Unlike a brain freeze, teaching idioms to adult ESL students will really make your day!  ESL teachers know that idioms are a quirky, delightful, and sometimes baffling part of the English language. They can be the spice that makes language learning more flavorful. If you’re looking for some fun and effective ways to teach idioms ... Read More about Teach Idioms to Adult ESL Students with Fun Strategies ..read more

So this one will be different. Another year has passed, remarkably fast and excruciatingly slow both in turns and at the same time. Time is a weird concept to me. Once I learned that it’s not the same “time” for everyone in the world simultaneously, a lot of time-related traditions became meaningless for me, especially ... Read More about Dear Past, Hello Future: Another New Year ..read more

What better way to equip your adult ESL students with practical vocabulary than by teaching cooking verbs? Talk about a delicious approach to language learning that promises both engagement and relevance! Cooking verbs serve as key ingredients to understanding recipes or even following along with cooking shows. So, let’s talk about teaching cooking verbs to ... Read More about Cooking Verbs on the Menu:  Delicious Recipes for Vocabulary Success ..read more

Imagine a conversation where you’re discussing your weekend plans with a friend or why a recent project belly-flopped with a colleague. Now, picture how much more informative that conversation becomes when you introduce words like always, often, or rarely. These words, known as frequency adverbs, are pivotal in facilitating effective communication in English. They help ... Read More about Teaching Frequency Adverbs: Strategies for Adult ESL Success ..read more

Why teach grade 12 Tier 2 vocabulary to adults?  Well, vocabulary is the cornerstone of language learning, and its importance in ESL education just cannot be overstated. After all, the ability to express one’s thoughts and ideas effectively hinges on having a robust vocabulary. However, some teachers find themselves with complete freedom in what to ... Read More about 8 Practical Strategies for Teaching Grade 12 Tier 2 Vocabulary to Adult ESL Students ..read more

We all get sick, have appointments that must be kept, an event that cannot be missed, or have SOMETHING that necessitates our absence. That’s why you need to know about this emergency sub activity! Besides, when you are sick, how much time do you really want to spend trying to develop a lesson that someone ... Read More about Be Ready:  The Best Emergency Sub Activity ..read more

Grammar time! How about some modal activities for adult ESL students? Years ago, after hearing a co-worker complain about how much they hated teaching modals, I decided right then to make it one of the most fun things for my students to learn. No, I wasn’t trying to show up my co-worker; I figured that ... Read More about 8 Fun and Interactive Modal Activities for Adult ESL Grammar ..read more

Short I and Long E sounds require clear pronunciation for effective communication and building confidence in adult ESL speakers. Conquering these sounds may present challenges, but none of us want our students to confuse “beach” with “bitch,” right?  The thing is, drilling is effective but boring.  So how about some activities for Short I and ... Read More about Short I and Long E Sounds: 4 Engaging Activities for Adult ESL Pronunciation ..read more

Teaching color vocabulary in the adult ESL classroom goes way beyond identifying basic colors like red, blue, green, or yellow. Teaching color vocabulary isn’t just about recognition; it’s a gateway to engaging language instruction, offering opportunities to practice grammar, expand vocabulary, and have meaningful conversations.  This article is a guide for ESL teachers working with ... Read More about Color Vocabulary Made Fun:  3 Levels of Engaging Activities for Adult ESL ..read more

Try beginning a new class with goal setting! Starting over with a new language, whether from scratch or from years-old leftover memories of studying it in school, can be exhilarating and challenging for adult ESL students. You already understand that the unique needs and motivations of your adult ESL students are paramount in guiding them ... Read More about Goal-Setting in Adult ESL:  From Proficiency Dreams to Reality ..read more