Express Publishing ELT

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” – Pablo Picasso

We obviously use images extensively with junior classes to convey meaning and get them to talk about what they can see. We encourage them to draw, colour and write about their pictures and they are usually keen to do so     read more >>

What is a WebQuest?

A WebQuest is in essence a mini-project using authentic language and carefully staged steps, which, as learners work through them, reach pre-set goals and work towards the production of original output, which is finally cemented of a presentation of some kind. This, the participants will have arrived at by means of navigating the Web, while involved in a variety of skill enhancing activities.

To paraphrase Philip Benz (2001), a WebQuest is a constructivist approach to learning, where with the proper guidance and “scaffolding” students can accomplish far more actual learning than in traditional transmission-of-knowledge situations.     read more >>

A recent article in the Guardian newspaper states that “Expressing yourself with your hairstyle is out; it seems, at many schools.” Here’s part of the article:

I shed tears at Ian Whitwham’s At the Chalkface: Great Moments in Education. There is a section in this profoundly human and inspiring book entitled Seth in the Sixth Form. I have now read it seven times. It pricks the ducts.     read more >>

Apologies to all you Trekkies out there, but Space is not the final frontier; that space is reserved for death: “the undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveller returns.” – Hamlet

Is it a bit of a taboo subject in class – death?
Well, if the only two sure things in life are death and taxes, and we can at least try to fiddle our way out of the latter, why not think a bit about the former, which we cannot wriggle out of.

We may not be afraid to die, but we probably don’t want to be there when it happens – unless it’s Robert Patterson sinking his canines into your neck perhaps.

So, doing death in class. (Not the practical!)
First a warning! Do not use activities which might upset students in your culture! You have to be sensitive when dealing with death, ghosts, vampires, zombies and intolerance.     read more >>