Happy Women's Month! I am marking the occasion with an English lesson devoted entirely to menstruation. It's not a fun topic, but we do need to talk about it. It comes every month, and usually at the worst possible time. To the poor men who are still reading this, don't leave yet! Talking about periods… Continue reading How To Talk About Your Period in English. Yes, That Period.
Author: elsahedrick
Everyone smiles in the same language.
Variations on 4 Card Games ESL Students Will Flip Over
Breaking News! ESL Students prefer playing games to studying grammar. Thanks, Captain Obvious. Now, let's really drive it home: Hello, students! Raise your hand if you want to study grammar. (crickets.) Raise your hand if you want to play a game. (48 hands are up in a class of 24.) What have we learned from… Continue reading Variations on 4 Card Games ESL Students Will Flip Over
Roadblocks To Reading in ESL and How To Pave The Way Toward Literacy
Let's face it. If our ESL students aren't reading now, what's going to change that? ESL teachers know that reading is essential to language acquisition, and the science backs it up. So how can we encourage students to find fluency through fiction?
8 Flashy Ways To Use Flashcards for Online ESL
If you know how to use flashcards in online ESL classrooms, they can be fantastic for memorizing irregular verbs. And they don't have to be boring, either! Here are my favorite flashy ways to use flashcards in online ESL classrooms. Why Flashcards? Let's cut straight to the obvious: flashcards are for memorizing. As a veteran… Continue reading 8 Flashy Ways To Use Flashcards for Online ESL
The 30-Day English Challenge
Can I really improve my English in 30 days? Yes, you can! The 30-Day English Challenge is designed to improve your speaking, writing, fluency and confidence by following simple, yet meaningful daily tasks. How does it work? The idea behind a 30-day English challenge is simple. Your English will improve quickly because you will be… Continue reading The 30-Day English Challenge
Conversation Club: December 18, 2020
Do you want to know a secret? Learning English is nearly impossible if you don't have the right people to speak it with. This may come as a surprise, but practicing English with an English teacher just isn't enough! Yes, an English teacher will understand everything you say. English teachers use simple, clear language that… Continue reading Conversation Club: December 18, 2020
How To Pronounce the GH sound in English: 14 Tough Words To Practice
This month's post teaches you how to pronounce the -gh sound in English. You've probably seen it lurking in words like enough, through, and sigh. You might try your best to pronounce it, or, you might avoid it completely. Through? Furlough? Cough. Ugh. What is that sound?!
From Zoom back to Room: Writing a Reflection To Maximize Online Learning
It might sound simple, but taking 3 to 5 minutes to write a daily reflection following each Zoom lesson is one of the most important ways to boost language acquisition in online learning environments.
8 Phrasal Verbs with BACK and How To Use Them Like a Pro
The preposition back generally means to return. But there are many different ways you can return something or somewhere! By using phrasal verbs like go back, get back, and come back, you can increase your vocabulary and be more specific in communication. Let's look at a few of these phrasal verbs with back in a fun short story about a trip to a tropical island. At the end of the story, there's a short quiz you can take to see if you really know how to use these return expressions like a pro.
Used to vs. Usually: What’s the Difference?
When you have a strong understanding of how to use used to and usually, we can talk about 2 more similar phrases that students find confusing: be used to and get used to.
Pronunciation: Beer, Bird, and Bear
Yet vs. Still: What’s the difference?
Learn the difference between yet and still with a quick video lesson.
Listen vs. Hear: What’s the difference?
Listen and hear are two verbs commonly confused by English students. Many times, we use both words in the same conversation. It's important to know what the difference is. Look at this example: A: Hi! Can you hear me? What are you listening to? B: I'm listening to Hotel California by The Eagles. Have you… Continue reading Listen vs. Hear: What’s the difference?
English Expressions You Can Fall in Love With
With Valentine's Day coming up, I wanted to share some great expressions and idioms for talking about love and relationships. Whether you're single, married or something more complicated, there's surely a phrase or two here that will tickle your fancy. You may find yourself falling head over heels with this lovey-dovey vocabulary! Once Upon a… Continue reading English Expressions You Can Fall in Love With
Borrow or Lend: What’s the difference?
It's easy to confuse these two terms. They are used when we give or take something that will be returned (Well, we hope it will!) LEND = Give To lend is to give someone something for a short time. Lend requires a direct pronoun (money, a phone, a sweater, etc.) and an indirect object pronoun (me,… Continue reading Borrow or Lend: What’s the difference?
What’s your poison? English for ordering drinks at a bar
Ordering drinks can be intimidating for a non-native speaker. Everything is moving fast, so you quickly blurt out your order. "I'll have 3 beers and...um...uh...a mojito." There. You feel pretty good. You said it right. He understands you and starts to make the drinks, but suddenly he asks a second question...
Too vs. So: What’s the difference?
TOO = A negative description When something is not good, or you don't like it, or you can't use it, use too to describe it. When you use too in a sentence, it means that you are not happy, or there is a negative result. The driver was going too fast. (He crashed his car… Continue reading Too vs. So: What’s the difference?
So or Such: What’s the difference?
Cats are so funny. You never know what they are really thinking about you, but we can guess from the look on their faces. They make such good expressions! THE BASIC RULE: S0 + ADJECTIVE When SO means "very," it is usually followed by an adjective. It's so hot today.The cats are so funny.She looks… Continue reading So or Such: What’s the difference?
Talkin' Town English 