Scaffolding PD in Uzbekistan: Conference Proposals and Presentations

Posted on 1 July 2022 by Kendra Staley and Alicia Bradley
Kendra Staley and Alicia Bradley
Kendra Staley and Alicia Bradley

This post is part of a series on Scaffolding professional development (PD) in Uzbekistan as part of the English Speaking Nation (ESN) Secondary Teacher Training Program. You can read an overview of the program here.

ESN participants shared their professional insights at a TESOL Regional Conference in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 13–16 June 2022. This was the first time many of the teachers have presented at an international conference. To assist ESN participants in developing successful proposals and presentations, ESN and TESOL coaches working throughout Uzbekistan scaffolded the steps for presenting at a conference: choosing a topic and session type, writing a proposal, creating conference materials, and preparing to present. Continue reading →

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The Importance of Body Language for Effective Oral Communication

Posted on 23 June 2022 by Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes

For those educators who are teaching multilingual language learners (MLLs), body language is an important topic to address. Teachers of MLLs need to impart to their students that speaking to others is more than putting words together. If we create in MLLs an awareness of how they use voice and body language to communicate, we can help them become aware of the nonverbal behaviors that will equip them to express themselves in a more effective manner. Continue reading →

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5 No-Prep Activities Using Photo Apps

Posted on 21 June 2022 by Brent Warner
Brent Warner
Brent Warner

We’ve all had those moments in class: We need to fill a few minutes, break the ice with newly formed groups, personalize the lesson, or just plain change pace when things aren’t working. A lot of teachers keep a handful of no-prep activities up their sleeve for just such occasions. While many students are used to hearing “put your phones away” from the front of the class, today we’ll look at a few no-prep activities that encourage students to build a positive connection between their phones and learning. Continue reading →

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5 Activities to Explore Cultural Diversity

Posted on 15 June 2022 by Naashia Mohamed
Naashia Mohamed
Naashia Mohamed

Culture is more than artefacts, rituals, and traditions. It is derived from the understanding we acquire through living together as a community and our connections to others within it. I have written previously about the importance of avoiding tokenism, celebrating multiculturalism, and diversity. There are many ways to reflect on our own behaviours, values, and perspectives as a first step toward increasing our knowledge and understanding of others.

In this post, I would like to share five activities that could be used to deepen our understanding of cultural diversity and encourage culturally responsive interactions within the school/educational institution. These activities could be used as part of a professional learning program by educators, or as classroom activities for older students. Continue reading →

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The Video Game Model for Success in STEM

Posted on 7 June 2022 by Darlyne de Haan
Darlyne de Haan
Darlyne de Haan

In education, we discuss at length growth mindset vs fixed mindset and how we want students to have a growth mindset, especially in math and science. We as educators often hear students say that they don’t have a “math brain” or a “science brain” and watch them give up once they begin to struggle.

We learn from the brain that stress (note that boredom and lack of understanding are also stresses) causes the brain’s alert system (the amygdala) to go into high alert and shut down all communication with the thinking brain (prefrontal cortex); the brain goes directly to the involuntary actions of flight, fright, or freeze (FFF). When in this state of FFF, very little learning occurs, and the student really cannot control themselves because the involuntary brain is in charge. Continue reading →

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Vocabulary Practice With Wordle

Posted on 31 May 2022 by Jeff Kuhn
Jeff Kuhn
Jeff Kuhn

Hello and welcome to another edition of the TESOL Games and Learning Blog! Today, we’ll take a look at a popular online game that we can use for practicing vocabulary with our multilingual language learners. Continue reading →

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3 Activities to Practice “if…would” Statements

Posted on 25 May 2022 by A. C. Kemp
A. C. Kemp
A. C. Kemp

During the pandemic, we have all dreamed of doing things that we can’t, like going outside or traveling to see family. But even when COVID-19 restrictions are finally lifted, there will always be activities we can only imagine. Who wouldn’t like to own their own private island or suddenly be able to speak 50 languages fluently?

This month, I’d like to focus on how to express those dreams—and perhaps some less dream-like imaginings—using the conditional with “if…would” statements. Continue reading →

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8 Books to Read About Teaching MLLs

Posted on 18 May 2022 by Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes

In my April blog, I listed seven online resources that I generally read under the #MLLCHAT hashtag on Twitter. This month, I’m listing eight books published in 2021–22 and that have been recommended by participants of #MLLCHAT (formerly #ELLCHAT). These books are great reading for teachers of multilingual language learners (MLLs), general education teachers, school administrators, and other school staff who work with MLLs. Continue reading →

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