Changing Education Paradigms

ESL Discussions

ESL Discussions, thoughts on Yukio Tsuda and English Study in JapanYukio Tsuda is a professor at the University of Tsukuba. He earned a doctorate in speech communication at Southern Illinois University.

In his ESL Discussions, Tsuda argues:

“English has its dark side that represents ruthless power.”

Tsuda doesn`t feel that having English skills is important for Japanese, (even though, he himself went to a lot of trouble to get them.)


Though I am an English teacher, I have always felt that Esperanto the international language designed to bridge the gap between peoples, was the fairest way to go. It hasn`t been widely used, accepted, nor studied however.


What have people like Tsuda done to promote it?

Ｒｅａｄ　Ｍｏｒｅ

Cross Cultural Visual Communication Study Requires Japanese Students wanted for an Experiment

Give your university students a chance to receive 1000 yen for participating in a University of Wales online experiment. Participants must be university students (undergrad, masters, PhD), Japanese citizens, and have good English skills (TOEIC 500+ but they do NOT need to have taken the TOEIC test). Please email the researcher (Will REEB) today at: dpf305@tsd.ac.uk if you are teaching English to students who might meet this requirements and you are willing to give them an invitation. Each participant needs to be invited by a teacher.

 The researcher will send you an invitation to distribute to your students. The research is a cross-cultural visual communication study involving China, Great Britain, Japan, and the USA. No questions are asked about sensitive or controversial topics. Students from universities in Japan have already participated and seem to have enjoyed the experience.

My advice on How to Learn ESL?

My advice on How to Learn ESL?

by Cheema Beckham

A famous Czech proverb says, “Learn a new language and get a new soul”. Learning new languages opens new windows towards life and teaches new things about diverse cultures, societies and traditions. It is always advantageous to learn new languages other than your mother tongue and learning English as a secondary language is one of the most popular practices in non-English speaking countries.

This trend of learning English as a secondary language or ESL is increasing in South-Eastern Asian countries and especially in Japan. Japanese youth are highly inclined towards studying English and to being proficient in both spoken and written forms of the language.

Read More

Japan and its standardized test-based education system

The Japanese Education System

by Kevin Burns
(Kanagawa, Japan)

The Japanese Education System


"Hensachi means `deviation value,` and is a quantifying method that determines one`s relative rank, not actual ability. Hensachi status, however, painfully suggests to many students that they are inferior to others. Its impact on them and on their attitude to life is so strong that it often lingers throughout their lifetime."

--p. 79, "Mental Health Challenges Facing Contemporary Japanese Society, The `Lonely People` by Yuko Kawanishi


The Japanese Education System

For some positives in Japanese education, one need look no further than the local kindergarten or the local elementary school. For everything other than English education, they are doing a good to great job of educating the children of Japan. Classes are creative, teachers are caring, on the whole, and students are happy and learning.

Were the whole education system to be like this from kindergarten to the end of university, the Japanese people would be happier, healthier and more productive, both in GDP and creative terms.     Read More

Dave Johnson wants to know about your favorite school in Japan

Hi, I`m Dave Johnson and I would like to know about your favorite English schools, universities, colleges or other institutions that teach English in Japan. I want to thank Kevin for giving me the opportunity to gather more information about which schools you think are the best in Japan.
People should know! And people should be able to avoid the bad schools by applying to the good ones.


Tell us why they are good? Have you taught there or has your friend, or relative. What have you heard?

Read about some more great places to teach in Japan, and tell Dave and the world about your favorites!

Teaching Jobs Japan

Teaching Jobs Japan --  Greenlist of English Schools Q-Z

Richard Burton English Academy in Kanagawa

At Richard Burton English Academy they teach children to adults and they provide the following services: English Conversation classes, translation, interpretation, writing, rewriting, proof-reading service, material design, overseas study advice centre, tutor centre supporting Japanese school subjects, TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS etc.
I know Richard personally and see him several times a week.He is an honest and reliable person. He has a great wit andis a dedicated teacher. He may need some teachers for vacation relief or possible part-time work. I highly recommend his school.

Read More

Good English Schools Japan Schools A-E

Pictured MIL

Good English Schools Japan abound, but you want to be sure you choose to teach English in Japan for a good English school and not for one of the mediocre or terrible schools, at also exist.

Hopefully our lists of schools will help you in your search by giving you a good idea of the kind of situation you will be teaching English in Japan in.

But you need to know what you want? How many hours do you want to work? Do you want to be friends with your students or not?   Some schools forbid this?

What is important to you?    Check out the Greenlist of great schools to teach for A - E

Teach in Japan: the Big Schools

Teach in Japan: the Big Schools

The big school chains here, are like any large company you will work for back home. They are big and somewhat impersonal. You will be one of many personnel just like you would be back home.


Some find it feels lonely and they feel like a number at a large English school. I guess it depends on the person.
I enjoyed my colleagues for the most part. A few, I wish their mother had taken the pill.
But let`s not talk about Frank.....Ooops, now I`ve published his name!

Where do you want to teach?

Our List of Great Schools F-P

English School Japan, if you want to teach in Japan, be sure to check all of our lists of English schools. Teaching English in Japan can be a great endeavor if you know what you are looking for. Hopefully our lists of good schools in Japan will help!

Check out these top schools in Japan!

Advanced English Lessons

For an advanced English lesson there are so many options. Teaching English in Japan becomes easier when the students can handle many activities - so what you can do increases.

Debates

You can have a debate. You will probably need to pre-teach how to debate though, as Japanese usually don`t have much experience with this. Japan being a land of consensus rather than debate.

Reading Circles

We outline how to do reading circles here. They are a great way to get students reading and talking.

With so many options what should you choose?

Also, we are graced with an interview with English School owner Todd Lenkowski, who talks
about teaching and life in Japan.

Where can I find a good Spelling Bee game?

Where can I find a good Spelling Bee game?

by Lyanne Thomas

Is good spelling important? Of course it is, in writing a document or maybe an article correct spelling counts. How could you expect someone to take your work seriously when you can't spell words correctly. Isn't it a shame to submit work filled with spelling errors? How then do we enhance our spelling skills?
For our non-native English speakers reading this: Have you ever heard of a “Spelling Bee?” It is a contest or a competition where the players are asked to spell English words.
The English words are categorized into different difficulty levels. Words also varies depending on the age or grade and year level of the contestants. It is a good activity to develop and enhance vocabulary and spelling skills.

Read More

TEFL Course Spain Reviews

TEFL Course Spain Reviews, which courses are good?

by Lyanne Thomas

The exciting country of Spain is one of the leading destinations for TEFL courses hence it is recognized as the Mecca of English language teaching. When taking a TEFL course in Spain it is likewise useful to be able to use some Spanish words during conversations with the locals and so it is highly recommended to take A TEFL course coupled with some Spanish lessons.
Spain's favorite city, Barcelona allows you to earn your TEFL certification in a city located on the Mediterranean Coast of Spain. Barcelona is not a renowned tourist destination for nothing. While taking a TEFL course, one can marvel at the great architecture Barcelona has to offer and enjoy scenic views in the beautiful beaches of the city.   Read More

First grade spelling words

First grade spelling words, what first graders should knowby Lyanne Thomas
First grade is the first school year after kindergarten, and most first graders are usually 6-7 years of age. First graders are taught basic reading skills and simple writing such as writing short sentences and spelling simple words correctly. It is in first grade that kids pick up a boat-load of new words.
Knowing new words means understanding their meaning, using them in a sentence and spelling them correctly. Every first grader knows what a spelling class is, in this class they are not only taught how to use the words in a sentence but most especially on how to spell them correctly.

Read More

印刷できるボキャブラリーフラッシュカード

印刷できるボキャブラリーフラッシュカード

印刷できるボキャブラリーフラッシュカードを見つけて使おう

by Sandra Johnson

フラッシュカードは新しい単語を学んだり、記憶するために長く使えるものです。 実際、あなたや誰かがボキャブラリーを教える方法としても証明されています。 都合のいいことに、これらのカードは無料で、オンラインで簡単に見つけられるのです。 どこで見つけるか、そしてどう効果的に使用するかを知ることが秘訣でしょう。   Read More

Head of Nova goes to the Slammer

The former president of English conversation school Nova was handed a two-year prison sentence for corporate embezzlement by the Osaka High Court on Dec. 2.
Nozomu Sahashi, 59, had been convicted of the offence by a lower court and sentenced to a three-year, six-month prison term in August last year. The high court decision on Sahashi's appeal confirmed his conviction for embezzling money from employees, but reduced the sentence as the funds were used to pay back customer deposits and Sahashi did not himself profit from taking the money. Sahashi intends to appeal.

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一般的な文法における質疑応答

一般的な文法における質疑応答

英語を学ぶうえで文法は本当に重要なのでしょうか。答えはイエス、です。 文法は言葉を結びつけるものです。言葉が配列され、文章が組み立てられているのです。 間違った文法の文章では、書き手や話し手が本当に言いたいことを間違って伝えて しまうこともあるのです。英語を学ぶのなら、正しい文法の基礎と知識を得ることから はじめなくてはいけません。正しい文章の組み立てるための知識、要するに正確な文法を 身に着けなくては、英語をうまく話せるようになりません。文法を学ぶことは少々退屈かも しれません。  Read More

Science Vocabulary

Science Vocabulary, help your English students in Japan to learn more about science, and learn new scientific words as well. Whether you teach English in Japan or teach science elsewhere, the resources and advice on this page should help you!

I have taught some company classes and we have discussed scientific topics, and I sometimes get a pharmacist or a doctor as a student. I once worked with a doctor in Nagoya and helped him with a talk he was to give on a medical procedure involving the eye.

It can be a struggle to find good materials about science for EFL/ESL students. Some of the resources listed here should help.  Read More

How Do I Become An English Teacher

How Do I Become An English Teacher
 by: Tom White

A commonly sighted long term goal for those with a passion for the English language and a love of culture and travel is to become an English teacher to non-native speakers. What's more, there is a constant demand for English as a language to be both spoken and written, and for this reason it is becoming increasingly easy to become a teacher of English as a foreign language.

Gaining The Qualifications

Teaching English in non-English speaking countries requires some form of qualification, although the requirements are far less arduous than those of English teachers in English-speaking countries. It is important to have a TEFL qualification to stand you in good stead when teaching English abroad. On top of that, it may also be a good idea that you ensure you have a good grasp of the fundamentals of sentence structure and grammar, and that you are able to express these concepts verbally to your students. On a personal level, becoming an English teacher requires patience and dedication, as well as a little knowledge of the native languages you'll be dealing with on a daily basis.

Finding a Career

Teaching English will always be in demand, and there might not even be any need to move home to find a career. Due to immigration, particularly in University towns or in places where employment is provided on an international level, you may find that there is a demand for English language skills in your own home-town. Alternatively, many European countries are finding increasing markets for English tuition with the expansion of the European Union allowing for increased integration of various nationalities within English-speaking cultures. When looking to establish yourself as an English teacher, you generally have two options. The first is to consider setting up a business on your own or with a partner to provide one-on-one tuition as required. Obviously, this requires a whole host of other management and budgeting skills on top of your actual qualifications, so it's important to bear that in mind if you see this as a viable option. Alternatively there are numerous high-profile international language schools constantly on the look-out for those eager to pursue a career in teaching English. It may be a prudent idea, particularly from a financial viewpoint, to look for a job first before leaping out into the world of business. This will also help you build up a level of experience of the industry whilst allowing you to refine your techniques, which will ultimately present you with the best chance in your standalone business enterprise.

Becoming an English teacher may seem a glamorous career with plenty prospects for promotion and success. By proceeding through the proper channels and learning your trade, you can eventually find yourself teaching English on a full time basis, leaving you with a fulfilling and satisfying career for the long term. for more information please visit http://www.tefltom.com/, http://www.tefltom.com/how_to_become_a_teacher

About The Author
Tom White writes articles for teaching English abroad. He also gives valuable information about teaching english as a foreign language , TEFL courses, TEFL jobs are accessible on the internet.

Requirements For Teaching English

Requirements For Teaching English
 by: Matthew Kepnes

People who are interesting in teaching English overseas come from many different professions and backgrounds. A lot of times they are unsure about how to go about becoming an English teacher overseas. Fortunately, the process to become an ESL teacher is pretty straightforward. You don’t need to have a lot of skills or requirements to become an English teacher in another different country. Though rules and regulations vary from country to country in general, a potential English teacher will need to have the following credentials: They need to be a native English speaker, they must have a 4 year college degree, a TEFL certificate, and some working experience. However, in many countries, you don’t need experience or a TEFL- you simply need a university degree. Some jobs (not countries) will ask that you have a TEFL if you don’t have any experience. Furthermore, if you wish to teach at one of the many international schools, you will definitely need to be a certified teacher with experience teaching.

Those wishing to teach English in a different country should also have qualities such as patience and commitment. It doesn’t matter what type of teacher you are, you need to communicate to your students in a friendly and approachable manner. A good student/teacher relationship is essential for a child to learn a new language, especially when you are in a foreign country and your students don’t understand a lot of what you say and might not be that interested in learning English. If you are patient and creative and keep the class interesting, you will find your students will be much more motivated. If you are bilingual and can speak the native language then it’ll be easy to make the subject interesting. ESL teachers need to have many different skills besides just the experience and degrees that schools and countries want. Teachers need people and professional skills in order to succeed at being an ESL educator.

Beyond these soft qualities, potential teachers need a number of other things. For starters, they have to be from a native speaking country. Employers won’t hire you if you are not even if you are fluent in the language. Additionally, unless you are in countries where they desperately need teachers, you will also have to have a university degree. It doesn’t matter what the degree is in so long as you have one. Moreover, in some countries, like Korea and Japan, you will need to have a TEFL degree. This is a teaching course that teaches you how to teach English. Most countries and schools don’t require you to have experience. If you wish to teach to businesses or in international schools, you will need a master’s degree and have previous teaching experience.

ESL teachers teach students a language that is spoken around the world and that helps them in all their endeavors. Teachers need to have many skills to be an English teacher if they want to succeed. Often people just go overseas with no skills or desire to teach English and end up quitting soon after because they are unprepared for the experience. Overall, it does not take a lot to become an ESL teacher and if you are looking to leave your country and work in a foreign land, it is one of the easiest jobs to get and one of the most abundant. However, know that while being a native speaker is sometimes all you need, teaching is a lot of work and if you are not prepared for the job, you will burn out quickly.

About The Author
Matthew Kepnes has taught English in Asia for over two years. You can find out more about him at his website http://www.howtoteachenglishoverseas.com

Science Vocabulary

Science Vocabulary

Science Vocabulary, help your English students in Japan to learn more about science, and learn new scientific words as well. Whether you teach English in Japan or teach science elsewhere, the resources and advice on this page should help you!

I have taught some company classes and we have discussed scientific topics, and I sometimes get a pharmacist or a doctor as a student. I once worked with a doctor in Nagoya and helped him with a talk he was to give on a medical procedure involving the eye.

It can be a struggle to find good materials about science for EFL/ESL students. Some of the resources listed here should help.     Read More

How to increase your Scientific Vocabulary

How to increase your Scientific Vocabulary

by Aarti Thomas

Various strategies that help students quickly connect to new words are used to increase science vocabulary. Using rote memorization and recall of vocabulary provides only short term gains in improving scientific vocabulary. A multi-dimensional approach is a better approach, using the help of hands-on and minds-on experiences.

Graphic organizers

Graphic organizers help students learn science words using different contexts. The concept definition map is created by placing the science word in the center of a science concept graphic so that the student understands the word using their previous knowledge.   Read More

Some Good ESL Resources for Teachers

Some Good ESL Resources for Teachers

by Aarti Thomas

ESL teachers face the daunting task of teaching English to students whose mother language is not English. This can be very difficult as not only do the teachers need skill and patience to teach ESL kids and adults, they have to spend lots of time and effort preparing lessons.
Teachers have to look for lesson material that will not only motivate their students, but should also be interesting enough to keep the students interested throughout their lesson. On an average, ESL teachers have to spend about 2 hours everyday preparing for their lessons.  Read More

ESL Resources for Teachers

ESL Resources for Teachers - How to increase your Scientific Vocabulary

by Aarti Thomas

Various strategies that help students quickly connect to new words are used to increase scientific vocabulary. Using rote memorization and recall of vocabulary provides only short term gains in improving scientific vocabulary. A multi-dimensional approach is a better approach, using the help of hands-on and minds-on experiences.
Graphic organizers
Graphic organizers help students learn science words using different contexts. The concept definition map is created by placing the science word in the center of a science concept graphic so that the student understands the word using their previous knowledge.   Read More

English Grammar for Kids

English Grammar for Kids

by Aarti Thomas

It is not that easy teaching English grammar for kids as it has many nuances the child has to learn, and the kids find learning all these rules rather boring. So here are some tips to help you teach kids English grammar.
1. You can make your students learn to properly use English grammar only if you yourself are a role model to them. As a teacher you thus have to make it a point to use proper grammar in your speech and writing, and don’t make mistakes in subject-verb agreement. This way, students learn how to implement grammar in their speech and writing, and thus, develop grammar rules on their own.  Read More

The Problems of Xenophobia and the Teaching of English at Japanese Universities

The Problems of Xenophobia
and the Teaching of English at Japanese Universities
Alex Shishin (Kobe)


Japan has a long history of fascination and delight with things foreign. It has an equally long history of suspicion of foreign influences and foreigners themselves. This contradiction extends into every facet of Japanese life. It is significantly present in Japanese education. Since the Meiji Era - but especially in postwar era-Japan's need for learning English has created the need for importing foreign "native speaker" English teachers, most of whom teach part time at universities, companies and in private language schools. These foreign teachers, especially if they are white, may well be lionized almost like celebrities; but they are also likely to become throwaways, willingly or not. Virtually all foreign English teachers face workplace discrimination in Japan; in the interests of space, however, this paper will be limited primarily to xenophobia as it relates to Japanese higher education. Discrimination against non-Japanese in higher education has been dubbed "Academic Apartheid." The term was first used, to the best of my knowledge by this writer in a 1986 article in the Asahi Evening News. It was popularized by Ivan Hall's book Cartels of the Mind (1997). Read More

Post your Resume

It`s free!

Post your resume!

Let employers know you want a job!So many teachers have sent us their resume that we realized we needed to provide this service to help you find a good teaching position in Japan and for employers to find good teachers. All free of charge. Be sure to tell schools what kind of teaching position you would like. This is for teachers only.

Please post once per year only, thanks!

Some people like to send it 2-4 times, please don`t.
Please post for teaching positions in Japan. You can include a photo if you want to. We get thousands of visitors to this site every month, and many of them are employers in Japan.

Post your Resume

Free Grammar Check

Free Grammar Check Online to Educate Children

by Sandra Johnson

Parents will do well to make smart use of the internet to help children extract more for their education. Do not make the mistake of encouraging kids to only use the web for educational assistance. You will never know when the children will start using the internet as a shortcut for copying material online as homework.
If you don't want such complications, though you should utilize online resources, you should make sure that the child does not get used to nor addicted to such solutions.

Read More

Free Vocabulary Test

Finding and Using a Free Vocabulary Test

by Sandra Johnson

A vocabulary test can really help you figure out where you are in your vocabulary lessons; whether you are self-taught or being tutored by someone else. However, you need to know how to first find the tests in order to use them. You then need to fully understand how best to use the tests to help you further your education in English vocabulary. This piece will teach you how to do both of these things.   Read More

More Free Grammar Worksheets

More Free Grammar Worksheets – Great Option for Teachers and Parents Alike


What steps can you take as a teacher to help your student master languages better? You can make use of the following ideas and solutions to help your student become good at English and other languages.
Provide a clear and concise framework of what the student is expected to achieve in a specific time frame. Simply put, make sure that the student understands the curriculum that he or she is intended to master. More often than not, students understand what the curriculum is intended to achieve only after they finish writing the exam and clear the year.  Read More

Christmas Vocabulary

Festival Season - A Great Way to Help Your Child Learn Christmas Vocabulary

Advice for Parents or Teachers, Teaching English



All children love Christmas for the same reasons - holidays, lots of fun, toys and good things to eat. However, as a parent,or a teacher, it is your duty to recognize that Christmas is a great time to enhance your child's vocabulary. There are numerous tips that you can use to improve your child's Xmas vocabulary.
Along with flashcards, software, textbooks, storybooks and otheropportunities to teach vocabulary that teachers often use, parents can do things like the following.

English Teachers Episode 3 " Hail Mary"

English Teachers Episode 3   "Hail Mary"

English Teachers - Episode 2 "(Un)equilibrium"

English Teachers - Episode 1 "First Days Suck"

Vocabulary Activities

Vocabulary Activities – Step By Step Approach For All Teachers And Parents

by Sandra Johnson

It is a common misconception that activities for all students and youngsters should always involve oral lessons. Well, there is nothing wrong in using vocabulary exercises that involve lots of writing. Asking your students to write an essay covering 10 - 20 specific words is a fantastic way of helping them explore their own knowledge of the language. Such activities can be classified into different categories depending on various factors.   Read More

Vocabulary Cartoons

Vocabulary Cartoons – Cool Way of Making Language Lessons less Intimidating

by Sandra Johnson

What are the advantages of using cartoons in your teaching process? Well, experienced teachers will confirm that using a bit of humor always goes a long way in keeping the class interested. When you are teaching something as theoretical as the difference between a transitive verb and an dverb, making smart use of humor can make a huge difference to the enthusiasm of the students. This is where cartoons prove to be useful.  Read More

Printable Vocabulary Flashcards

Finding and Using Printable Vocabulary Flashcards

by Sandra Johnson

Flashcards can really help you learn new words and memorize them for long term usage. In fact, this is one of the proven ways that you or someone you are teaching can learn their vocabulary. Best of all, these cards are often free and easy to find online. The trick is in knowing where to look and how to use them effectively.    Read More

How to Learn English Vocabulary

How to Learn English Vocabulary

Learning English vocabulary can be rather difficult. It is not made any easier by the fact that many words have several possible meanings. There are also many homonyms, which are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. All of this complication makes the English language one of the most difficult languages to learn, and trying to learn English vocabulary is just one part of that.

Read More

Understanding English Spelling Rules

Understanding English Spelling Rules

by Sandra Johnson

There are so many spelling rules that it can be very difficult to learn all of them. However, if you can learn most of the rules, you will have a much easier time spelling new words. It will also be easier for you to spell words that may be difficult for you now. Of course, there seem to be exceptions to every rule, but this is a great place to start improving your spelling habits.

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Post Your Resume for Teaching Positions in Japan

Post your resume on the form below. Let employers know you want a job!
So many teachers have sent us their resume that we realized we needed to provide this service to help you find a good teaching position in Japan and for employers to find good teachers. All free of charge. Be sure to tell schools what kind of teaching position you would like. This is for teachers only.


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My friend wasn`t fired for this children`s English lesson! (Bottom)

Be Careful with those Allergy Meds!
Comedy - antihistamine can be very strong!

This is what happened to a good friend of mine. (I love his hair incidentally!) He has allergies and he ODed on his allergy meds.  Read More

The Vehicles Song by Maple Leaf Publishing

How Tough Can 2nd Grade Spelling Words Be?

How Tough Can 2nd Grade Spelling Words Be?

How to get involved more with educating your own children at home
and
Advice to relate to parents if you teach children

by Sandra Johnson

There was a time when education was not given any importance what-so-ever. Then, people presumed that education was to be learned at home alone. After that, people realized that educational institutions were essential for good quality learning.
Nowadays, people realize that education cannot be restricted to a single entity or organization. Rather, home schooling is equally important. Learning 2nd grade spelling words in the comforts of your house is a lot different from learning things at school.

Parents often make the mistake of thinking that home schooling that involves lessons on 2nd grade spelling will not be very difficult.  Read More

Common Grammar Questions and Answers

Common Grammar Questions and Answers
Is grammar really important in learning the English language? Well, the answer is yes. Grammar is what connects the language together. It is the way a language is formatted or a sentence is structured.
Incorrect grammar sentences often convey a different meaning than what the speaker or writer really wants to say. To learn the English language one must start with a good grammar foundation or knowledge. No one becomes a good writer or a good speaker without knowledge of correct sentence structure or in short; correct grammar.  Read More

Types of Difficult Spelling Words

Types of Difficult Spelling Words
It is said that learning English is harder than learning any other language, largely because of our difficult spelling. There are many words that are difficult to read or spell due to rules, exceptions to the rules, silent letters, and homonyms. Many of the most difficult spelling words are easily placed into three different categories. If you focus on one category at a time, it may help you to memorize and understand the spelling of these words.   Read More

Spelling Games for Kids

Spelling Games for Kids – Keep It Fast and Competitive to Enjoy Great Results

by Sandra Johnson

The best teacher is one who can educate kids without letting them realize that they are learning. Such lessons are retained forever because it is not simply memorized for marks. Rather, the lessons are understood instinctively and form part of the consciousness of the child. You may find it difficult to remember things that you learned when you attended school as a kid.     Read More

1st Grade Spelling Words:

1st Grade Spelling Words: An Easy to Follow Teaching Guide

by Sandra Johnson

One of the keys to teaching correct spelling is repetition. Repetition can be quite boring and you do not want to lose the interest of your students. When it comes to teaching 1st grade spelling words you are going to want to put the words into themed lists. Keep in mind that children are easily distracted and that too much information can make them lose interest.

Sets of Words with Similar Ending
If the words are related to one another, it will be easier for the student to memorize and commit them to memory. This technique can also add an element of fun to learning if the words rhyme or are in fun themes such as Halloween words or Christmas words. Here are several 1st grade words that you can try with your class or own kids. These are in sets of related words based on their endings such as –an, -en, -end.      Read More

TESOL Jobs Australia

TESOL Jobs Australia

TESOL Jobs Australia - There was a time when people used to say that teaching is not a paying profession. Well, now the situation is different, if you can find a decent TESOL job you can earn a decent amount of money every month.

by A. Khalidman

Teaching English has become a rapidly growing profession, the demand for teachers is high, and the salaries offered are good. Australia is a very good place to start a TESOL career. If you are searching for TESOL jobs in Australia, the following websites might be of assistance to you.

Read More

TEFL Madrid: Have you thought of studying it there?

>Eikaiwa 1, the site for Japanese teachers of English and for Japanese studying English in
Japan or abroad!

TEFL Madrid - In the past few years, the demand for English teachers in Spain has increased very rapidly. Madrid, one the biggest and the most interesting cities, is also the capital of Spain, and has a lot of TEFL jobs for the professional.

If you are looking for a TESOL job in Madrid, here are some online resources that might assist your search. Read More

Compass to publish new edition of David Paul's "Communicate" in 2011

Compass to publish new edition of David Paul's "Communicate" in 2011

Teaching-English-in-Japan-David-Paul" The first edition of Communicate, the classic course for teenage and adult beginners by David Paul, first published by Heinemann ELT in 1994, was a best seller in Japan and Korea for many years, and still has a very dedicated following of users. Many teachers swear by its effectiveness with Japanese junior/senior high school students and adults who have studied English for years, but still cannot communicate. Now, after 16 years, a new edition is to be published by Compass Publishing.
Read More

The Real Voice of Japanese Students

Win an all expenses paid teacher development course in Cambridge next summer

Win an all expenses paid teacher development course in Cambridge next summer

Teaching-English-in-Japan-JALT" Cambridge ESOL and Bell are inviting English language teachers all over the world to submit their inspiring stories for the chance to win a place on a teacher development course at Bell Teacher Campus in Cambridge next August.

The 2010/11 competition is open to non-native speakers of English who have to submit no more than 150 words on how they have overcome a challenge when teaching English. Six winning entries will be selected, each consisting of an expenses paid trip to Cambridge to take part in a two-week residential teacher development course run by Bell at Homerton College.

The deadline for the competition – which opens 16 November – is GMT midnight 1 March 2011.

Visit the Cambridge ESOL website for more details.

Ex-Nova president sentenced to 2-year prison term for embezzlement

National News
Ex-Nova president sentenced to 2-year prison term for embezzlement
Former Nova President Nozomu Sahashi. (Mainichi)


OSAKA -- The former president of English conversation school Nova was handed a two-year prison sentence for corporate embezzlement by the Osaka High Court on Dec. 2.

Nozomu Sahashi, 59, had been convicted of the offence by a lower court and sentenced to a three-year, six-month prison term in August last year. The high court decision on Sahashi's appeal confirmed his conviction for embezzling money from employees, but reduced the sentence as the funds were used to pay back customer deposits and Sahashi did not himself profit from taking the money. Sahashi intends to appeal. Read More

Presentations at the Kyushu Expo this weekend

Presentations at the Kyushu Expo this weekend

(from David Paul`s Newsletter)

10:00-10:45

Keiko Willhite
Teaching adults: How to cut your preparation time by 75%

Riaz Donaldson
Red Rocket Readers: Launch into literacy

Cynthia Daugherty
Writing about the world around us: Hints from Sei Shonagon for Japanese learners of English

Kathleen Fukuhara
Creating and maintaining motivation in the EFL classroom

David Borgeson
Elementary school ALT roundtable discussion

Cameron Taylor
Circling with personalised questions and answers

11:15-12:00

Barbara Hoskins Sakamoto
Great activities and techniques for large and small classes

Paul Shimizu
Close your books

Tristan Scholze
The importance of writing for children


Trudie Heiman
An online interactive vocabulary learning

Ai Murphy (in Japanese)
Starter kit for English teachers

Cameron Taylor
Before you read

12:30-1:15

Laurie Thain
Choosing and using musical materials in the classroom

David Paul
Motivating teenagers and adults to communicate

Greg Crawford
Readers for 'Finding Out'!

Bill Pellowe
Engage

Nicholas Webb
Offshore investment options available to teachers in Kyushu

2:15-3:00

Darren Halliday
A personalized approach to English learning

Paul Nation
What are the ten most effective vocabulary activities?

Simon Goddard Weedon
Promoting reading fluency with elementary and junior high students

Helene Jarmol Uchida
Me, myself & I


Junichi Shibata (in Japanese))
Fun and effective English activities through the PDCA cycle


Christopher Chase
The GCE Project—Facilitating authentic intercultural communication online

3:30-4:15

Kevin Churchley
The Oxford Reading Tree: A powerful key to English education

David Paul
Personal construct psychology and its implications in the classroom

Robert Murphy
Get neuro-psyched! Improve memory and learning

Rumiko Kido
The goal driven class - We can do it with WE CAN!

Yukari Kitajima (in Japanese)
What kind of English activities really work at public elementary schools?

Mike Guest
Alternative evaluation: definitions, problems, and suggestions

4:45-5:30

Paul Nation
Developing fluency across the four skills

Michael Connely
Are you smarter than a preschool student?

Michael Phillips
Mistakes are OK!

David Borgeson
Phonics Is my mistress

Tristan Scholze
School owners’ roundtable