On the surface, teaching new vocabulary to English language learners is relatively straightforward. You can follow the pattern of MFP—teach a word’s meaning, form, and pronunciation, then have students practice using it. But with a little more thought and preparation, teaching vocabulary is an opportunity to bring your own creativity
Author: National Geographic Learning
Strategies for Teaching Academic Reading
Reading is one of the most essential, yet challenging, skills for English language learners to develop. Becoming a proficient reader requires consistent practice, patience … and support from the instructor! Below are some strategies for teaching academic reading that you can use to help your students acquire the skills and
Confronting Climate Change Education in ELT
Our world faces a number of challenges, and for many people, the most serious global issue is climate change, driven by the unsustainable use of the planet’s resources. But what does climate change have to do with English language teaching (ELT)? At first glance, ELT might have little to do
Activities to Inspire Your Impact Learners
Impact is a six-level series for teenage English learners that is designed to inspire future global citizens. Sign up now to receive updates and teaching tips related to the new edition! Today’s learners are exposed to vast amounts of information. That means that now, more than ever, it is vital that students gain
Six Tips for Teaching Academic Writing
For many English language instructors, teaching academic writing can be a struggle. Perhaps that’s because we usually approach writing internally, and often without any kind of structure or process. Students might start with the first sentence and see where that takes them. But think of it this way: Unless you’re
Nurturing Academic Competence in the ELL Classroom
Competence, in its general sense, reflects the ability to perform a task successfully, and it is typically comprised of a blend of both innate abilities and learned skills. For English-language learners to show that they are prepared to navigate the complexities of higher education, they must not only demonstrate linguistic
Implementing Formative Assessment in 5 Simple Steps
All teachers face the same question every day: How do I know if (and what) my students learned? Formative assessment—informal monitoring of students’ progress in a class—can help answer this question. It’s a way for teachers to check in on their students’ learning and inform teaching. Ok, that all sounds
Engage, Educate, Empower: Maximizing Learning with Infographics
When was the last time you read a long article online from start to finish, without seeing any images? Most information today is communicated online via web articles and blogs—like this one—using a combination of text and images or graphics. Why is this? One reason is that infographics are liked
Tips for Communication and Collaboration in the 21st Century Classroom
The ability to communicate clearly and collaborate with others are two of the most important skills for today’s learners. These skills need to be developed through consistent practice, so it’s important to provide plenty of opportunities for learners to speak and work with others in class. Below are some ideas
3 Tips to Improve Visual Literacy in the ELT Classroom
We deal with an increasing amount of information daily, whether we are scrolling social media or catching up on the news. How can we avoid information overload and retain what we read? We need to be active consumers of information, constantly improving our ability to understand and present information visually.