Embrace the Non-native Speakers Own English

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Should “Native Speaker” Be Our Target Language?

An interesting lecture presented by Kurt Kohn. My favourite quote from the lecture.

“We should embrace the non-native speaker’s own English guided by their own native speaker orientation, pushed by their own communicative needs and identification purpose fuelled by their own creativity”. Kurt Kohn

 

Grammar Snobs

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Grammar snobs are patronising, pretentious and just plain wrong.
Why is it that some people feel proud to be called grammar snobs? Mona Chalabi argues that those who correct others’ language are clinging to conventions that are unimportant. She says grammar snobbery is often used to silence those who have less of a voice in society.

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Poetry Month

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I am loving this. Not only does it give you your BFF but it also includes a short poem to get you in the mood!

Who’s Your Poet BFF?

http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/celebrate-poetrymonth-with-this-fun-quiz/

From the team at Grammarly.com

I got  Anna Akhmatova

Anna

Anna Akhmatova was a Russian poet who wrote during the Stalin era. Like her, you may consider yourself a strong character capable of balancing sensitivity, passion, and reason. Together you could probably spend hours discussing everything from your mutual passion for justice and freedom to your love of peonies and spring. Now, lay down your bow and arrow, put on some Chopin or Rachmaninov, and check out this stirring poem by your bestie.

“You Will Hear Thunder”
You will hear thunder and remember me,
And think: she wanted storms. The rim
Of the sky will be the colour of hard crimson,
And your heart, as it was then, will be on fire.

That day in Moscow, it will all come true,
when, for the last time, I take my leave,
And hasten to the heights that I have longed for,
Leaving my shadow still to be with you.

Listening Materials

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In my office we are always searching for listening materials. Looking for authentic, interesting content that is at the right level for students can be tough. I wanted to share a few resources I have found very useful:

  1. British Council Teens – Listening
  • Content is broken down by levels.
  • Interactive component to submit and check and answers on the site (Great for interactive white boards)
  • Printable worksheets and answers
  • Interesting content (can be adaptable to any age not just teens)Screen Shot 2015-08-28 at 8.40.39 am

2. Podcasts

You can either find a subject area related to you students or create you own like we did here:

  • Engaging
  • Authentic
  • Great for self study
  • Exposure to international accents

3. Interviews / Radio – Conversations on the streets of Melbourne 

Listen to ABC Drive interviews with people of the streets of Melbourne

  • Great for higher levels
  • Interesting
  • Authentic
  • Has a lot of background noise and natural speech patterns

4. ESL Cyber listening Lab 

  • Content is broken down by levels.
  • Interactive component to submit and check and answers on the site (Great for interactive white boards)
  • Great for self study

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