Food and the classroom
Language teachers need nutrition expertise too!
Our students eat. That's a good thing, except that after sweet snacks things can get complicated. This is most noticeable (for me, anyway) with kindergarten children who can't inhibit their impulses. The cause?
Teachers pets
Postbox letter from Mark
My favourite students are the ones who are the most attentive and involved in the class. I play to this section of the crowd.
Tips for first year teachers in Thailand
How to maximize your teaching enjoyment!
Successful good quality teaching is never a "walk in the park." As you prepare to teach in Thailand really try to focus on being there for the students.
Classroom tech that's really useful
A look at Google Classroom and the Microsoft Surface
I've worked in several classroom environments using a variety of technology, but I'll be honest: in my [not so] humble opinion, most tech implementations end up being little more than gimmicks, or worse, distractions.
Teaching conversation in Thailand
Some ideas to make conversation classes more successful
Students find the ability to be understood in a foreign language the most gratifying aspect of the pain of learning it. If they don't get an opportunity to speak in the classroom they'll soon get bored.
Mobile phones in class? No way!
Postbox letter from Neil
Distractions can be a nightmare for a teacher (and foreign teachers in Thailand have to put up with a lot of interruptions, from Thai teachers etc). Interruptions must be kept to a minimum, wherever possible if one wishes to improve learning.
Phones in the classroom - a teacher's curse?
Should teachers tolerate telephones in the classroom?
Telephones have become an integral part of modern life, to the extent that they are an intrusion and compromise the long-term goals for our classrooms. I present the following arguments to support my position.
The fantastical world of teaching in Thailand
A child's imagination is a beautiful thing
If you really enjoy your work and genuinely like your students then you'll already have the skill set needed to be able to determine what kids will enjoy while they are learning. My rule of thumb is... if I don't like it, my students won't either.
The natural order of things
Not all students are created equal or should be treated as equal
In the best interests of the students who are capable, interested and who want to learn, some kids have to be left behind. That's why our school has streams.
Handling students with learning difficulties
How can I ignore students just because they are different?
I remember in my first week at my government high school there was a student who was severely autistic. I just wasn't prepared for the task at hand.
