Category: Teaching
Building Vocabulary: Pick Your Battles
by Craig on Jul.20, 2011, under Language Learning, Education, Teaching
Vocabulary building is a life-long process. When first learning a new language, we need to pick up new words quickly to be able to communicate, so we study and memorize long lists of words. But, even advanced learners and native speakers will continue t… more »
Translation, Dictionaries and Foreign Language Learning
by Craig on Jul.12, 2011, under Language Learning, Technology, Education, Teaching
In the early stages of foreign language learning, we usually depend heavily on translating. We use translation dictionaries, software and electronic devices to get a translation of a foreign word in our own language. When I studied French, I carried my… more »
Difference between "besides" and "additionally"
by Craig on Jul.05, 2011, under Language Learning, Education, Teaching
I often hear my students use the adverb "besides" to add information or details, but it just never sounds right to me. Normally, we would more commonly use words like additionally, furthermore and moreover (among others). So what's the difference?
If y… more »
Language You Can Understand vs. Language You Can Use
by Craig on Jun.24, 2011, under Language Learning, Education, Teaching
The other day, when I asked one of my groups what they thought of a new book we were using, they said they thought the grammar was too easy. I said, "Yeah, but do you know how to USE it?" There is a big difference.
Most English instruction in Taiwan f… more »
Grammar Pet Peeves
by Craig on May.24, 2011, under Language Learning, Education, Teaching
I read an article the other day in The Huffington Post called "Grammar Pet Peeves: Who, Whom, None Is or Are", by author Robert Lane Green, who also wrote "You Are What You Speak". It really struck me because many of the things he wrote about grammar "r… more »
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