Hi, again!

Here’s a clipart collection I stumbled across while planning one of my lessons.It’s not a huge database, but you can surely make use of some of them. They’re all drawings (line art) of basic concepts like warm, cold, fast, plus verbs , nouns, etc. On their site you’ll also find link to other websites offering royalty-free cliparts for EFL instruction

The site is: http://tell.fll.purdue.edu/JapanProj/FLClipart/

Have fun!

Fernando Guarany

Hello!

If you’ve sort of run out of ideas for writing practice, here’s a website with loads of [writing] topics to choose from:

http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/

You could possibly get your students to pick a number between 1-329. Then send them to the website.

Just an idea.

Cheers,

Fernando Guarany

Hi, everyone!

Following Dyego’s post on short stories, here’s a website I’d like to recommend: Reg and Lellow – http://www.regandlellow.com/

On their site you can find a series of “PowerPoint stories featuring the characters Reg and Lellow by Chris Roland. The stories have been designed to help young children learn English and can be used in class with pre-school, infant and primary levels.  As they have been written by an English teacher, they also have a number of pedagogical features to aid language acquisition, make in class storytelling as easy as possible for the teacher and story content easily integrated into schools’ English curriculum.”

Worth a visit.

Cheers,

Fernando

Our Teen sts and Teps will soon face some reading either from books of short stories in order to do their Book reports. For this level I´d rather have then read an online short story, because they can choose at their own pace in an environment they are quite used: the internet. I selected some websites tha t I´ve analysed to check:

http://www.rong-chang.com/easyread/index.html – Easy reading for beginners. The T can have the stories on boar and there is the possibility for LISTENING to the stories. Great choice.

http://www.eslfast.com/ - this works the same way, but for higher levels.

Now if you want to learn more about how to work with short stories for adults, I´d recommend this one, it´s full of ideas and reference: http://www.yourdictionary.com/esl/short-stories.html

Now, if you´re looking for short stories for kids, you could really take a look at these websites:

http://www.britishcouncil.org/kids-stories-short.htm

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/childrenindex.html

Come with more suggestions if you have any, and before I forget: HAPPY TEACHERS´DAY! =D

this image was borrowed from http://elsadossantos.wordpress.com/

http://elsadossantos.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/kid-reading-book.jpg?w=380&h=252

Hello, everyone!

For those who haven’t grasped what Dogme ELT is all about, this video should make it clear. =D

“And now for fun, the video, Any Given Dogme, starring Al Pacino as Scott Thornbury, directed by Lindsay Clandfield.”

Watch it here: http://www.overstream.net/view.php?oid=u6agsdm7nuex

Cheers,

Fernando

I planned two activities based on some “Going Webby course” ideas. The first one was an online activity which the sts wouls create their own cartoons. You read it well guys, the www.zimmertwins.ca is an awesome website for alowing sts to use reading and writing skills. This activity was designed for my tep 2 and tep 4 groups but you can use for adults as well. There goes the email I sent to my sts (you can borrow it as you please).

You will have 1 point for this activity and the best movie will have a prize.

The next is a project in which can take the whole semester. We (my sts and me) had a survey about what was the best way to keep sts producing written texts online. They voted for a group in Google groups ( www.googlegroups.com) so I did. Here goes the project:

Any suggestions? improvements? ideas? Just let me know.

Here’s episode 2 in the Cultura Inglesa embromation series.

If you haven’t seen episode 1, click here.

Cheers,

Fernando

Cambridge Celta 2010 in Recife, Brazil

Factsheet

CELTA 2010

When will the course take place?

From Monday 4th January to Friday 29th January, 2010.

Where?

At Cultura Inglesa, Recife (Rua Mamanguape, 411 – Boa Viagem)

How much will it cost?

The investment for the course is R$ 2.250,00 (payable in six installments of R$ 375,00 via post-dated cheques). Besides this, there is a Cambridge course assessment fee of R$ 350,00 (payable to UCLES, due on the first day of the course).

Fee for overseas candidates: US$ 1,350 + US$ 200 Course assessment fee (Total: US$ 1,550)

How can apply for the course?

There is an application form that may be downloaded from the web (click here to download this file) Once filled in, you may forward it to the Main Course Tutor (Dominic Walters, e-mail: domcity_69@hotmail.com), or fax it to the Cultura Inglesa +55 (81) 33271910).

How can I arrange for an interview if I do not live near Recife?

In cases where it is not possible to arrange face-to-face interviews, the applicant may make arrangements with the course tutors to be interviewed by phone. Once a candidate applies for the course, the course secretary will contact the applicant to arrange a convenient time for this interview.

Will I get any help in finding accommodation?

The course Secretary will try to help candidates find accommodation somewhere near the school. The usual type of accommodation chosen by candidates are bedsits or flats available in the area. The earlier he is contacted about your interest on the course, the more choices of accommodation you are likely to have. (his e-mail: cultura.inglesa@yahoo.com.br .)

Who should I contact to ask to make any other enquiries about the course?

Dominic Walters, the course Director: domcity_69@hotmail.com

When is the closing date for applications?

October 16, 2009.

When I think I´ve found all the best things on the internet I discover “Teaching English”, a website by the British Council. It was introduced to me by Ana Falcão through her lovely course “Going Webby” and I am inviting you do a “Test Drive” with me:

- The Interface:

The interface is simple and intuitive. The Opening page leads you to the highlights for the ones who do not have time to waste. In some clicks you can find what you want!

- Going deeper:

Ok, you enjoyed the website and would like to be part of the community: Go for it and Join in! But remember: This is web 2.0, pals, so once a member, you are invited to contribute with the website as long as it was made by and for teachers, just like our WEBLOG!

- Try:

I can say that here we can find the ‘hands’ of the website. in ‘try’ session the user will find useful production from other users and try them in class to give some feedback. It is the most pragmatic session of the website.

-Think:

In ‘Think’ the user is invited to reflect upon the methodologies and practices; It´s the ‘brain’ of the website.

- Talk:

In “Talk” the user joins in blogs, forums and polls to discuss the various topics related to efl; It´s the ‘mouth’.

- Transform:

In ‘transform’ the user will get to know how to develop as a professional or help others to; It´s the ’soul’.

There  are many other features in this website, just take your time and join in this community which has a huge potential.

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/