Here's a little test for you to see how good you are at spotting collocations. The words in the grid below can be put into four collocation groups. Can you figure out (a) what the groups are? (b) which word(s)... Continue Reading →
The concept of Parsnips in ELT has always intrigued me. These are the things that you're not supposed to talk about with your classes, the taboo topics that might get you into trouble or which your students might protest at.... Continue Reading →
If you were about to start thinking about a dissertation or thesis in ELT, what would you write it about? There’s a number of ways of looking at this: Practicality Passion Previous Practicality – what’s easiest and most practical to... Continue Reading →
Here are the slides from the BESIG weekend workshop I gave on the 7th June 2015. I was very honoured to have been asked to run the workshop, particularly as I noticed it was the 50th such workshop that BESIG... Continue Reading →
One of the common complaints students have about exam speaking is that they never know what to say. In practice sessions, I've had students dry up completely and embarrassedly freeze half way through a sentence, I've had other students refuse... Continue Reading →
It's my very great privilege to be running a free online workshop for the IATEFL BESIG next Sunday - 7th June. BESIG is the Business English Special Interest Group and they have been running their weekend workshop series since February... Continue Reading →
With the introduction of a compulsory essay task in the Cambridge English: First & Advanced exams, it's become quite important for learners to understand essay structure and organisation. Here's a ten minute talk I did for the International House Teacher's... Continue Reading →
The annual International House Teachers Online conference is taking place over this weekend and it's a great opportunity for teachers to drop in and take part in this free event. On Friday 8th, 10.30 - 16.30 (GMT) there will be a... Continue Reading →
