Some "different" dictionaries

As we turn into the discussion of how to help our students acquire lexis, today I'd like to invite you to look into three online (free) dictionaries which I believe are rather different from what you might be familiar with:

• The Internet Picture Dictionary® (allows browsing by categories)

• One Look® Dictionary (allows searching for words related to a concept)

• VisuWords® (online graphical dictionary)

• And last, but not least, a dictionary of collocations, which can be consulted online (again for free): Oxford Collocations Dictionary Online for Advanced English Learners: 

ozdic.com - Collocations for "task"

Do you know of other online dictionaries you'd like to recommend? How do you think these resources might be integrated into the EFL lesson? Share your ideas by posting a comment to this entry!

See you around!
Gladys
NOTE: Originally published on 19th June, 2009. Last updated on 7 September, 2012.

The World Cup is here!

Many of us will now have to face the challenge of keeping our students learning English... while their minds are on the Football World Cup!

Longman Pearson is offering us all some great resources to help us succeed at this. Check them out!

Longman Home via kwout

(just click on the image above to get access to several handouts)

There are ideas for different levels. I'm positive teens and adults in Argentina would enjoy them!

If you try any of these with your classes, just let us know!

Gladys

The communicative classroom

Most present-day practitioners would probably like to think that their classes are "communicative" in the widest sense of the word. Their lessons probably contain activities where learners communicate and where tasks are completed by means of interaction with other learners. To this end... [more]

Rings a bell, doesn't it? Right now, when we happen to be discussing the challenges of communicative language teaching at college, Tim Bowen (via Macmillan) shares a most interesting article on the issue. Definitely an opportunity not to be missed!


I invite you to enjoy Bowen's article (just follow the link!) and come back here to share your reactions:
1. What idea has caught your attention the most?
2. What relationships can you establish between Bowen's ideas and the ones discussed so far either in class or by the authors you've been reading?
3. Would you describe your own teaching as communicative? Why (not)?

That's all for today...
Have a nice weekend!

Gladys

You plan what you are

Great teacher Alistair writes:

When we plan our courses, the syllabuses we draw up reflect the ideas we have about teaching. If we think that grammar is one of the most useful tools, then there will be lots of grammar in the plan. If we think that functional work is the way to go then this will dominate. Likewise with skills, if we feel that the development of language skills rather than language is the road to success, we might take a more task-based approach…

(you can read more about this, and even subscribe to his free newsletter here)

As we are right in the middle of our discussion on lesson planning, I couldn't help but think this idea perfectly applied to the aims you set for your lesson plans... Do you agree? And how much do you like the image of yourself your lesson aims show?

See you next Fri!
Gladys