Paraphrasing is an Essential Conversation Skill!
July 10, 2014
Chimayo Press
If English students can accurately paraphrase a reading, a radio segment, or a verbal statement, they can actively participate in common conversations and classroom discussions.…
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Volume Matters – Even in Personal Conversations
July 2, 2014
Chimayo Press
Why volume matters, especially in difficult student-teacher conferences “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” ―Rollo May (1909-1994) American author…
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Creating Simple ESL Lesson Plans Around Top Ten Lists for Advanced English Classes
July 1, 2014
Chimayo Press
Advanced ESL/EFL classes benefit from making top ten lists “Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.” ―Tenzin Gyatso (1950-) 14th Dalai Lama Americans…
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Learning by Doing and Making “Good Mistakes” in English classes
June 28, 2014
Chimayo Press
Why English learners must practice and make “good mistakes” in order to grow “A man’s mistakes are his portals of discovery.” ―James Joyce (1882-1941), Irish…
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Homophones Can Confuse: A Minor Mistake in Miner Valley
June 20, 2014
Chimayo Press
Why it is so important for English learners to tackle homophones in the classroom “For me the greatest beauty always lies in the greatest clarity.”…
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Why We Wrote Compelling American Conversations for Intermediate American English Language Learners
July 18, 2012
Chimayo Press
“America needs new immigrants to love and cherish it.” – Eric Hoffer (1902-1983), American writer and longshoreman Compelling American Conversations: Questions and Quotations for intermediate…
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More Links for ESL Teachers About Informational Interviews
June 21, 2011
Chimayo Press
Informational interviews have become a common practice among American professionals, but many English language learners remain unfamiliar with this type of networking and job search…
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Finding more practical materials at CATESOL
May 5, 2009
Chimayo Press
Time flies. Or, as the Romans used to say, “tempus fugit.” Two weeks after the CATESOL 2009 convention in Pasadena ended, I’m finally having a…
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What Are Reasonable Standards for Listening Comprehension and Speaking Skills for ESL Students?
December 26, 2008
Chimayo Press
Tough question! Context, as ever, matters. Looking for a clear, detailed chart to evaluate the speaking skills of your students? Check out the practical chart…
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California Immigrants are Learning English – and Want to Learn More!
September 25, 2008
Eric Roth newBlog
Do American immigrants want to learn English? Are the children of Spanish-speaking adult immigrants learning English? What are the recent trends in California and Los…
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