Teaching is a highly social profession that, besides lesson planning, requires constant interaction with students, colleagues and parents. So, one can easily assume that teaching might not be a wise career choice for an introvert. People often get that impression because they tend to associate introversion with shyness. However, introverts are not the kind of people who appear to be distant because they don’t enjoy getting into conversations. In fact, they do enjoy the company of others and the…

In a previous blogspot http://eltea.org/blog/how-to-implement-project-based-learning-in-your-esl-classroom I have presented the framework of a project based course and how it can build bridges between the classroom and the real world. One of the main arguments against project based courses is that they cannot be applied to young learners  as their cognitive framework and thinking capacity are still in the process of development. Teachers sometimes get frustrated when they have to plan a course that will revolve around a real world challenge and…

It’s that time of the year again when teachers flip through their notes or browse through the Internet in search of the best icebreakers to kick off the new school year. Icebreakers can be an effective way to get to know each other in a new group and they are often used on the first day of a new course. When they are used in moderation, they can create a sense of community and establish a more relaxed and positive…

Project based learning (PBL) Project based learning (PBL) is an inquiry-based method where students use language to tackle and solve real-world problems/tasks within a given amount of time.  Most teachers tend to relate PBL to TBL and though both of them are very much alike, there is a distinct difference. In PBL the task becomes the focal point, not of a lesson, but of a whole course which could range from one week to a whole term. Though PBL stands…