Add to Favorites
Contact Us
      Home ESL Activities ESL Curriculum ESL Games Students Testimonials

The Brain-Based Learning Theory 
Neuroscience has disclosed important information about the brain and how it learns. It has uncovered "unprecedented revolution of knowledge about the human brain, including how it processes, interprets and stores information" (Sousa, 1998). The new brain-based learning theory "require[s] that we now shift our focus to the learning process" (Sousa, 1998). This information can be used to "facilitate learning" (Jackson, 1999). This paper will discuss how technology can be used to support a brain-based finding that "emotions" are critical to learning.


How learners feel is very important to their learning process. If a learner is enthusiastic and doesn't feel stress, learning will take place. If the conditions are negative and the learner doesn't feel safe, learning will not take place. Neuroscientists discovered this information about the learning process as they were researching the way the brain learns.


Is the learning process the same as it was in the past? According to David Sousa, "yesterday's methods worked well for yesterday's students. But the student brain of today is quite different from the one of 15 years ago" (Sousa, 1998). It is therefore necessary to study how students' brains work today so that it is possible to enhance their learning. "Today's children spend much more time with television and other electronic media than with their parents" (Sousa, 1998). Technology can cater to these neuroscience brain-based findings in the computer lab as well as for online learning courses. Various Microsoft tools such as PowerPoint presentations, Excel, Word processor and other software with multimedia functions can be used by the teacher and students instead of using conventional outdated class tools. Since today's brain needs a TV like environment, both sound and animations can be used to suit today's learner. Lessons can be prepared by utilizing the information that is readily available on the internet.

Full Story

Negative Infiltration of English
By William Roger Jones

I am an ESL teacher. A while back, one of my youthful students blurted out an `F-word' phrase and asked me the meaning. Though I have not virgin ears, I was taken aback, but quickly retorted, `You don't need to know that; I don't teach that kind of English in this class!'

I didn't think about it again, until the recent review of three `English expressions' books, by Korean authors, which were besmirched with such phrases. The necessity of indelicate language, the `need to know' for students who were grasping at the outermost reaches of language, raises questions of appropriateness, as well as moral and culture issues.

Full Story

Want to submit an article?
Let us know -- send your article or idea, feedback, suggestions to
brian@efl-esl.com

FREE Stuff!



You receive:

  • Exercises using comparatives such as the slowest, the hungriest, faster than
  • Variations include Question and Answer Bingo
  • Bonus written exercise using comparatives
  • Bonus word order exercise

    MORE>>>
FREE ESL ACTIVITY

Tsunamis strikes Asia

Intermediate/HIgh Beginner

The world's biggest earthquake in 40 years hit southern Asia causing wide scale death and destruction across swathes of Southern and South-East Asia. The quake, which measured 8.9 on the Richter Scale, occurred off of the Northeast coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, and unleashed killer tidal waves that swamped towns and communities across the region. It washed away whole communities and has so far cost 11,000 lives. The enormity of the tsunami means the death toll will rise. The tsunami, reported to be ten metres high, have devastated large parts of the Maldives, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. All of these places were packed with Christmas holiday makers, many of whom it is feared have lost their lives. In Tamil Nadu, India, five thousand fishermen are missing. In Thailand hundreds of holiday makers were swept out of their hotel rooms. The governments of Sri Lanka and the Maldives have declared national states of emergency. The waves traveled at hundreds of kilometers per hour and left the people of the affected areas with very little time to move to safer ground.

Warm Ups and Discussion  

1. CHAT:  Talk in pairs or groups about earthquakes / tsunami / natural disasters /  South-East Asia  / how to help / .

To make things more dynamic, try telling your students they only have one minute (or 2) on each chat topic before changing topics / partners. Change topic / partner frequently to energize the class.

2. MY COUNTRY: Students talk to each other about the natural disasters that occur in their countries and how they deal with them.

3. MANMADE DISASTERS: Brainstorm a list of manmade disasters for students to talk about in pairs (greenhouse gasses, deforestation, Chernobyl, Bhopal, oil tanker spills, species extinction ..)

4. NATURAL DISASTERS: Brainstorm a list of natural disasters for students to talk about in pairs (earthquake, tidal wave, hurricane, typhoon, floods, forest fires, landslides, avalanches, volcanoes, drought .)

English Breaking News 
 

ESL Grammar Activity
The Past Tense

4 Oral and Written activities for practicing the past tense
Includes:
  • First Activity -- Picture, question and answer cut-out cards for group Question and Answer in the past tense activity. 9 Pictures, 27 questions, Answers included.
  • Second Activity -- Written and Reading Activity. 1 pictures with 7 sentences. Fill in the blank, change the verb tense activity.
  • Third Activity -- Picture, question and answer cut out cards for group Question and Answer in the past tense activity. 9 pictures with 29 questions. Answers included.
  • Fourth Activity -- Written and Oral activity. 4 pictures with 28 questions for practice in the past tense.

    Example questions:

    Q: Were you going to the beach (yesterday)?
    A: Yes I was going to the beach.

    Q: Were they sitting in the living room?
    A: Yes they were sitting in the he living room.

More >>>