Without music life would be a mistake

These are the words of the famous German Philosopher Frederik Nietzsche, and as a specialist in pronunciation and Accent Reduction for non-native English speakers, I can attest to this regarding the English language. English is a musical language, as is Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, and many other languages. The trick to speaking English with clarity and impact, is understanding the melody and rhythm that is specific to English, but differs in other languages. Therefore, without the music of the English language, pronunciation is a mistake.

If English were a two-man band, it would be made up of a drum and a
saxophone. Firstly, English is a swinging language, more like a jazz or
rock group than a classical orchestra. English sounds are big, loud, and
emphatic, and our melody is bold and dance-worthy.

I hear complaints from my students time and time again that they are
always asked to repeat themselves, and even when they do, the listener still has difficulty understanding. Where does this come from? There are three major components that make up an accent: Sounds (consonants and vowels), Rhythm (stressed and unstressed words), and Intonation (the rise and fall of pitch in a sentence).

Becoming A Better Teacher

One book I did find that I recommend is Teaching Secrets, by veteran teacher Christine Morrison, who has spent 30 years in the classroom and seen every imaginable classroom situation possible. Christine's book, Teaching Secrets, is well worth a read for any new or experienced teacher, is learn more at her website >>> .

Bob Dylan song "changed the world"

The British magazine Uncut has declared the 1965 Bob Dylan song "Like A Rolling Stone" as the most revolutionary moment in popular Western culture over the past five decades. The magazine published a list of the 100 songs, movies, books and TV shows that "changed the world". Leading musicians, actors and industry experts voted in the poll. Dylan's influential song created a new generation of rock and punk rockers. Singer Patti Smith said: "Dylan's song got me through adolescence".

ESL Textbook CDs NEW!!


ESL Curriculum CDs are designed for Language Schools teaching with students 13 years and older. These textbooks are in use in The Czech Republic, Brazil, Ukraine, El Salvador and India.

Each Textbook Set contains 3 books -- A Student Reader, Student Workbook and Teacher's Guide.

Highlights:

What our Customers Say

Hi Brian,

Thank you so much for sending along the 3 Bingo games.
Last Saturday I used the Body Bingo with my class.  They enjoyed it
and it was challenging enough for them.  My class is all adults,
all Spanish speaking, and all from Mexico.

I liked the progression of having each student write out their own
Bingo card, then match the definition, then play the game, first with
the words, then with the definitions, and then answering the questions.

I'm looking forward to using the other Bingo games.

We play games every week in this class.  I've watched my students change from quiet, reserved people to funny, talkative, outgoing and sometimes quite competitive students. 

This is what playing games can do!!  I know that they
really look forward to the class because it is never boring and they feel very comfortable.

Thanks for helping to make this possible.

Ann

3 Bingo Games now on Sale! Learn more >>>

Mindfulness and Teaching: Lessons From Dynamic English

By: Maya Talisman Frost
Date: 23 July 2005

Back in 1983, I was hired to teach English in rural northern Japan. I had no experience teaching, and didn't speak a work of Japanese.

No matter-I had the requisite four-year college degree and a thirst for adventure.

My employer/boss/teaching partner was Grif Frost, a 27-year-old budding entrepreneur who had married the Japanese exchange student who had once lived with his family. He ended up living near his wife's parents in Mutsu, and did what any self-respecting English-speaking person did in Japan in 1982-he started an English school.

Now, Grif had no experience teaching, either. He had a master's in International Management and a couple of toddlers at home. He was the token foreigner in Mutsu, and figured he might as well put it to good use.

Without training, he developed an approach he called "Dynamic English"-a high-energy, full-body, take-no-prisoners form of English as pure entertainment. He focused on presenting classes that were "Fast, Fun and Friendly", and was notorious for his colorful puppets, loud singing, dramatic storytelling, and excessive sweating.

ESL Bingo

This Newsletter is brought to you by Learning English with Laughter Ltd.!
http://www.efl-esl.com