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Recent Articles

• Phonology: features of connected speech

  October 28, 2008 in phonetics

  This series of posts explore some of the features of connected speech with the following aims.

  To revisit and consolidate old knowledge by

  creating a list of common features of connected speech in English.

  To provide a reasonably accessible resource for others to use so that it may be used to

  give weight to the argument that phonetics is [...]

• Dictation

  October 23, 2008 in dictation

  Ian White a highly respected member of Izmir University of Economics’ Teacher Training Team (Turkey), facilitated an excellent session on dictation in which a wide variety of views were expressed on dictation. Sorry for any additions or omissions, Ian.
  Why do dictation?

  It improves listening and comprehension skills.
  Punctuation is realised by pauses in breathing, so a greater [...]

• PPP: a small addition

  September 25, 2008 in methodology

  Sometimes the presentation phase of a lesson can take up most of a lesson. What percentage of an overall lesson do you spend in presenting particular language point and what percentage do the learners get to actually use the language? Half of the lesson, or just five percent of the lesson time?
  Do the learners [...]

• What is communicative language teaching?

  September 25, 2008 in methodology

  Communicative language teaching (CLT) is a label that is often used to describe courses and it seems to be a label that has become so over-used and easily used that it has perhaps begun to lose its meaning. When asked in a recent seminar what the characteristics of community language were, there did seem to [...]

• Ideas for creative workbook use

  September 23, 2008 in Activities

  Introduction: Setting the Scene
  I know that I am generalising, but so often workbooks are relegated to the ‘also ran’ or ‘lemon’ status of materials. Lacking vivid magazine-like colour and language (read grammar) input, workbook exercises are often given as a homework after thought…
  To continue the generalisation, this homework is often diligently completed by the learners [...]