The primary focus for newcomers to the United States who have little to no English is oral language and comprehension. They want to start communicating their basic needs —”I don’t feel well,” “I need to use the bathroom,” “Where is the gym?”— as soon as possible. But as high school
The Slingshot Challenge by our partners at the National Geographic Society is now accepting submissions! This exciting initiative gives students ages 13–18 the opportunity to research, create, and share a 1-minute video focused on solving an important environmental challenge in their community. Why should English language educators share the Slingshot
One of the most challenging parts of being a teenager is the process of discovering who you are. When they are teens, our English language learners first engage with the world around them with purpose, lay claim to it as their own, and decide what kind of person they want to
Sustainability isn’t just a trending topic — which is why it’s more important than ever that we start considering how we can weave it into our educational practices. In a recent webinar, ‘Sustainable Life: Combining Project-Based Learning and Problem Solving in English Language Teaching’, we looked at why sustainability really
The Climate Crisis has the power to evoke the widest spectrum of emotions you can possibly imagine, from anxiety and fear to hope and empowerment. These feelings profoundly impact how we approach the topic in educational settings. In a recent webinar with National Geographic Learning, I explored strategies for addressing
“Worldwide visual culture has never been so rich and varied” (Riechers, 2024). Visual Literacy, the ability to interpret and understand the ideas and meanings in what we see, and to communicate our ideas in visual form, is an essential life skill. To understand more about what visual literacy involves, and
Teaching English to young teenagers can be challenging, but it can also be exciting and rewarding. Remember that young teens are actually very efficient language learners. They still have some characteristics of young learners and retain their childlike playfulness, but they also have the adult-like ability to hypothesize and think
Newcomer students who have recently arrived in the United States bring diverse backgrounds, languages, and experiences that enrich our classrooms. Newcomers also often have huge gaps to close before taking part in content-area high school classes. A newcomer will be new to the on-level concepts of algebra, civics, and biology,
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
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