Over the short history of the ESL/EFL field various methods have been proposed. Each method has in turn fallen out of favor and has been replaced with a new one. Audiolingualism, functionalism, communicative paradigms, and now the fad is "task-based syllabuses." In his critique of the task-based syllabus Sheen (1994:127) points out, "frequent paradigm shifts in the field of second and foreign language teaching have not resulted in significant progress in language learning." Since no method has been proven to be more effective than another, many teachers have jumped on the "eclectic" bandwagon. Common sense would have this as the best available choice since variety is the spice of language.

Other than considering method, what can the EFL teacher do to ensure success? What follows are some DOs and DONT's that I have found to be very useful in teaching EFL in Japan. None are revolutionary; these are principles I didn't necessarily learn in ESL graduate school, but should have been taught.

1. Learn your students' names.

This cannot be overemphasized. You will be able to control your class better and gain more respect if you learn the students' names early on. If you are one who has a poor memory for names, have all the students hold up name cards and take a picture of them on the first day of class. On the second class, impress them by showing them you know all their names.

2. Establish authority from the beginning.

Expect your students to use English 100% of the time, and accept it if they only achieve 95% usage. Do not let them get away with speaking their mother tongue to communicate with their partner. Deal quickly with inappropriate conduct in a friendly yet firm manner.

3. Be overly prepared.

If you don't have a clear lesson-plan down on paper, then make sure you have a mental one. You should know about how long each activity will take and have an additional activity prepared in case you have extra time.

Full Article with 38 more tips >>>

Amy Dow Has extensive experience in not only teaching English but teaching abroad. She's earned her TEFL certificate from Winfield College in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. she has her masters in teaching from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.

She literally taught English all over the world including England, Spain, Canada, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, China, Sweden, Greece, Italy, Pakistan, India, Romania.


Amy's new book TEFL Secrets is a step-by-step guide to traveling and teaching English. Learn more >>>

ABANDONED DOGS TREATED AND ADOPTED

Charley and Parker, two three month old Weimaraner puppies were thrown from a bridge and left for dead in Oklahoma.

Eventually they were found and taken to Cheri Kollman, a veterinarian in Kansas for surgery and rehabilitation. She named them after jazz great, Charley Parker. She offered her services for free. The puppies needed two surgeries for broken legs and daily physical rehabilitation. Parker had a knee rebuilt and put in place using bone material from his sister Charley.

They were put up for adoption and hundreds of people responded. The Kansas City shelter did background checks, and reference checks to make sure that sister Charley and her brother Parker were adopted to the best home possible together.

 Michael Wonnacott and Michele Jarvis-Wonnnacott stood out from the crowd of would be adoptees. They run an animal obedience company and own several dogs.  

Charley and Parker now share a bed with another Weimaraner, “Mya”, a Pomeranian/Pug, “Pepper”, and a Labrador/Pit Bull, “Dylan” at the home of Michael and Michele in Victoria, Canada.

Vocabulary List

• Veterinarian-animal doctor
• surgeries-operations
• physical rehabilitation-muscle, soft tissue and joint therapy
• background check-finding out about a person’s record and character
• reference check- getting in touch with a person’s friends about them
• animal obedience company- obedience training business

Idioms

• Left for dead- dropped off and presumed dead
• Jazz great- a well known Jazz musician
• Put up for adoption- listed as being ready to adopt
• Stood out from the crowd- noticed above others

Listening Comprehension Exercise. 

Read the news story above and have students fill in the blanks

1. _______ and _______, two three month old ___________ puppies were thrown from a bridge and left for dead in Oklahoma.

2. Cheri Kollman, a veterinarian in ______ ____ named them after ____ _____, Charley Parker.

3. Parker had a knee _______and put in place using _____ _______ from his sister Charley.

 4. They were put up for ________ and hundreds of people _________.

5. The Kansas City _______ did _________ checks, and _________ checks to make sure that sister Charley and her brother Parker were adopted to the best home possible.

6. Michael Wonnacott and Michele Jarvis-Wonnnacott run an animal _________ ________ and own several dogs. 

7. Charley and Parker now share a bed with another __________, “Mya”, a __________/___, “Pepper”, and a _______/__ ___, “Dylan”.

Fill in the Blanks Answers:

1. Charley, Parker, Weimaraner
   
   
2. Kansas City, jazz great
   
   
3. replacement, bone material

4. adoption, responded

    5. shelter, background, reference

    6. obedience company

     7.  Weimaraner, Pomeranian/Pug, Labrador/Pit Bull

 Warm up Discussions

In your pair or group, decide which of the topics below is the most interesting. Chat about the topics you liked, and knew about, then chat about the ones you didn’t like or know about. Change topics and partners often.

1.  Abused Animals – Many animals are abused or abandoned. Some are lucky enough to be rescued and find good homes. Should abandoned and abused animals be taken to veterinary clinics or to shelters? Which would they do better in and why? Which one would give these animals the best chance to survive and why?

2. Donation of Veterinarian Surgery – When veterinarians donate their services to treat abused animals, they use supplies and equipment. The cost is passed on to other customers, or covered by the veterinarian themselves. Would it be better to charge breeders and pet stores a surtax in order to cover these costs?

3. Adoption Standards for Abused Animals- Animal Shelters put prospective owners of abused animals through a background check and record check. Why do you think they do this? Should they check more or less about the people who want to adopt animals?

More Activities for Advanced Students >>>

We have now completed our Interactive Listening Comprehension Companion Modules with Full Audio.

These can be used in small groups, 1-on-1, or for 'learn at home' style learning. A complete Course in Listening Comprehension.

Fully interactive so students can repeat as many times as they need.
Full Audio.

Companion Modules for Modules 1, 2 and 3 are now available on our website.

Try out a lesson from each module!

Blog for ESL Students

Visit our newest site www.learning-english.ca and check out our BLOG.

Learning English Blog

EXPOLINGUA: November 2006 in Prague and Berlin

Stephen, George and Daisy have just returned from these conferences that hosted more than 25,000 guests. The Canadian content presented from Successful ESL and Learning English with Laughter was greeted with enthusiasm while the reasonable prices were appreciated.

The new Listening Comprehension interactive series proved to be very popular as it allows the students who need to improve their oral understanding and speaking of English to listen first, and then read the paragraphs, questions and answers.

Our other new additions, Step Up to English and the Children’s Storybook videos were received with interest.

Our small family company is growing rapidly as we introduce our unique materials to more countries of the world.

Welcome to our new ESL JOBS section which has proved to be very popular with our subscribers. Below are jobs posted on Oct. 12/06. For updates every day, please visit our website for daily updates.

• School in Bundang, Korea
  posted on December 12, 2006 10:12:37 am
  Monthly Salary: 2.1million won* determined after the interview. There are 14 foreign teachers working at the school now. This school is very professional and reliable.
• Teach in China with Aston English
  posted on December 12, 2006 10:12:14 am
  We are looking for teachers around China for the Spring terms starting in March. Contracts run from 6 months to a year or longer on request. The position is teaching, though we're also recruiting for management openings for the right candidates.
• EFL Teacher (Germany)
  posted on December 12, 2006 10:12:49 am
  General and business English to employees, in school and on company premises. CELTA and at least 2 years CELTA experience. Other work experience prior to TEFL very desirable.
• TOEFL teachers on Goeje Island -- ASAP
  posted on December 12, 2006 10:12:15 am
  We are looking for a responsible and qualified F/T native english speaking couple or friends teachers for a school from Geoje Island.
• English mother-tongue teachers (Italy)
  posted on December 12, 2006 10:12:14 am
  Inlingua Como is looking for english mother-tongue teachers from UK with degree, TEFL or RSA or CELTA qualification, over 26 years old available for an immediate start at in lingua Como.
• Private and public school positions in Taiwan
  posted on December 12, 2006 10:12:15 am
  Dewey International Consultants Ltd is the most well-known and organized agency in Taiwan offering free service to teachers and charges no agent fee from teachers. We have teaching jobs available all year round in Taiwan.
• Elementary teachers (Mexico)
  posted on December 12, 2006 10:12:58 am
  The American School of Pachuca would like to interview teachers for full time teaching jobs at the elementary level (not an ESL teaching position). You must hold a BA and be willing to relocate to the area. We offer single housing, medical insurance, assistance with moving, payment during summer, end of contract bonus and a Christmas bonus.
• Be here for Christmas: amazing positions available in Korea
  posted on December 12, 2006 09:12:43 am
  We are searching for adventurous individuals whom wish to take a year out & experience the culture of another country. The positions are to teach conversational English to South Korean students.
• LCA International School (Japan)
  posted on December 12, 2006 09:12:51 am
  LCA International School in Kanagawa, Japan is looking for certified teachers for Elementary Division. 350,000 yen/month (Approx. $3500.00cdn/mo) + Benefits.
• Bilingual elementary school teachers wanted in Taiwan
  posted on December 12, 2006 09:12:00 am
  Teach in a bilingual international school right outside Hsinchu city. Our school level is close to native English speakers.
• Public school teaching positions in South Korea
  posted on December 11, 2006 10:12:14 am
  TENET Korea has won a competitive bid from the Government Board of Education to fill 47 EFL/ESL teaching positions at public middle and high schools throughout Jeollabuk, Chungcheongbuk and Chungcheongnam provinces in South Korea.
• Academic Directory, EFL Program (Saudi Arabia)
  posted on December 11, 2006 10:12:31 am
  EFL Academic Director (Sr. Technical English Advisor, STEA) Job Description: The Sr. Technical English Advisor is responsible for supervision and administration of English language programs, instructors and staff, and curriculum development for the King Abdullah Military Academy and Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• English teachers for Korea
  posted on December 11, 2006 10:12:29 am
  English Teachers Network, one of the leading professional recruiting agencies in Korea, is now seeking for ESL teachers.
• Director of English Language Center (UAE)
  posted on December 11, 2006 10:12:27 am
  The University of Sharjah is seeking to recruit a Director for English Language Center starting from the academic year 2007/2008. Applicants who meet the criteria listed below are invited to apply immediately.
• Teach English as a foreign language in Korea
  posted on December 11, 2006 10:12:59 am
  Your salary will be in the range of 2.0 to 2.2million won a month, depending on your qualifications and experience. You will be paid monthly, either directly in cash to you or to your Korean bank account.
• Director of Studies / Service Manager (China)
  posted on December 11, 2006 10:12:43 am
  Wall Street Institute, the global English training provider, and a subsidiary of the Carlyle Group, one of the largest companies in the world, is developing a chain of English language training centers in China.
• Teach English in Korea
  posted on December 11, 2006 10:12:27 am
  Qualifications: To qualify for the E2 work visa and a teaching job as an ESL instructor, you must be an "English native speaker", which means that you have to come from the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or South Africa. You must also have a University degree. You are not required to have teaching qualifications.

This Newsletter is brought to you by Learning English with Laughter Ltd.!
http://www.efl-esl.com The author can be contacted at:
brian@efl-esl.com or by visiting:http://www.efl-esl.com/contact.htm
No part of this document may be reproduced without the permission
of the author. (C) Learning English with Laughter Ltd.  2006 All rights reserved.

***************************************************