Learning the Ropes

When I first decided to carry out this task in class, its main objectives were to help students learn more about Arthur Miller’s life and work. Also, I thought it would be a good way to review past tenses and time phrases. After doing this task in class, I must admit that it took me longer than I expected to explain how exactly it works. Considering that many of my adult students don’t feel that comfortable when it comes to using new technologies, it was a big challenge. Anyway, once they understood how to do it, they really enjoyed the whole process. I asked them to work in small groups of three, so that every student contributed to the final project and they supported each other while doing it.  Some of my students – teenagers and some young adults – welcomed this activity from the very beginning, and their enthusiasm, I guess, created some curiosity in others. The most reluctant students, also got engaged in the activity, dynamic as it is, and especially so different from...

The pictures shared on the platform show us people reading in different contexts, and apparently different materials. In picture 4, primary students are reading what seem to be the books – perhaps graded readers – they have been assigned in class. In this case, therefore, their teacher might have chosen the book for them. The people appearing in the other pictures, in contrast, are reading books (an e-book, actually, in picture 3; and a newspaper in picture 5) which have probably been chosen by themselves.       From what I can gather, I’d say that the readers in picture 1 might be feeling relaxed and engaged in their reading, as they are sitting on comfortable armchairs in the quiet and peaceful atmosphere that a library usually offers. The readers in picture 2 could be feeling curiosity and “connection”, since they are both sharing the same book and seem to be discovering something new together. In pictures 3 and 5, I think that reading offers these people t...

Watch this video and answer the questions below: 1.    How does the speaker describe Bali?       2. How much plastic garbage is generated per day? 3. What happens to those bags which do not make it to the ocean?   4. What makes Green School different?  5. How did they come up with their idea? 

Welcome to my Blog! My name is María J. and I’m an English teacher who has devoted more than ten years to language teaching and learning. I have experience teaching English at all levels, from Basic to Advanced, specially working with adult students. Here I will share some of my thoughts concerning English teaching, including activities, ideas and lesson plans. Hope to hear from you!