Thursday 2 August 2012

The Sheka Forest Listening Comprehension Resource

The Sheka Forest Story - Wisdom from the Past, Resilience for the Future




The Sheka Forest Story shows the power of collaboration.
The Sheka forest is one of Ethiopia's largest and last remaining tropical forests. Clan leaders, the local community and the local government have come together with the support of local partner, Melca Ethiopia, to help secure the future of the forest, its rich bio-cultural diversity and to enhance sustainable livelihood options.
The story tells an enchanting tale of the complexities of forest governance at a time when it has never been more critical.
"It takes everyone to protect a forest. It only takes a few to destroy it".
A film made with partner Melca Ethiopia. More about Melca Ethiopia here 

This resource is a video listening task. Components of the lesson are loaded on the TEFL Communicative Resources ready to go.  The teacher's key and student sheet can be downloaded and printed from that page.  


Wednesday 1 August 2012

The Olympics - Ready, Steady, Go!

Great Olympic Resources for TEFL Students


TEFL Communicative Resources

Links to slide shows to allow you to explore facts; interactive bibliographies on individual athletes with video's, images, timelines etc; information on international teams etc

http://getset.london2012.com/en/heroes

Slideshows - TEFL Grammar Resources


Four Present Tense Slide Shows 

Illustrating the form, function, meaning and uses of each tense.  The Present Simple, the Present Continuous, the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous can all be found on the TEFL Grammar Resources of this blog page.

Tuesday 31 July 2012

BBC World Service Pronunciation Resource


BBC World Service Pronunciation Tips


A very good resource to study from. I recommend it because you will hear a Standard English accent which is easily understood by yourself and by others when they hear you speak with it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/ .

  • Start by watching the video 'Pronunciation Tips from bbclearningenglish.com' 
  • After you have introduced yourself to the resource, 'the sounds of English'  tab is a useful place to start. 
  • To take your learning further than the voiced, voiceless and other consonants previously introduced on this page.I would suggest that you start learning the single vowel sounds and then the dipthongs (double vowel sounds)last as they are trickier. 

  • Alternatively, you could revise the consonants first. 


Online TEFL Presentation Resource on Climate Change


Climate Change TEFL Resource


How has it been caused?  Is it a man-made problem? Or is it an effect of the sun getting hotter? 

These questions are examined in the presentation posted on the CLIL and EAP Resources.  There are opportunities to work with sentences using specific sentence constructions that express cause and effect.

Monday 30 July 2012

Use English with Accuracy - Grammar Resource

TEFL Grammar Resource Page

This page has been reorganised and some web links added from:-

This site has superb grammar resources and is well worth a visit.  I have integrated links to some of the resources.  For example: a glossary of grammatical terms; a list of irregular verbs; a list of phrasal verbs; and grammar quizzes for revision purposes.

Go to TEFL Grammar Resources to see more.


Sunday 29 July 2012

Ballgowns at the V&A Museum

British Glamour Since 1950

  • Develop fashion vocabulary
  • Practise reading and listening skills
"Through interviews with designers Nicholas Oakwell, Bruce Oldfield, David Sassoon, Mary Katrantzou and Roksanda Illincic, this film examines the significance of the ballgown, and what it is to be truly glamorous"



Go to TEFL Vocabulary Resources


Arctic CLIL Learning Resource

Change at the Top of the World

A video report on Global Warming. Charles Annenberg Weingarten (founder of www.explore.org)
http://explore.org/#!/videos/player/arctic-change-at-the-top-of-the-world

The host and director noted above presents the land, the legal and economic issues underlying the Arctic situation. Most importantly he hears the voice of the Inuit, indigenous peoples of the region. Elisapee Sheutiapik (the Mayor of Iqaluit, Nunavut) amongst others plays a major role in assisting him in this process.
An ecosystem video report of the Arctic that defines key scientific vocabulary and phrases whilst on a round trip on Akademik Loffe (a scientific, expedition boat). The focus of the report is on the Arctic Ecosystem; Past, Present and Future; and the local inhabitants. The story is broad, accurate and far reaching in it's implications. 

TEFL CLIL and EAP Resources . 
  • Reflection on Poem
  • Introduction
  • Resolute, Meeting the Mayor of Iqaluit and the Discussions with the Women Elders
  • Oil Exploration, International Law and Mapping Territory
  • Nanisivik and the Canadian Coastguard 
  • Jacques Sirois (Naturalist). Further Discussion on Climate Change and Pollution 
  • Expedition on the Baffin Sea to Greenland
  • The 'Sister City Agreement' in Sisimiut 
  • Return to Iqaluit 
  • Summary of Video  

Plus this extra section:-

  • More Activities and Ideas for Discussions for TEFL teachers and students: 

.

Functional Language -TEFL Training Resource


Teaching Functional Language Skills

A resource from Languages International, Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand

As I was researching I came across this link and wanted to share it.  It is for TEFL Teachers. 


The resource focuses on the language of social situations and communicating effectively within them.  It concentrates on the 10 common functions of language listed below:-

  • making a suggestion
  • inviting
  • giving advice
  • requesting
  • making apologies
  • refusing
  • agreeing
  • regretting
  • offering
  • complaining

There are 4 tasks. I would recommend it fully for staff training sessions or individual study.  
Following the link through, I realised it must be part of a larger resource.  And indeed, there is a whole ESOL Teaching Skills Taskbook at:-


A very professional package which I believe would be excellent for any teacher whatever stage they are at in their careers..


Saturday 28 July 2012

'Calypso' - A Beautiful Song Resource


'Calypso' by John Denver

A Tribute to Jacques Cousteau

 


A song, a song sheet and a comprehension activity.  Follow this link:TEFL Communicative Resources

Tuesday 24 July 2012

TEFL Textbooks

Advice For Independent TEFL Learners

Studying English independently is a very cost effective way of learning.  However, you do need to be sure that you are covering what you should be especially if you are preparing for examinations. You need a good textbook and/or good applications to help you learn via your Mobile Phone or other device.

Many recently published textbooks today give you access to Internet resources via a code that you purchase with a textbook. It is therefore easy to supplement your English learning learning online. You can also check out web and blog pages such as this for other useful ideas. 

You need to be honest and realistic about your level – for advice on how to check out your level follow this link Examination and Assessment Resources

And then check out EFL Publishers at TEFL Applications and Resources

Good Luck
NB  If you need a tutor for a particular topic please approach me. I can arrange tuition online.

'Bright Dresses'

A Beautiful Poem. 

A British Council Resource

by Robert Seatter
With kind permission of the poet, previously published in Poetry as a Foreign Language, edited by Martin Bates, White Adder Press, 1999

An excellent resource to:-
  • develop adjectives, description and metaphor
  • develop functional language.