What Do Your ESL Students Believe? Find Out!

Why Bring ‘This I Believe’ Essays and Podcasts Into Your English Classroom?

What are your core beliefs? More importantly, what are the core beliefs of your English students? How do you know? Do you like listening to quality radio essays to improve listening skills and critical thinking skills? Are you looking for a friendly way to gently nudge your EFL students into reflecting on their experiences and expressing their ideas?

If so, you might want to consider adding This I Believe radio essays to your curriculum. This I Believe, originally a radio program hosted by legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow in the 1950s, has been resurrected by National Public Radio as a weekly feature.

While the 1950s version sought out short personal essays by leading intellectuals, artists, and prominent personalities, the 21st century version is far more democratic. Anybody can submit an essay – and thousands and thousands of individuals around the world – have.

English teachers and global travelers might appreciate the sample podcast This I Believe: Inviting the World to Dinner by travel writer and Parisian resident Jim Haynes. Students might also appreciate the open spirit and generosity, but if not, they can choose from over 200 other radio essays. In short, The This I Believe website includes a tremendous amount of free resources for teachers and students. Teachers can sign up for the free mailing list and download an exceptional discussion guide. Amazon also sells several collections of This I Believe essays from both the modern version (with audio) and the original collections from over 50 years ago.

Why don’t you try it in your English class? Here is a simple reproducible homework worksheet that allows English students to find, summarize, and share their own favorite podcasts. I usually have students “introduce” their choice in both small groups and before the entire class. After students have listened to several “this I believe” radio essays, they feel more comfortable writing their essay and presenting it before the class for a final project.

So far, my intermediate and advanced students have both enjoyed the assignment and produced original, reflective work. The flexible format also means that English teachers can modify it to meet student or course requirements. Writing instructors can ask for essays; speech instructors can require a speech. Yet students get an often rare chance to hear intelligent voices reveal their personal philosophies in an engaging manner. Further, our students get to speak their minds and share their insights in our strange, wonderful language. I believe that makes a compelling English class too!

As Mr. Murrow would say, “good night and good luck.”
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This I Believe Homework Worksheet

Links: This I Believe
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138


Please select one radio segment, based on a personal essay, and read by writers. Find a story that resonates with you. Listen carefully. Take notes. Fill out the worksheet below. You will be asked to share your selection with classmates in both a small group and the entire class.

Student:
This I Believe Title:
Author/Reader:
Length:

Who is the author?


What’s the main idea?


Why did you choose this podcast?


Did you hear any new words or phrases?
1.
2.
3.


Who do you imagine is the audience for this podcast? Why?




What is your reaction? Why?



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Excellent ESL Teaching resources at TESOL convention

Time flies. Or, as the Romans used to say, "tempus fugit."

Five days after the TESOl convention in New York City ended, I'm finally having a chance to sort through the numerous books, doublecheck website leads, and evaluate materials that I picked up. Sometimes "the eyes are too hungry", and I went a bit overboard in collecting ESL materials and resources for advanced English language learners. Of course, English teachers love books, new curriculum materials, and free ESL materials. I also have the excuse of working as a consultant for a workplace ESL program so I went hunting for some particular products for healthcare workers.

Here is a short list of promising materials:

VSOE ideas from TESOL convention

American Speech Sounds program for Healthcare workers. Also www.eslrules.com has powerful training materials for focused workshops for non-native English speakers working in hospital, clinics, and across the medical field.

- software and textbook designed for foreign doctors and nurses

- great reviews from professional journals (medical, language)

2. Effective Practices in Workplace Language Training (TESOL)
3. Getting Ahead in the US (Living Language) – videotape/textbook series
4. New Citizenship DVD for future naturalization tests. This free DVD, perfect for adult educators, confirms that the new citizenship test will only require a "high beginning" level of ESL to qualify for American citizenship. Personally, I consider this an absurdly low standard that implies new American citizens can speak worse English than at least a half a billion English speakers outside of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
   Of course, low standards have many fans in the world of adult education and with many immigrant groups. More on this topic later.
5. The Center for Applied Linguistics www.cal.org continues to offer wider and deeper variety of resources for ESL teachers, especially for adult education.
6. I had several fascinating conversations about various English competency tests and their possible use in the workplace. The TOEIC test, on its merits, seems the strongest by far. Unfortunately, this test - used by millions in the workplace worldwide - has become almost forbidden due to lawsuits claiming discrimination in the United States. What does this mean? Millions of applicants and employees in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, France, Germany, and other non-English speaking countries have taken this test of English skills. Why? Because English has become a global language and competency in English has become an essential workplace skill.
   
7. But not in the United States! So-called labor and civil rights activists have promoted the concept that requiring English proficiency, as tested by the TOEIC, is discrimination unless the ad explicitly states "English skills required." This strange situation means that American workers can, and so often do , speak at a lower level than educated workers in Asia and Europe. What's wrong with this picture!!!
8. Software programs continue to become stronger day by day, minute by minute. English language learners, international ESL students, and adult ESL educators have more choices than ever. I will spend a solid chunk of time researching these language programs during my summer break. So far, however, it's clear that www.openbookenglish.com and www.spokenskills.com offer great values for administrators, teachers, and students. ESL teachers will also find www.lessonwriter.com a wonderful, innovative, and time-saving site.

More later, but I must return to a large pile of research reports that need grading!

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Going Beyond the ESL Classroom to Teach English

Why stay indoors on a beautiful sunny day? Do you want your class discussions to go beyond the predictable textbook lesson? How can ESL teachers use shopping malls, museums, and movies to help students develop a more practical vocabulary?

“The Outside World as an Extension of the EFL/ESL Classroom”, by Mark A. Pegrum, makes a compelling argument that ESL teachers should go way beyond dry textbooks to engage in the practical needs and broader cultural life. This exceptional article, written in proper academic style for elite educational audiences, clearly outlines the many reasons for engaging ESL students in the world around them. The article advocates field trips, conducting surveys, visiting museums, discussing movies, obtaining information from public offices, and summarizing television programs. Numerous activities, along with the suggested level and focus, are provided in this article/collection of lesson ideas for multiple levels. While I can’t bring myself to write in this style with all the appropriate footnotes to make commonsense sound so respectable in academic journals, I’m very glad that Pegrum wrote this outstanding article for ESL professionals. Good job!

These lessons work better for adult education and intensive English programs than community college or university level ESL classes. Many college ESL teachers, however, will also find excellent suggestions for supplemental intermediate and advanced activities. Check it out for lesson ideas to create authentic language and deepen practical life skills for your curious ESL students.

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Obama Shows How to Give a Great Speech!

Obama shows how to discuss race in a calm, rational manner

Do you use current events in your ESL class? Do you teach American history, citizenship, speech, or political science? Have you found a way to candidly discuss the pervasive and destructive role of race in American history in a calm, rational manner?

Hopefully, you have already had a chance to hear Senator Obama’s eloquent, reflective speech on race and American culture. Faced with a political crisis of his own making, Obama tried to both distance himself from his fiery pastor’s sermons, condemn their ignorant accusations, and explain the source of his pastor’s anger and bitterness. It’s a masterpiece of modern oratory.

Can Americans unite to solve serious national problems such as collapsing schools, collapsing bridges, and the collapsing dollar? Will Americans find a way to develop to honestly discuss the role of racial categories in our history, acknowledge the pain caused by racism and violence, and avoid name-calling to affirm a common destiny? Can Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asian, and Native Americans move beyond skin pigment and group complaints to renew our nation? Is there a way to calmly, rationally discuss deep emotional gaps and economic divisions that still plague the nation’s diverse racial groups?

Senator Obama’s speech yesterday deserves to be seen, heard, and read and reflected upon. Tracing the tragic role that race has played in the United States from the sanctioning of slavery in the Constitution to economic anxieties today, Obama provided personal and collective examples with maturity, understanding, and respect. He also listed the sources of “white resentment” such as affirmative action programs, busing, and violent crime in urban areas.

Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech,seems destined to become a classic. I consider it a 21^st century version of Dr. King’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. It deserves to be added to curriculum on many levels:

1. Classic rhetoric built around a solid structure.
2. Exceptionally vivid examples and memorable phrases
3. A clear, compelling review of the nation’s history – and noble ambitions
4. A poised delivery style, with exceptional eye contact, and clear pronunciation.
5. An outstanding vocabulary supporting a focused message for multiple audiences
6. A mature review of the enduring legacy of racism for multiple audience
7. An affirmation of our common destiny and founding ideals as Americans in a changing world.

English language learners, immigrants, and international students will also gain vocabulary, history, and insights from hearing, watching, and reading the speech.

Click on the link below to read or hear the speech.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/18/america/18obamaspeech.php