Hello again!

I guess summer is over - it's time to update my blog:)

It has been a busy summer with all kinds of life-changing activities. From an ESL perspective, the next big thing happening to me is moving to Germany. I look at this relocation as a great opportunity to teach ESL. Germany, watch out! Here I come.

Ich spreche Deutch gern! - or at least I'd love to. Will try.

Have a good one!

Great Song!

Well, this is rather different. In a good way. Great song by Cibelle and Devendra Banhart. How to use it in the ESL classroom? You can make a listening comprehension exercise out of it - if you have the right crowed. Or just enjoy the music!

Essay Writing for ESL/EFL Students

This is a video tapping into essay writing. Check it out.

Article on changing trends in TESOL methods

TESOL Methods: Changing Tracks, Challenging Trends by B. Kumaravadivelu, TESOL Quarterly Vol. 40, No. 1, March 2006

This article is about recent shifts in SLA methodology:
1. from communcative to task-based language teaching
2. from method-based pedagogy to postmethod pedagogy
3. from systematic discovery to critical discourse

Article Review - The Cognitive-Socio divide in ESL Research

If you have read and liked the Wegner and Firth vs. Gass "academic back and forth" on the issue of cognitivist and sociocultural views of SLA (Second Langauge Acquisition) from the mid 1990s, here is something intresting for you.

Cognitive and Sociocultural Perspectives: Two Parallel SLA Worlds? by Jane Zuengler and Elizabeth R. Miller, TESOL Quarterly Vol. 40, No. 1, March 2006.

It's a great summery on the cognitive-socio divide that has been influencing the SLA research in the past 15 years or so.
The authors identify two major breaking points in what the cognitive and sociocultural perspectives differ.
1. The understanding of learning in SLA (langauge learning vs. langauge acquisition)
2. The tension between Positivism and Relativism.

What is fascinating about this article is that it gives you the big picture on the issue + all the big names in SLA research that you have come across in your ESL research readings.
I really enjoyed this article. It's a must have for comps!!!

Don't miss Kent Hill's response: Comments on J. Zuengler and E.R. Miller's "Cognitive and Sociocultural Perspectives: Two Parallel SLA World?" TESOL Quarterly Vol 40 No. 4, December 2006.

Course Reflection - ESL 6973

This course has been one of the most interesting and most useful of all the classes I have taken at UTSA. I truly enjoyed learning about the new ways of teaching ESL through various technological tools. I feel I have a much better understanding of what is out there in terms of techonology when it comes to teaching, learning, and keeping in touch with others. The readings and presentations were interesting and yes, the reading reflections turned out to be very useful when preapring for comps.
I am very excited about my blog. I can't wait to use blogs in my classroom together with other technology that I have learned about in this course.
Thank you Dr. Wright!

Quick Share - Learn ESL with BBC

Though ESL is not BBC's main profile, nonetheless it provides some really cool ESL exercises on its website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
News in English - reading and listening activities
Watching and Listening - a nice variety of music, pictures, stories
The Flatemates (my favorite) - an interactive dialogue with new episods every week
Grammar and Vocabulary - with explanations and examples
Business English
Lesson Plans + Support

ELLs from all around the world leave comments on BBC's website about their language learning experiences and opinions. Check it out!