Remember poetry?  Do you ever find opportunities to use it in your English instruction? This April marks the 25th anniversary of national poetry month.  We hope you enjoy this selection of previous blogs about poetry from TESL Ontario Blog.  “If you wanted a poem, you only had to look out of a window.  There was material always, walking or running, fighting or screaming or singing.” Gwendolyn Brooks, African-American poet and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Annie Allen.   “To Take the Road or Not to Take the Road… That is the question!” – Robert Frost M ..read more

Image taken from: Big Stock Photo Lesson planning can be a time-consuming endeavor, especially for educators teaching students with lower levels of English proficiency. Adapting materials to meet the needs of these learners requires careful consideration and often entails significant effort. However, with the assistance of tools like ChatGPT, this process can be streamlined and made more efficient.  Consider, for instance, the task of planning a lesson for CLB 2-3 learners on a topic as complex as understanding how to apply for a driver’s license. Finding suitable resources tailored to th ..read more

by Reza Mazloom-Farzaghy, Accreditation Services Manager, TESL Ontario  Did you know that in order to maintain your certified status, OCELT (Ontario Certified English Language Teacher) certification must be renewed annually? This annual renewal process isn’t merely administrative; it’s serves as a gateway to a host of advantages that benefit teachers, employers, learners, and all stakeholders involved in language education.  These benefits enable employers and funders to ensure the high quality of their language instruction services, motivating teachers to regularly upgrade their kn ..read more

Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash “Two of my brothers were killed in the war in Ukraine.” “My family’s houses were destroyed in Palestine” “I have PTSD from a trauma in my homeland.” “There is fighting in my street back home, and I can’t reach anyone.” “My mother was sent to a re-education centre for being a Uyghur.” “My husband and I and our two sons were put on a kill list, so we had to flee my country.” “My sister is sick, and I cannot go back and see her before she dies.” These are just some of the poignant remarks delivered during my classes. So there I am, teaching a gr ..read more

Image: Bigstockphoto.com I was taking the chairs down from the desks and putting them on the floor before the morning class, when a student came in and said: “Teacher.” She shook her head and pointed to herself. “Me,” she said. She motioned for me to sit. Since that day, the students have put themselves in charge of the chairs. Taking Ownership My Literacy class is proactive. It has taken responsibility for its own learning by creating the classroom environment that it wants and needs. The students understand that learning isn’t just about word recognition, spelling, writing the lett ..read more

Photo taken from: Big Stock Photo One of the frequent challenges for teachers, even ones with experience is how to manage time in the classroom. One may well ask, why time management is so important. Effective time management is crucial to provide quality education. In fact, teachers don’t really have enough time to teach considering the breaks, learner attention span (which is typically half an hour or less); moving between classrooms for various activities and downtime between lessons and activities (Mehta, 2019).  Defining objectives for each lesson is key. Reading up on the course obj ..read more

During interactions over the past year with language instructors in various venues, I have observed a trend with educators’ generative chat usage.  Instructors are aware of generative chat technologies such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Edge Copilot through mainstream media, social media, relatives, students, or their peers. However, few have gone beyond sampling these tools a few times with basic prompts out of personal curiosity or to commence using prompts for lesson preparation.   Attempts at generating resources with a generative chat tool do not always result in usable content becau ..read more

Image taken from: Big Stock Photo At first glance, smartphones may seem like the ultimate language roadblock for ESL learners. The alluring prospect of effortlessly translating any text with a simple tap can lead to a habit of overreliance, hindering genuine language absorption. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. When approached with a strategic mindset, smartphones can indeed become “smart” tools in the ESL learning arsenal, especially for those who find themselves grappling with the complexities of English at a foundational level.  Smartphone translation apps bridge the language gap ..read more

  In the dynamic realm of language learning, teachers continually seek ways to optimize the learning experience for their students. One crucial factor often overlooked is cognitive load, the mental effort required to grasp new concepts in language learning. Recognizing and managing cognitive load in the language classroom can significantly impact student engagement, comprehension, and overall language acquisition. This blog post explores the concept of cognitive load, its implications in the language learning context, and practical strategies for teachers to enhance the learning experien ..read more

By Margaret Holec Introduction The past decade has seen a game-changing impact on English as a Second Language (ESL) education, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Notably, AI has made students more independent in their learning, helping them secure jobs even with lower English levels. Additionally, direct translation of messages and emails has become seamless, enhancing communication. 1. Independent Learning: AI’s Role in Student Empowerment AI in ESL education has shifted the focus to personalized learning, allowing students to learn at their own pace. This independence builds confidenc ..read more