I am teaching English to a 4 and a 7 year old (separately) and I am looking for tips, games, ipad apps, or resources.
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posted by saul wright
on Mar 16, 2013 -
6 answers
My Bulgarian nephew speaks no English and just enrolled in the first grade of a public school in the United States. He will be staying here until June. So far, he is handling it well and is proactive about learning English. Everyone at home has become a makeshift, round-the-clock ESL tutor and he is constantly provided with opportunities to pick up grammar and vocabulary, but his teachers don't really know what to do with him before he can communicate. What additional resources can we provide for him to help him pick up the language faster? He already has a bunch of library books, so we're looking for apps for iPad, Android, Chrome, Nintendo 3DS and other things a computer-savvy 7-year-old might enjoy. Thanks!
posted by halogen
on Feb 27, 2013 -
12 answers
Hi! I often eat in a certain restaurant, and one of the people who works there asked if I would help her with her writing in English. I am very happy to help, but I have no idea how to do this. She speaks very good English, but she said her writing is very bad. (Her first language is Spanish.)
I am meeting with her (and maybe a few of her co-workers) for the first time this week -- any ideas on what we should do?
I thought I'd start out with dictation, but any ideas would be much appreciated!
posted by caoimhe
on Feb 20, 2013 -
9 answers
What resources would you recommend for an adult who is a native English speaker who nonetheless struggles with grammar and spelling? I'm asking on the behalf of my boyfriend, who dropped out of middle school, and is also dyslexic. He asked if I had a book or website to recommend, but most of what I could find is geared towards kids or people learning English as a second language. He already feels insecure about all this, so recommending an ESL book seems really patronizing. He even acts sheepish asking me about grammar or how to spell something, so something he can pursue on his own would be ideal (even though I'm happy to help and don't judge him whatsoever).
posted by anonymous
on Jan 31, 2013 -
14 answers
Hi people with ALT experience, finding work in Japan sure is tough. Finding work with your girlfriend? Much harder.
Where should a pair of people go to teach English in Japan? We are spending our time trying to get anywhere we can (We hear being near a city increases our happiness), however, we have been rooting for a position in Nagoya, Kanagawa as a close second. We keep hitting dead ends and are getting desperate. It looks like at this rate, we are going to save up $2,000 a piece and take a plane there in mid-april, 3 months from now, hopefully finding work in the 90 days we are legally allowed there.
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posted by Nighthawk3729
on Jan 10, 2013 -
23 answers
I'm looking for specific book recommendations for high school exchange students.
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posted by trueluk
on Dec 4, 2012 -
3 answers
I'm currently looking for work in Japan. I'm scouring the internet, Dave's ESL cafe, ALT (assistant language teacher) listings and am not really looking for help in that respect. If you have any suggestions however, I am happy to hear more. The only exception would be if anyone knows of any Eikaiwa (Private school) jobs or any forums that post job listings..
It is my question that since the work is not always steady and there is the possibility I would go there just to tutor, there is waaay too much flux in my ability to pay for rent. I need help figuring outside work.
Outside of selling Japanese items around the world, I'm trying to figure out ways to make money with a general skill set. I'm vocal enough and confident in my speaking ability so I figure I can lead tour groups on my free time and post the listings on craigslist. I'm also looking into working as a waiter or dishwasher, but I was hoping for some help generating ideas.
Thanks!
PS - I alreadly have information on career cross and gaijin pot. If anyone knows any temp agencies are teacher employment agencies, that would be appreciated as well.
posted by Nighthawk3729
on Nov 25, 2012 -
14 answers
I'm going to quit my job and spend 6 months living in another country learning a language. I'm looking for your personal experience with excellent schools. Where should I go?
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posted by boghead
on Aug 12, 2012 -
6 answers
It's "America Day"! What simple activities and games would you suggest for 40 English language learners in China, ages 8-12?
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posted by elisse
on Jul 25, 2012 -
2 answers
I'm trying to find standalone copies of TED talks with English subtitles. I will be teaching in a room without an internet connection to Chinese faculty who have good vocabularies but are working on their delivery.
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posted by mecran01
on Jul 20, 2012 -
5 answers
I'm getting my CELTA in July in Germany, and I'd like to teach English there afterwards. Help me be a good applicant for teaching jobs and an attractive tutor for freelance work!
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posted by edguardo
on May 23, 2012 -
4 answers
Can you recommend any free/low-cost but reliable online courses/videos/books on technical writing and/or creating decent power point presentations? Also, how do you achieve an academic standard of English when it's not your first language?
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posted by ADent
on Apr 30, 2012 -
2 answers
I'm in Korea and I have an interview coming up with an institute (hagwon) as an English instructor. I have no teaching experience but my recruiter would like me to prepare something to say about the curriculum I intend to use...
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posted by AngryTypingGuy
on Apr 24, 2012 -
3 answers
I want to travel, one way I have heard to do this is through organizations such as FEMA and the red cross. I am graduating with a Bachelors in English in 3 weeks and am 24 years old. There are no entry level jobs that I saw available on their websites, am I doing something wrong? Does anyone know where I can find entry level positions?
I had thought about teaching English in a Spanish speaking country, does anyone know of some reputable programs for someone wish bare-bones Spanish knowledge looking to improve?
posted by Nighthawk3729
on Apr 20, 2012 -
13 answers
I am interested in a career in teaching, and would love to teach abroad for some time.
Immediatly, I must find a way to live in Fiji for the next 6-12+ months (Fiancee is Fijian). ESL, Tutoring, etc. sounds like a viable option, especially if it helps my long term career goals. But currently have no teaching experience. Need advice, how might I do this?
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posted by DaftMythic
on Apr 16, 2012 -
5 answers
I'm looking for ideas for activities to do during a pub quiz/activities evening for ESL/EFL adult students. In addition to having "what's that film?" or "name that tune" rounds, what else can we *do* that would challenge them to use more English, be competitive, and have a great time? This is in Poland, by the way.
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posted by mdonley
on Feb 28, 2012 -
5 answers
After some recent immersion in learning Spanish, watching Spanish films and going to Spanish conversation Meetups, I have realised I might want to have a go at teaching English as a Second Language in either Barcelona or Madrid. I have a few questions about the feasability of this at my age (42) given that the Spanish economy is not in great shape and my resume has a massive hole in it.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 27, 2012 -
1 answer
I need to find a book/article/website on the history of teaching Adult ESL in California.
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posted by firemonkey
on Feb 17, 2012 -
3 answers
How much help is too much help when it comes to a friend's application to an accountancy training programme?
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posted by muhonnin
on Feb 3, 2012 -
9 answers
I'm looking for a fully online MA program in TESOL or a related field like Applied Linguistics, that is NOT meant for K-12 public school teaching, with the aim of professionalizing myself as an English tutor. I found the New School's program
here, that would certainly cover all my bases, but I simply wouldn't be able to afford the cost. Can you help me find other options?
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posted by StrikeTheViol
on Jan 9, 2012 -
5 answers
My girlfriend and I have bought her mother an iPod Touch. At her request, we're loading it with things to help her learn to speak better English. What are the best apps, podcasts, audiofiles, etc. for a Cantonese-speaking woman who wants to improve her English by herself?
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posted by Sticherbeast
on Dec 24, 2011 -
8 answers
I am a special education teacher in the USA who wants to teach English abroad in Asia, then return to the States to join a doctoral program in education and continue teaching. How can I make this experience a step up in my development as an educator, rather than just an adventure?
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posted by chickenandwine
on Dec 5, 2011 -
11 answers
I'd like to broaden my ESL songbook, and give kids things to sing that would appeal to them.
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posted by nicolin
on Nov 17, 2011 -
6 answers
Can you help me explain how and when to use articles (a/an/the) to a non-native English speaker?
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posted by shortyJBot
on Nov 7, 2011 -
9 answers
Looking for input from anyone with teaching abroad experience and (ideally) an interest in teaching English lit on their experiences with the differences. Mainly concerned with the perceived difference in general teaching environment between teaching adults in language schools abroad vs. teenagers in regular schools. Given that you're interested in literature and writing rather than the nuts-and-bolts of grammar and speech, is it possible to be happy teaching abroad as a recent college grad with only tutoring experience?
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posted by reenka
on Oct 23, 2011 -
13 answers
I've been thinking about improving my (received) pronunciation by reading out loud in English. Need help finding materials online.
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posted by earthwormsleg
on Oct 8, 2011 -
5 answers
I am going to be teaching a short course on "Teaching and Presenting in English" to some Spanish postgraduate students (in Spain). They will be going on in the future to present at international conferences or maybe teaching in English speaking universities.
Please help me hive-mind... especially those of you who have taught/presented/been taught/presented at in a second language. What do you wish you had known beforehand? What advice would you give someone about to present in English? Is there anything an English speaking audience would expect that, say, a Spanish speaking audience wouldn't?
posted by itsjustanalias
on Sep 18, 2011 -
2 answers
I have often have trouble understanding what ESL speakers are saying, and I pretty much feel like a jerk after asking someone to repeat something a third time.
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 9, 2011 -
26 answers
Just got a job as a librarian at an international school in Mexico. I've been given time with each class from grade one through six for forty-five minutes each week. I have pretty much total freedom and sometimes freedom is a pain to plan for. I'll be teaching basic library skills and doing read alongs which will be good but I'm having trouble finding resources on the internet. Ironic, I know: a librarian asking for help finding things, but I'm not a librarian by training. The most basic information may be very helpful.
Any advice on elementary ESL libraries or some good resources would be most welcome. Books are a fine recommendation, but the internet is better.
posted by pynchonesque
on Sep 5, 2011 -
3 answers
Asking for a friend: My boss is pressuring me to adjust a failing student's grade upwards because the student is from overseas. I don't think it's fair to falsify grades. Please advise.
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posted by scruss
on Aug 22, 2011 -
50 answers
Applying for a z-visa to teach English in China, what should I know/be aware of as I go through the process?
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posted by melizabeth
on Jul 22, 2011 -
2 answers
I live and work in China and, in addition to my regular job, help a fierociously intelligent nineteen-year-old girl with her English twice a week. I don't so much teach her as talk to her and attempt to develop her debating skills. Though not perfect, her English is very good so discussion is often deep with a tendency to take unpredictable twists and turns. We've taken to reading thoughtful articles together and then discussing the main points in addition to noting down any unfamiliar vocabulary. I'd be grateful if Hivemind could suggest some provocative, not overly academic articles that could serve this purpose. I'm running out of ideas.
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posted by Zé Pequeno
on Jul 21, 2011 -
15 answers
My german friend loves reading Calvin and Hobbes (in english). What would be a good comic strip to get her into? What strips are still funny to ESL readers?
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posted by munichmaiden
on Jul 19, 2011 -
19 answers
Looking for controversial clips to spark discussion in a conversation ESL class.
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posted by piedmont
on Jul 11, 2011 -
7 answers
I'm sorta multilingual, in Spanish and Mandarin. I don't have many other skills. How good would I need to get before I can make a living from this ability? What jobs could I get if I were to improve in one or both languages?
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posted by skewed
on Jun 24, 2011 -
11 answers
Sometimes I supervise graduate students who are not native speakers of English and their written and oral communication abilities are not that great. I can comment on drafts for things to be sent elsewhere, but the worst thing is that grammatical problems mean that it is sometimes impossible or difficult for me to understand one of these students. I think usually they don't understand the problem when I try to explain it. Are there any books I could suggest that they read? Can you suggest other things that I can do to improve this?
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posted by grouse
on May 17, 2011 -
14 answers
I'm trying to find public domain e-books of English language teaching material that I can adapt into online courses.
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posted by mammary16
on May 13, 2011 -
3 answers
ELT-filter: I'm arguing that "What's your favorite lunch menu?" is Japanese-English phrasing that shouldn't be included in an English textbook.
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posted by planetkyoto
on May 9, 2011 -
37 answers
Taxonomy (or just a list) of English grammatical constructs suitable for use as a checklist for a second language learner?
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posted by amtho
on Apr 26, 2011 -
11 answers
Looking for simple videos with easy-to-follow interpersonal interactions with a white/plain background, with limited camera angle changes. Use of sarcasm or other subtle social cues appreciated.
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posted by lettuchi
on Apr 24, 2011 -
5 answers
