing every single day. Writing prompts are useful because we know sometimes it can be hard to think of what to write about! To help you brainstorm, we put together this list of 365 creative writing prompts to give you something to write about daily. Whether you write short stories, poems, or like to keep a journal – these will stretch your imagination and give you some ideas for topics to write about! New for 2019! Don’t want the printable version? Here are 365 Creative Writing Prompts to Inspire: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51: Sunrise/Sunset: The sun comes up, the sun goes down. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.
Video Lesson: Mr. Bean Follow me on twitter This is a video lesson based around the video “Mr. Bean packs his suitcase” thanks to British Council for bringing it to my attention in their lesson plan on making predictions but I’ve adapted it for use in different ways with different levels. Kids and lower levels The aim of this lesson plan is to practice holiday vocabulary (clothes and items that go in a suitcase) and some basic grammar structure. Project a picture of a suitcase on to the board (or draw one) and ask “What do you put in your suitcase when you go on holiday?” toothbrushtoothpasteswimming shorts/trunkstowelunderpantscan of baked beanscloth/flannelsoapbooksuitcasetrousersshortsshoesteddy bearscissors You could also use this quizlet set to go over clothes vocabulary. If children are old enough to write, put them in pairs and hand out post-it-notes and a pencil to each pair. Mr. in his suitcase. Then stick all the post-its on the board and show the video. Higher levels – video dictations Objects: Verbs:
London Short Fiction: Mud Man Continuing our series of short fiction set in, or influenced by London. This week’s story by Melaina Barnes is the winner of our competition with the British Academy’s Literature Week to find a new modern fairy tale for London. To explore the Literature Week programme — running 11-17 May — and register for events visit the British Academy’s website. Out he comes, dredged from the canal. The narrow-boat girls pat him, tend him, talk to him. Clive has a fitful night with dreams of icy water and miring weeds. The next day, his wife leaves early. Clive takes a sip of tea. Clive wakes from a doze and tells himself he’s been dreaming. Clive lies fully dressed on top of the bed and watches TV. His wife chops onions. Clive’s wife arranges for him to see a counsellor. Londonist is proud to be media partner to the British Academy’s Literature Week. Copyright, Melaina Barnes, image by Ekaterina Nosenko in the Londonist Flickr pool. Fairy tales The Fingernail Fairy: Do you believe in her? Summertime