English speaking countries Magic Vocabulary Magic Vocabulary is an automatic generator of worksheets and games to teach vocabulary. Just enter your list of words and this website will create bingo, dominoes, crossword, memory games, etc. High Quality ESL Lesson Plans - Free Samples - $26 Membership Be a better teacher! Animated English Lessons for Children - Teach with the Best! Teach Children to Read with Phonics, Worksheets, Games, Videos, Books These are among the best phonics worksheets, games, videos and flash cards you will find online. Advertise here
Project-based learning, the USA and Authentic Video in the EFL classroom | El... The Globe Trekker/Pilot Guides video collection is a treasure trove for any English teacher. It encompasses extensive material from every corner of the world, and especially English-speaking countries are lavished with attention. Australia, Canada, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, England – you name it. Covering the United States satisfactorily in the language classroom is a daunting project, especially if you want to give your students more than a superficial understanding of its history, geography, language and people. To date, Globe Trekker offers a range of videos on the USA, covering practically every individual state, and, so it seems, more is coming every new season. Every video is about 50-55 minutes, which, of course, means that you have a few decisions to make – viewing all of them in the traditional classroom is a big no-no, at least if you want to keep the students’ attention. In addition to making this initial decision, there are quite a lot of follow-up issues to consider:
Listen to English around the World. Click on any of the flags below to hear accents from some of the main English-speaking countries. Hear more English accents. One of the best ways of improving your English is to listen to radio news and discussion in English on your computer. Using the links below you can get instant access to English language radio news programmes wherever you are in the world, without a radio. Perfect for listening practice and improving your listening skills. Listen to the Bible in MP3 format Listen to film soundclips
Teaching English Pronunciation I've met teachers who believe "there's no point in teaching English pronunciation as it cannot be taught. Talented students pick it up - the rest don't." English coursebooks make the same point with their silence. Apart from a few exercises on word stress or individual sounds - and then only in the better books - they ignore pronunciation. Despite the above comments, I know from my own experience that clear pronunciation can be taught - and that when it is taught the students listening will improve too. I want to be clear that I'm not trying to make my learners sound like the Queen of England or the President of the United States - or even like me. What needs teaching? In teaching English pronunciation the students generally need work in several areas. Individual Sounds - Background Teaching English pronunciation involves a giving a lot of listening practice at the beginning. Remember that sounds and letters are different. Individual Sounds - ESL Pronunciation Activities Word Stress
English-speaking countries: Canada - Learning English Online Geography Canada is a country occupying(to fill either time or space) most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It is the world's second largest country by total area. Canada's common border with the United States to the south and northwest is the longest in the world. Canada's capital city is Ottawa. Society and culture Canadian culture has historically been influenced by British, French, and aboriginal(original or indigenous to a place) cultures and traditions. Population Canada's total population in July 2010 was estimated to be 33,759,742 people. Languages Canada's two official languages are English and French. Religion Support for religious pluralism(a social system based on mutual respect for each other's cultures among various groups that make up a society) is an important part of Canada's political culture. Government and politics Economy
Syrian Journey: Choose your own escape route The Syrian conflict has torn the country apart, leaving thousands dead and driving millions to flee their homes. Many seek refuge in neighbouring countries but others pay traffickers to take them to Europe - risking death, capture and deportation. If you were fleeing Syria for Europe, what choices would you make for you and your family? Take our journey to understand the real dilemmas the refugees face. The routes, options and outcomes in this Syrian Journey feature were based on real stories uncovered by extensive research as part of a BBC Arabic digital project exploring migration from Syria. Research by Mamdouh Akbiek, Eloise Dicker Illustrations by Gerry Fletcher. Get involved We would like to know what you would take with you if you were forced to flee your country. Use the hashtags #whatwouldyoutake and #Syrianjourney to post your choices, with images and/or video. See what Syrian migrants who made the journey took with them Survivors' stories Media playback is unsupported on your device
Listen A Minute: Easier English Listening and Activities Breaking News English ESL Lesson Plan on Accents A recent survey in the UK has found that regional accents can be “bad for business”. Professor Khalid Aziz, a specialist in communication for business executives, questioned people in high-level management to find out their opinions on regional accents. He discovered that non-English accents are better for business success in England. Speakers with an American, Scottish, Indian or Asian accent are preferred to speakers with a regional variation. Professor Aziz said: “Although it may not be [acceptable] to believe that accents matter nowadays, it is very [clear] from our research that…prejudices still exist.” The survey also reports that business people think speakers with Indian or Asian accents are more trustworthy and reliable than speakers with American or British accents. 1. 2. 3. Surveys / business managers / regional accents / high level / prejudices / trustworthiness / Indian accents / executives / Queen’s English / Scotland Have a chat about the topics you liked. 4. 5. 6. 1. 2.
23 maps and charts on language by Dylan Matthews on April 15, 2015 "The limits of my language," the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once posited, "mean the limits of my world." Explaining everything within the limits of the world is probably too ambitious a goal for a list like this. But here are 23 maps and charts that can hopefully illuminate small aspects of how we manage to communicate with one another. The basics Indo-European language rootsMinna Sundberg, a Finnish-Swedish comic artist, created this beautiful tree to illustrate both the relationships between European and central Asian languages generally, as well as a smaller but still striking point: Finnish has less in common with, say, Swedish than Persian or Hindi do. Language divides Bilingualism Who in Europe speaks EnglishMany countries have more than one commonly used language, with many residents learning two or more. English American English
How Many Countries in the World Now that is a question that's somewhat difficult to answer, as there is no one right answer. Many sources offer different answers, and depending on the source, there are 189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195 or 196 independent countries in the world today. NOTE: On Saturday, July 9, 2011, southern Sudan declared itself the independent country of South Sudan. This is the culmination of a six-year process that ended a long, brutal civil war that caused the deaths of millions. In many ways this is still a controversial event, and the country's status could possibly change in the future. As of May 1, 2008, the United Nations has 192 official members (including Montenegro and Serbia - the two newest nations). Most of the current World Almanacs use 193 countries, which is probably the best answer, but what about Kosovo? A note regarding Greenland: It voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired complete responsibility for internal affairs in June 2009. Sources: worldatlas.com
5 TED-Ed Lessons to use in your American History classroom Carla Staffa, Burnsville Senior High School American history teacher (and all-around rockstar), uses TED-Ed Lessons in her classroom to supplement her curriculum, start conversation and spark curiosity. We caught up with Carla to find out which lessons she uses the most and what she hopes her students take away from each one. 1.) The fight for the right to vote in the United States - Nicki Beaman Griffin “The fight for the acquisition of voting rights is one that has been fought by numerous groups, yet not all eligible voters take advantage of this right. Students see the chronology of voting rights actions and legislation, and are left with thought provoking questions at the end: “Do enough citizens have the right to vote now? 2.) “This lesson sets the stage of a meeting that transforms our country forever — an unlikey result for a meeting that originally intended to amend the Articles of Confederation. 3.) 4.) 5.) Want more?
ESL English Listening & Adult Literacy - News - Audiobooks - Songs - Radio Dramas Laurie by Stephen King Part One (25 min. at normal speed - Various speeds available) Part Two (28 min. at normal speed - Various speeds available) Laurie is a beautiful and heartwarming story. Irish Culture: Customs & Traditions Culture The culture of Ireland is influenced by several different cultures, such as Anglo-Norman, English and Scottish. These influences helped contribute to Irish history through several different methods. Their contributions include books and manuscripts such as the Book of Kells, pieces of goldwork that date to the early medieval periods, and even etched Waterford Crystals coveted throughout the world. St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated on March 17, is one of the strongest traditions of this country. Another rarely known piece of Irish culture is the holiday known as Halloween. One of the most apparent cultural habits of Ireland is the pub. Traditions Through the ages of troubles in Ireland, some practices became common among the people, and these then turned into traditions. Although St. Other fun and enjoyable traditions of the land are song and dance. Lesson Summary The culture of Ireland is one that has maintained a sense of itself throughout the ages.