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Table of Contents
Static Pages
- About
August 11, 2009, 20:32
Hang on please, this bit is 'under construction'.
- Contact
November 6, 2010, 10:47
- Networked
November 8, 2010, 15:33
Follow this blog
- A-Z of Year in the life...
March 16, 2011, 15:59
No description found for this item.
- How to Google
January 15, 2012, 11:34
The following infographic was prepared by HackCollege.com and is shared here under the creative commons license. This is probably the single most useful thing…
- Site Map
March 16, 2011, 16:00
This page contains the site table of contents. Use it to quickly find content on this website.
Blog Posts
- Category: Uncategorized (7)
- Video post: Application to develop reading speed by: Adam
February 14, 2012, 14:21
A really cool and easy to use application. Thanks to Russell Stannard for introducing this one. Hopefully this video clip is self-explanatory enough that I…
- Introducing the 27th Blog Carnival by: Adam
February 7, 2012, 00:40
I've been given the very great honour of hosting the 27th Blog Carnival. Basically, this is a collection of your fantastic blog articles based around one…
- The race is on in the ELT Blogathon by: Adam
January 17, 2012, 21:42
It's that time of year already. The British Council is once again running a month-long blogathon on the Teaching English website. The Blogathon is a…
- I need help! The Doğuş University ELT Conference Roving Reporter needs questions from you by: Adam
November 23, 2011, 11:23
Yes, the poor buggers don't know what they've let themselves in for! Dear all, I regret to inform you that you have woken up today in a parallel universe.…
- No, don’t stop the carnival by: Adam
November 2, 2011, 11:16
This post exalts the many merits of the ESL Blog Carnival. Those of you who aren’t familiar with the work of Larry Ferlazzo are in for a treat. His blog…
- Where I'm coming from by: Adam
September 30, 2009, 13:57
I work in the School of Languages at Sabancı University, a private research institution located in Istanbul, Turkey, which was founded in 1996. The language…
- Welcome to a year in my teaching life by: Adam
September 30, 2009, 12:20
Over the course of the next year I'll be documenting various aspects of my life as an English teacher, inside and outside the classroom. I'll be tackling a…
- Video post: Application to develop reading speed by: Adam
- Category: The teacher perspective (48)
- 'Academic Writing' in three minutes by: Adam
January 7, 2012, 11:59
Simpson in blatant stopgap blog post shocker! Ok, I'm in the middle of writing a really long investigative journalism-type blog post and it's taking quite a…
- Just something we did in class: Modals of speculation by: Adam
December 28, 2011, 21:35
Sometimes I do cool stuff in class. So, I knew it was coming up and I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it. Nevertheless, the powers that be want it…
- 10 video clips that will help you to enter the world of Dogme ELT by: Adam
December 20, 2011, 22:23
Time for a bit of end-of-year reflection... and video clips. Have you ever actually tried to organize a piss up in a brewery? I mean, there’s this huge…
- Zeitguests: Lindsay Clandfield and Luke Meddings discuss 'the round' by: Adam
December 9, 2011, 17:52
I'm delighted that Lindsay Clandfield and Luke Meddings have taken the time to answer a few of my questions for their brand new publishing project. As Luke and…
- Have you ever wondered why your group activities fail to inspire students? by: Adam
November 15, 2011, 16:50
This post is deliberately intended to act as a continuation of an issue raised in Willy Cardoso’s guest post on Cecilia Lemos’ blog. I recommend reading…
- Zeitguest: ‘Keeping Students On Task Online’ by Marina Salsbury by: Adam
November 5, 2011, 11:35
Here is another fantastic guest post from Marina Salsbury, her second for my blog,in which she investigates how to effectively use online tasks. More…
- Why has it taken me so many years to use songs in my teaching? by: Adam
October 28, 2011, 21:34
Today, 28th October, 2011, I taught grammar through the medium of song for the first time. I have no idea whatsoever why it has taken me more than a decade to…
- Zeitguest: 'Should College Students Go Teach English?' by Marina Salsbury by: Adam
October 3, 2011, 20:37
Well, something's going right at the moment. Here I am, blessed with another fantastic guest post, this time from Marina Salsbury, who broaches a subject that…
- Zeitguest: Don’t cover the syllabus, UNCOVER it... by David Mearns by: Adam
September 1, 2011, 14:58
I'm delighted to be host to this fantastic guest post by David Mearns, a fellow English teacher here in Istanbul. I first met David more than a decade ago and…
- 30-something teacher seeks help overcoming exam blues by: Adam
August 4, 2011, 21:10
In this video post I plea for help in finding a nice way to give back not so great exam results. Any advice?
- What’s wrong with Russell Stannard’s Teacher Training Videos? by: Adam
July 29, 2011, 11:36
This provocatively titled post finds very little wrong with Russell Stannard's Teacher Training Videos website but asks that we all consider why we are using…
- Turning end-of-unit quizzes into competitions: A couple of PowerPoint games I sometimes use in class by: Adam
June 23, 2011, 14:20
This post features a couple of game formats that I find work really well when I want a change of pace / focus in class. I'm doing a workshop at school…
- Are you likely to be eaten by a Grue? Interactive Fiction in the Language Classroom by: Adam
June 10, 2011, 17:30
Here's a post about something I learned about at a conference that I'm considering using with my students. Back in early 1984, when I was ten years old, a…
- Five minute fixes: Compare and contrast outlines by: Adam
May 26, 2011, 13:48
Here's a post about how I teach comparison and contrast in the classroom, as well as an application I've started using to help my students organize their ideas.
- Why I went the tech route with my collaborative work by: Adam
May 13, 2011, 19:09
My post in defense of the use of technology in the classroom, with reasons why! Inspired by the wonderful Sue Lyon-Jones NOTE: If there's a big white space…
- Why is my class going so well? by: Adam
May 10, 2011, 21:06
My life is good post. You know how it is. The class isn’t going that well and a lot of the students just don’t seem to be motivated by what we’re…
- Nonsensical adoption of technology, 1970s style by: Adam
May 2, 2011, 10:59
This post is a gentle poke at people who unquestioningly advocate the inclusion of technolgy in the classroom without thinking through the implications. Uncrit…
- Anatomy of a full white board by: Adam
April 26, 2011, 14:26
This post briefly looks at the rationale behind some typical, unplanned board work. It just happened to come up while we were working through a couple of…
- Five minute fixes: Bubblr for creative writing by: Adam
April 19, 2011, 13:26
Here's something I've been playing around with recently and which might have practical classroom uses. I've previously looked into phrasr, also from the…
- Why are you a demotivated teacher? by: Adam
April 9, 2011, 11:23
This post focuses on decisions that are made outside of the classroom that can make us unhappy little bunnies. Motivation: if they’ve got it, you’re…
- Five minute fixes - Easy to use puzzle maker by: Adam
March 20, 2011, 18:07
This post explains how to use Discovery Education's wonderful 'PuzzleMaker' website. ‘Language learning is hard work… Effort is required at every moment…
- Sherlock Holmes' grammar error correction technique by: Adam
February 15, 2011, 14:13
This is a brief post critiquing Sherlock Holes' error correction technique. Not only is he an investigative mastermind, Sherlock Holmes is also a part-time…
- Zeitguest: @Rainim on 'to blog or not to blog' with students? by: Adam
January 25, 2011, 12:32
This is a guest post by my colleague Sibel Taskin Şimşek (@rainim) in which she showcases how she uses blogs with her students and asks for advice on how to…
- This is how stupid you look when you don't know how to operate an iPhone by: Adam
January 22, 2011, 12:01
This is a shortish post that aims to give a bit of perspective to those of us who are ignorant of emerging technological gadgetry. Ok then, for this post…
- What's wrong with this worksheet? by: Adam
January 13, 2011, 11:28
This is a post seeking feedback on the 'learner reflection' aspects of this exam practice worksheet. It's a follow up to this post. Warning! I'd very much…
- Do we need to join the 'teenage fan club'? by: Adam
January 12, 2011, 14:29
This is a very brief post linking to an article by the mighty, velvet-voiced Herbert Puchta. OK, do you know your Lady Gaga from your Jay-Z? Have I lost you…
- What do you make of this messy board work? by: Adam
December 15, 2010, 21:58
This post is a brief critique of a snapshot of my board work on any given day, and thoughts on how it is being put to use by my students. Sometimes you…
- Zeitguest: Turklish TEFL's Nick Jaworski by: Adam
December 13, 2010, 14:50
This post is an interview with Nick Jaworski, the blogger behind Tuklish TEFL, who has been teaching in Turkey since 2007 and has recently moved to China.
- Four text-to-speech resources you might like to try by: Adam
December 8, 2010, 15:44
This post discusses my investigations into various free online text-to-speech (TTS) resources. Before my class’ recent mid-term (which I talked about at…
- Five minute fixes: Make homework or do homework? by: Adam
November 26, 2010, 22:42
This post shows the practical uses of an online collocation tool. Try this and you'll solve any collocational query in less than five minutes. So, do we…
- My dilemma: How to prepare my students for their mid-term? by: Adam
November 24, 2010, 13:30
This post discusses methods I use to help students prepare for a mid-term exam. ====Thanks for dropping by! Click here if you'd like to receive 'one year'…
- Do my students like the way we bridge the gap between prep classes and freshman? by: Adam
November 5, 2010, 10:42
I’m delighted to be currently teaching upper intermediate students for the first time in more years than I care to mention. One of the great strengths of our…
- The one thing that all teachers need to remember every time they enter the classroom by: Adam
November 4, 2010, 09:42
This post shows us the importance of keeping an open mind. ====Hi. Click here to receive 'one year' by email==== Watch this short video clip and follow…
- Five minute fixes: Adding a visual touch to your example sentences by: Adam
October 15, 2010, 13:53
Try this and you'll spruce up those example sentences in less than five minutes. Have you ever wanted to get your students to add a visual touch to…
- What would you do... if you had to sit this exam? by: Adam
September 10, 2010, 13:19
What would you do if you had to sit the following exam? Why don't you give it a try? Sit yourself down with a nice glass of wine and slowly work your way…
- Learning styles... a load of rubbish? by: Adam
July 26, 2010, 11:13
This post contains links to a number of video clips discussing the notion of learning styles. Can it really have been way back in March that the great Scott…
- Getting my students to think by: Adam
July 1, 2010, 15:16
developing learner thinking skills
- Are you guilty of 'test tampering'? by: Adam
June 12, 2010, 08:09
Have you ever 'fixed' a test for any reason? This is an extremely emotive question and I wouldn't blame any of you for not answering. Personally, there's…
- I is for intermediate by: Adam
May 23, 2010, 15:25
Another term and I find myself back entrenched in the intermediate catch-22: it can be great fun and extremely satisfying teaching students who have an…
- Why I don’t use games in the language classroom by: Adam
May 14, 2010, 11:52
'Language learning is hard work... Effort is required at every moment and must be maintained over a long period of time. Games help and encourage many learners…
- Let them down easy? Dealing with students who fail exams by: Adam
April 16, 2010, 14:20
This week was a good way of getting back in the swing of things after the excitement of Harrogate. We had exams, which meant a lot of invigilation (!). It also…
- The six keys to maintaining discipline in the language classroom by: Adam
February 25, 2010, 15:15
I used to make dreadful mistakes when I started out as a teacher, like punishing the whole class for the misbehaviour of one or two individuals, but I've…
- The difference between boys and girls in the language classroom (and how to redress the balance) by: Adam
February 23, 2010, 14:23
The new semester is just starting and one of the first things I look at is the distribution of males and females in my classes. I’ve been teaching basic…
- How to avoid exam invigilation cockups (from someone who's been there) by: Adam
February 10, 2010, 14:32
Have you ever made a big mistake when invigilating an exam? If you haven’t then you surely rank among the superhuman. We mere mortals, however, are prone to…
- Invigilation blues (and how to beat them) by: Adam
January 30, 2010, 15:43
I've had a nasty bout of invigilation over the last week or so and I was wondering how others get through it. I mainly find it difficult maintaining concentrati…
- Why I don't like textbooks by: Adam
November 18, 2009, 15:46
The ever excellent Karenne has been writing a very well thought out list of reasons why she doesn't like text books (part 5 of the series here) on her Kalinago…
- Remembering students’ names by: Adam
October 5, 2009, 12:06
For the longest time, remembering names was a huge problem for me. In my first classes, way back when I started teaching, I was still struggling after several…
- First day of class - a teacher perspective by: Adam
October 4, 2009, 13:31
This was the first week of class at university. Throughout the course of the following year I will be asking lots of questions of my students. For this reason,…
- 'Academic Writing' in three minutes by: Adam
- Category: The student perspective (35)
- What would you do… if you had to sit this exam? Vol. 2 by: Adam
December 7, 2011, 17:32
I can’t believe it’s been more than a year since my last ‘What would you do… if you had to sit this exam?’ post. Well, I’m back with an even…
- Have you ever wondered why your group activities fail to inspire students? by: Adam
November 15, 2011, 16:50
This post is deliberately intended to act as a continuation of an issue raised in Willy Cardoso’s guest post on Cecilia Lemos’ blog. I recommend reading…
- Want to know how class is going? Why not ask the people who count? by: Adam
November 12, 2011, 13:14
Ever wanted to find out how your class is going? Why not ask the people who matter the most: your students. One of the things I wanted to do when I started…
- Why has it taken me so many years to use songs in my teaching? by: Adam
October 28, 2011, 21:34
Today, 28th October, 2011, I taught grammar through the medium of song for the first time. I have no idea whatsoever why it has taken me more than a decade to…
- Zeitguest: Don’t cover the syllabus, UNCOVER it... by David Mearns by: Adam
September 1, 2011, 14:58
I'm delighted to be host to this fantastic guest post by David Mearns, a fellow English teacher here in Istanbul. I first met David more than a decade ago and…
- 30-something teacher seeks help overcoming exam blues by: Adam
August 4, 2011, 21:10
In this video post I plea for help in finding a nice way to give back not so great exam results. Any advice?
- What’s wrong with Russell Stannard’s Teacher Training Videos? by: Adam
July 29, 2011, 11:36
This provocatively titled post finds very little wrong with Russell Stannard's Teacher Training Videos website but asks that we all consider why we are using…
- Are you likely to be eaten by a Grue? Interactive Fiction in the Language Classroom by: Adam
June 10, 2011, 17:30
Here's a post about something I learned about at a conference that I'm considering using with my students. Back in early 1984, when I was ten years old, a…
- Five minute fixes: Compare and contrast outlines by: Adam
May 26, 2011, 13:48
Here's a post about how I teach comparison and contrast in the classroom, as well as an application I've started using to help my students organize their ideas.
- Why I went the tech route with my collaborative work by: Adam
May 13, 2011, 19:09
My post in defense of the use of technology in the classroom, with reasons why! Inspired by the wonderful Sue Lyon-Jones NOTE: If there's a big white space…
- Why is my class going so well? by: Adam
May 10, 2011, 21:06
My life is good post. You know how it is. The class isn’t going that well and a lot of the students just don’t seem to be motivated by what we’re…
- Anatomy of a full white board by: Adam
April 26, 2011, 14:26
This post briefly looks at the rationale behind some typical, unplanned board work. It just happened to come up while we were working through a couple of…
- Five minute fixes: Bubblr for creative writing by: Adam
April 19, 2011, 13:26
Here's something I've been playing around with recently and which might have practical classroom uses. I've previously looked into phrasr, also from the…
- Five minute fixes - Easy to use puzzle maker by: Adam
March 20, 2011, 18:07
This post explains how to use Discovery Education's wonderful 'PuzzleMaker' website. ‘Language learning is hard work… Effort is required at every moment…
- Sherlock Holmes' grammar error correction technique by: Adam
February 15, 2011, 14:13
This is a brief post critiquing Sherlock Holes' error correction technique. Not only is he an investigative mastermind, Sherlock Holmes is also a part-time…
- Zeitguest: @Rainim on 'to blog or not to blog' with students? by: Adam
January 25, 2011, 12:32
This is a guest post by my colleague Sibel Taskin Şimşek (@rainim) in which she showcases how she uses blogs with her students and asks for advice on how to…
- This is how stupid you look when you don't know how to operate an iPhone by: Adam
January 22, 2011, 12:01
This is a shortish post that aims to give a bit of perspective to those of us who are ignorant of emerging technological gadgetry. Ok then, for this post…
- 10 contemporary motivation theories and how they explain why your students just aren't 'into it' by: Adam
January 19, 2011, 17:15
This is a post summarising contemporary notions on what motivation involves, along with questions to encourage reflection on why some students don't enjoy…
- What's wrong with this worksheet? by: Adam
January 13, 2011, 11:28
This is a post seeking feedback on the 'learner reflection' aspects of this exam practice worksheet. It's a follow up to this post. Warning! I'd very much…
- Do we need to join the 'teenage fan club'? by: Adam
January 12, 2011, 14:29
This is a very brief post linking to an article by the mighty, velvet-voiced Herbert Puchta. OK, do you know your Lady Gaga from your Jay-Z? Have I lost you…
- 10 from 2010, aka the last post of the year! (part two) by: Adam
December 21, 2010, 13:06
This post is the second part of my 2010 blog retrospective (part one here). Right, I'm definitely done this time. Thanks again for visiting my blog in 2010.…
- What do you make of this messy board work? by: Adam
December 15, 2010, 21:58
This post is a brief critique of a snapshot of my board work on any given day, and thoughts on how it is being put to use by my students. Sometimes you…
- Four text-to-speech resources you might like to try by: Adam
December 8, 2010, 15:44
This post discusses my investigations into various free online text-to-speech (TTS) resources. Before my class’ recent mid-term (which I talked about at…
- My dilemma: How to prepare my students for their mid-term? by: Adam
November 24, 2010, 13:30
This post discusses methods I use to help students prepare for a mid-term exam. ====Thanks for dropping by! Click here if you'd like to receive 'one year'…
- Do my students like the way we bridge the gap between prep classes and freshman? by: Adam
November 5, 2010, 10:42
I’m delighted to be currently teaching upper intermediate students for the first time in more years than I care to mention. One of the great strengths of our…
- Is this really how to get high student evaluations? by: Adam
September 27, 2010, 14:12
Are you evaluated by your students? I am, and it is something that leaves me in a constant state of wonder. Despite the fact that my evaluations are generally…
- What would you do... if you had to sit this exam? by: Adam
September 10, 2010, 13:19
What would you do if you had to sit the following exam? Why don't you give it a try? Sit yourself down with a nice glass of wine and slowly work your way…
- Getting my students to think by: Adam
July 1, 2010, 15:16
developing learner thinking skills
- Why I don’t use games in the language classroom by: Adam
May 14, 2010, 11:52
'Language learning is hard work... Effort is required at every moment and must be maintained over a long period of time. Games help and encourage many learners…
- Let them down easy? Dealing with students who fail exams by: Adam
April 16, 2010, 14:20
This week was a good way of getting back in the swing of things after the excitement of Harrogate. We had exams, which meant a lot of invigilation (!). It also…
- The difference between boys and girls in the language classroom (and how to redress the balance) by: Adam
February 23, 2010, 14:23
The new semester is just starting and one of the first things I look at is the distribution of males and females in my classes. I’ve been teaching basic…
- The student's fear of the exam #2: The writing exam by: Adam
December 9, 2009, 14:27
Another week, another exam. If it sometimes feels like that as a teacher, try to imagine how it feels to be the learner, dealing with one high stakes situation…
- The student's fear of the exam #1: The speaking exam by: Adam
November 28, 2009, 15:09
How do you feel about exams? My feelings about exams are that they are a good thing if they are a fair representation of a student’s ability, i.e. they…
- Are your students happy? by: Adam
November 2, 2009, 16:00
How often do you ask your students how they feel? I’m not talking about the ‘Hi, how are you’ type thing with which you’ll be met with ‘Fine, thanks,…
- First day of class – a student perspective by: Adam
October 10, 2009, 14:41
After finding out what those of us (traditionally) at the front of the classroom think about day one, the logical next step was to ask the other lot how they…
- What would you do… if you had to sit this exam? Vol. 2 by: Adam
- Category: The life of an english teacher (89)
- From Dubai to Glasgow, via the Carnival by: Adam
February 22, 2012, 20:06
Some people are on my blog… they think it’s all over… it is now! The Teaching English Blogathon 2012 finishing line has been finally ripped apart.…
- My Blogathon adventure in full by: Adam
February 11, 2012, 12:59
My blog has been fairly quiet over the course of the last month and with good reason. I've been participating in the British Council / BBC Blogathon. The…
- Online Learning Fallacies: Employers don't recognize the value of online degrees by: Adam
February 5, 2012, 21:02
To study online or not to study online? Is that even a question? I’m cautiously thinking of entering into the world of online education. I’m not doing…
- Online Learning Fallacies: Online academic courses are undemanding by: Adam
February 4, 2012, 17:01
To study online or not to study online? Is that even a question? I’ve made a decision: it’s about time I got more qualified. OK, all this blogging,…
- Social media tips for those who are in the public eye by: Adam
January 24, 2012, 17:50
If you’re new to the public eye, you may be a bit concerned about the impact of social media on your personal and professional life. You’re right to be…
- Sometimes it snows in Istanbul by: Adam
January 16, 2012, 20:16
For those of you who think that Istanbul is a tropical paradise throughout the year... think again! It's nice to be safe and warm at home on an evening…
- The Tragic Case of the Riyadh Bar Brawl by: Adam
January 10, 2012, 21:30
My intention here is not to condone, nor is it to condemn. Merely consider it a cautionary tale for all those of us who reside in countries with radically…
- Raising money for schools by: Adam
December 19, 2011, 11:53
My wife – and therefore me, too – has recently become involved in Elementary School Fundraising. This is significant because not many school projects could…
- Zeitguests: Lindsay Clandfield and Luke Meddings discuss 'the round' by: Adam
December 9, 2011, 17:52
I'm delighted that Lindsay Clandfield and Luke Meddings have taken the time to answer a few of my questions for their brand new publishing project. As Luke and…
- 31 resources for teaching the language of graphs, plus one website that allows you to make your own by: Adam
December 8, 2011, 10:53
If that’s not a snappy title for a blog post then I don’t know what is. You have to teach the language of graphs and you can’t find that perfect graph…
- 11 from '11: The best of your posts from this year (blog challenge) by: Adam
November 30, 2011, 16:16
11 from 11: like it says on the tin. Hi folks. I’m currently trying really hard not to write up my blog post about the recent Doğuş University ELT…
- Is this really what a year's worth of tweeting looks like? by: Adam
November 6, 2011, 21:48
What have I been tweeting for the last year? If your name appears here it either means that your tweets are so brilliant I can't help replying or retweeting...…
- A day in the life of an ELT conference presenter by: Adam
October 26, 2011, 14:26
This post is an hour-by-hourish description of a typical day presenting at an ELT conference. 04:00am The alarm goes off and a couple of things come to…
- So much I want to blog about, so little time! by: Adam
October 16, 2011, 17:11
A summary post of recent activity with excuses galore as to why I haven't been blogging recently. Well, blogging is like waiting for the proverbial bus: You…
- Zeitguest: 'Should College Students Go Teach English?' by Marina Salsbury by: Adam
October 3, 2011, 20:37
Well, something's going right at the moment. Here I am, blessed with another fantastic guest post, this time from Marina Salsbury, who broaches a subject that…
- Lies, damn lies and new classes by: Adam
October 3, 2011, 14:28
You might well have tried the '5 things about me' activity, where you list a series of facts and the students have to guess which are true and which are false.…
- A quest to become a better teacher: A blog challenge PART 1 by: Adam
September 29, 2011, 20:11
Another academic year is beginning and this seems as good a time as any to do a bit of self evaluation. Over the course of this and three more posts I will be…
- I'm bogged down with admin... but should I be? by: Adam
September 26, 2011, 14:56
A new academic year has begun and I'm trying to stay afloat of the admin load. Should I be struggling like this, though? According to the DfES…
- My teaching entire philosophy captured in one photo by: Adam
September 20, 2011, 11:26
This is (another) stop-gap post to let you know I'm still alive and will be back to blogging when things are a little less hectic. I just took this photo to…
- Five Minute Fixes: Getting your references correctly formatted by: Adam
September 7, 2011, 12:53
Thanks to Nik Peachey for suggesting Cite This For Me. The video clip should explain it all.
- Zeitguest: Don’t cover the syllabus, UNCOVER it... by David Mearns by: Adam
September 1, 2011, 14:58
I'm delighted to be host to this fantastic guest post by David Mearns, a fellow English teacher here in Istanbul. I first met David more than a decade ago and…
- Going Paperless: You’ve got to be kidding by: Adam
August 26, 2011, 12:02
This post sees me reflect on the need to cut down on paper without committing to going paperless. So, it’s the time of year when I invoke the Roman God…
- The lowdown on teaching English in Turkey: Dave Dodgson's blog series by: Adam
August 24, 2011, 11:10
This post directs you to a series of posts being compiled by a fellow Turkish ELTer. Hi all, this is a quickie stop gap post to help the blog tick over…
- 30-something teacher seeks help overcoming exam blues by: Adam
August 4, 2011, 21:10
In this video post I plea for help in finding a nice way to give back not so great exam results. Any advice?
- What’s wrong with Russell Stannard’s Teacher Training Videos? by: Adam
July 29, 2011, 11:36
This provocatively titled post finds very little wrong with Russell Stannard's Teacher Training Videos website but asks that we all consider why we are using…
- Brain no work by: Adam
July 26, 2011, 16:48
Hi all, I'm back from a month's holiday and my brain is failing to respond in the way that I seem to recall it used to. I'll be back to blogging when I fully…
- The fall and rise of Adam J. Simpson: A year in my teaching life by: Adam
July 8, 2011, 16:37
This post offers solidarity to all those of us who are evaluated by our students. We’ve all hit rock bottom sometimes, so let’s enjoy the high points. My…
- Turning end-of-unit quizzes into competitions: A couple of PowerPoint games I sometimes use in class by: Adam
June 23, 2011, 14:20
This post features a couple of game formats that I find work really well when I want a change of pace / focus in class. I'm doing a workshop at school…
- The zombie apocalypse and its role in the ELT classroom by: Adam
June 16, 2011, 09:01
One of the great things about being a childish idiot geeky nerd is that I can relate to what’s going on in the minds of a lot of my students. Like (too) many…
- Are you likely to be eaten by a Grue? Interactive Fiction in the Language Classroom by: Adam
June 10, 2011, 17:30
Here's a post about something I learned about at a conference that I'm considering using with my students. Back in early 1984, when I was ten years old, a…
- 3 cunning ways to make your handouts as eco-friendly as possible by: Adam
May 31, 2011, 12:47
My 'tree huggin' hippy crap' post. We didn’t get into this profession for the money or the jet set lifestyle. We care about the World, don’t we? That…
- Anatomy of a full white board by: Adam
April 26, 2011, 14:26
This post briefly looks at the rationale behind some typical, unplanned board work. It just happened to come up while we were working through a couple of…
- Too much information? by: Adam
April 14, 2011, 11:08
You want my phone number? I don't think so. I received this email from the British Council (Turkey) the other day. I guess I'm on some BC mailing…
- Why are you a demotivated teacher? by: Adam
April 9, 2011, 11:23
This post focuses on decisions that are made outside of the classroom that can make us unhappy little bunnies. Motivation: if they’ve got it, you’re…
- An unsponsored post by: Adam
April 6, 2011, 11:13
This post is in praise of English Raven. Those 10 years passed quickly. On yer, Jason.Related BlogsProgram Plan: The Social Media Center of…
- The ELT Conference: Our profession's moral blindspot? by: Adam
March 31, 2011, 19:10
This post poses a moral question to all those who attend ELT conferences. “We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side; one which we preach but do…
- Adam’s continuing adventures in guest posting by: Adam
March 30, 2011, 17:27
This post details more shameless self promotion in the form of a link to a post I've written for another blog. Well, after having managed to somehow…
- Izmir 2011: Reflections on the IEU Conference by: Adam
March 28, 2011, 14:28
This post details my reflections on ‘Squaring the Circle’: the 1st IEU International ELT Conference The issue of competence versus performance in…
- Squaring the Circle - Images from Izmir by: Adam
March 27, 2011, 18:34
I'm back from Izmir and getting ready to get back to teaching tomorrow. The transition is always a strange one. I didn't take too many pictures and they're…
- Off to Izmir by: Adam
March 24, 2011, 12:31
Well, I'm off to Izmir tomorrow to attend - and present at - the Izmir University of Economics first international ELT conference. The conference theme is…
- Your 2011 Turkey ELT conference planner by: Adam
March 18, 2011, 20:36
This post gives details of upcoming conferences in Turkey from March to October, 2011. I'll be attending at least three of them, so hope to see you there! He…
- Five minute fixes: Using Google's wonderwheel to generate ideas by: Adam
March 12, 2011, 09:10
well, with the terrible things that are happening in Japan, I'm in no mood to be blogging. My thoughts are with everyone there: stay as safe as you can. Some…
- What's your English? by: Adam
March 4, 2011, 15:32
This post is a short 'funny' about the differences between British and North American English. Have a nice weekend, everyone. Related Blogs
- How I developed an academic vocabulary syllabus (part two) by: Adam
March 4, 2011, 15:04
This is the second of two posts describing the initial and continuing development of an academic vocabulary syllabus (part one here). Taking it to the next…
- Five minute fixes: Adding fonts to word by: Adam
February 14, 2011, 16:03
This post describes how you add new fonts to word and offers evidence as to why you might want to. Have you ever wanted to be able to use a wider…
- Holiday... celebrate! by: Adam
February 8, 2011, 12:53
Holiday post! Well, I'm on holiday and will be taking a break from blogging / tweeting / anything to do with a computer. Thanks to everyone who's visited…
- An approach to teaching writing I won't be trying with my students by: Adam
February 2, 2011, 09:44
This is a fun video clip from my musical hero, Mark E. Smith. Please don't take this seriously. There's one too many trips to the pub here for my liking. …
- What goes into holding a conference and why you should be happy to pay for the privilege of attending by: Adam
January 31, 2011, 19:21
This post describes the process of planning and executing a conference. It draws on the knowledge of an anonymous expert. It is hoped that you will feel more…
- Sometimes this job is just great by: Adam
January 27, 2011, 22:47
A 'life is good' post. I just received this email from one of my students: Hi Adam, I am just writing to thank you because I am happy to say that I…
- Zeitguest: @Rainim on 'to blog or not to blog' with students? by: Adam
January 25, 2011, 12:32
This is a guest post by my colleague Sibel Taskin Şimşek (@rainim) in which she showcases how she uses blogs with her students and asks for advice on how to…
- Five minute fixes: 3 things that can help you make better use of youtube in the classroom by: Adam
January 24, 2011, 12:30
This post explores three online tools that enable you to exploit YouTube video clips more effectively in class. Listen, I've been there, I know how it is.…
- Zeitguest: @EclipsingX's Sharon Turner (AKA Twitter Diary of a Tweeting novice) WEEK TWO by: Adam
January 18, 2011, 22:42
This is another guest post (I could get used to this) from my colleague, Sharon Turner, in which she describes her first week on Twitter. Twitter Diary of a…
- Zeitguest: @EclipsingX's Sharon Turner (AKA Twitter Diary of a Tweeting novice) WEEK ONE by: Adam
January 14, 2011, 14:21
This is a guest post from my colleague, Sharon Turner, in which she describes her first week on Twitter. Twitter Diary of a Tweeting novice: A compilation…
- My social network career by: Adam
January 11, 2011, 12:05
This is a mind map showing how social networking has impacted on my life over the last five or six years. So, I'm neither an early adopter nor a technophobe.…
- This is how I download video clips to my laptop by: Adam
January 9, 2011, 21:23
This is a post describing how I use the CLIPTA plug-in for Firefox to enable me to download all the great clips I find on YouTube. It's the 21st century and…
- How to Tweet: Twitter for absolute beginners by: Adam
January 4, 2011, 14:07
This post is a PowerPoint offering advice for those using twitter for the first time. Never used twitter? Not sure how to get started? Here's your step by…
- Five minute fixes: ELT Pics by: Adam
January 2, 2011, 18:37
This post aims to promote the marvelous ELT pics resource, a collection of copyright free pictures that English teachers can use as they wish. Well, I'm…
- 10 from 2010, aka the last post of the year! (part two) by: Adam
December 21, 2010, 13:06
This post is the second part of my 2010 blog retrospective (part one here). Right, I'm definitely done this time. Thanks again for visiting my blog in 2010.…
- 10 from 2010, aka the last post of the year! (part one) by: Adam
December 20, 2010, 23:32
This post is the first part of my 2010 blog retrospective (part two here). Dear all, it's been a crazy ride this year, one in which I've taken the blogging…
- Zeitguest: Turklish TEFL's Nick Jaworski by: Adam
December 13, 2010, 14:50
This post is an interview with Nick Jaworski, the blogger behind Tuklish TEFL, who has been teaching in Turkey since 2007 and has recently moved to China.
- Five minute fixes: Make homework or do homework? by: Adam
November 26, 2010, 22:42
This post shows the practical uses of an online collocation tool. Try this and you'll solve any collocational query in less than five minutes. So, do we…
- It's always good to get a bit of perspective by: Adam
November 15, 2010, 12:33
This post discusses my response to being rejected by a publisher. ====HEY! Click here to receive 'one year' by email==== Oh well, you win some, you lose…
- My twitter challenge: Ten people I follow on twitter and why by: Adam
November 12, 2010, 09:45
This post introduces ten people I follow on twitter. ====HEY! Click here to receive 'one year' by email==== Time for a challenge. In order to promote a…
- Teacher stuff happening in Turkey by: Adam
November 10, 2010, 15:02
This posts lists upcoming conferences and teacher training events in Turkey. ====HEY! Click here to receive 'one year' by email==== This is another post…
- 6 great things to do while you’re commuting by: Adam
October 29, 2010, 12:16
This post introduces six activities you can do on your way to and from work.
- Adam’s adventures in mind mapping: Part one by: Adam
October 25, 2010, 14:35
Do you ever use mind maps with your students? Mind maps are, basically, a visual method of taking notes. For those of us who give credence to learning styles,…
- Branching out into guest posting by: Adam
October 14, 2010, 09:28
This is a short post about my guest piece on Lindsay Clandfield's 'Six Things' blog. Well, I'm delighted that the mighty Lindsay Clandfield has been…
- Is this really how to get high student evaluations? by: Adam
September 27, 2010, 14:12
Are you evaluated by your students? I am, and it is something that leaves me in a constant state of wonder. Despite the fact that my evaluations are generally…
- How to prepare a teaching portfolio: Part 3 – Handing it in and beyond by: Adam
September 24, 2010, 09:47
In the third and final part - leading on from parts one and two, as tradition dictates - of my mini series of posts on teaching portfolios I’ll be looking at…
- How to prepare a teaching portfolio: part two – putting it together by: Adam
September 21, 2010, 08:41
Last time as you may recall I rattled on a bit about getting going with your portfolio, which is, to give it as brief a definition as possible, is a massively…
- How to prepare a teaching portfolio: Part one - getting started by: Adam
September 17, 2010, 12:12
I’ve been busy recently, as busy as anyone who has had to – as opposed to wanted to – put together a teaching portfolio will attest. It’s not that I…
- The IATEFL English for Specific Purposes SIG Conference: Ankara June 18th-19th 2010 by: Adam
June 22, 2010, 11:16
The IATEFL English for Specific Purposes SIG Conference in Ankara brought together teachers from not only Turkey but from around the World to discuss contempora…
- Off to Ankara by: Adam
June 16, 2010, 12:17
Far from being my favourite city, I ztill have to go to Anakara from time to time. This weekend I'll be there for the IATEFL ESP SIG CONFERENCE at Bilkent…
- IATEFL Harrogate: Day 3 by: Adam
April 10, 2010, 16:30
I was busy putting the last minute touches to my presentation for most of the day, so I won't be commenting on other sessions today. If you're visiting…
- IATEFL Harrogate: Day 2 by: Adam
April 9, 2010, 20:27
Another busy and fruitful day at the conference. Here are a few more pics, together with highlights of a couple of sessions I attended. What do we mean by…
- IATEFL Harrogate: Day 1 by: Adam
April 8, 2010, 22:38
A very enjoyable first day, got to see some excellent presentations. Couldn't see everyone I wanted, but still a great day. Here are some pics from a few of…
- Lesson planning: for dummies? by: Adam
April 1, 2010, 20:36
I’m teaching the enticingly named ‘7.3’ in Total English intermediate tomorrow, so like all good teachers I take a look at what that will entail today by…
- Surviving the TEFL conference by: Adam
March 23, 2010, 10:41
Have you ever presented at or even attended a TEFL conference? I've been to more than my fair share; I’ve even presented at a few, and was wondering if you…
- Making the most of your conference presentation – get it published by: Adam
March 17, 2010, 17:58
I’ve had a chapter published in the impressively titled TESOL Arabia publication, ‘Developing Oral Skills in English: Theory, Research and Pedagogy’. In…
- How to present at a conference: Part 4 – Delivering your presentation by: Adam
March 10, 2010, 10:22
Well, I’ve just found out today that I will be giving my IATEFL presentation at 17:50 in the evening on the final day of a grueling three-day marathon. The…
- How to present at a conference: Part 3 – Developing your presentation by: Adam
March 6, 2010, 13:12
The title of this third part in my series on presenting at conferences is quite pertinent, as it’s exactly what I should be doing now. So, in order to help…
- How to present at a conference: Part 2 - Creating a proposal by: Adam
March 3, 2010, 14:45
One of the most rewarding ways of becoming more involved in your profession, I believe, is through presenting at a conference. For the large part, audiences…
- How to present at a conference: Part 1 - Taking the first steps by: Adam
March 1, 2010, 21:34
It was early June, 2004 and my year-long slog with DELTA had finally come to an end. As fulfilling an experience as it was when it was finally over, I was…
- How to avoid exam invigilation cockups (from someone who's been there) by: Adam
February 10, 2010, 14:32
Have you ever made a big mistake when invigilating an exam? If you haven’t then you surely rank among the superhuman. We mere mortals, however, are prone to…
- Working on Christmas Day- no thanks! by: Adam
December 24, 2009, 11:45
I remember way back in the 1990s phoning my girlfriend (now my wife) here in Turkey on December 25th to wish her a happy Christmas. Not only was I surprised…
- The IATEFL TEA SIG Conference in Cyprus by: Adam
October 30, 2009, 13:15
Well, my brief sojourn in Cyprus is over, which was a nice break, in addition of course to getting to hear a lot of innovative ideas about the teaching and…
- Conference time! by: Adam
October 21, 2009, 12:40
Hi all, I'm going to a conference on assessing speaking in Northern Cyprus; this should by no means be regarded as me enjoying a few days in the Mediterranean…
- Is it in the nature of the job to move to different countries? by: Adam
October 16, 2009, 15:10
Have you ever moved to another country for a new teaching job? If so, what was it that finally tempted you to do it? These were the questions I posed to…
- How long is your commute to and from work? by: Adam
October 9, 2009, 14:19
For English teachers living abroad as much as anyone else in the working world, your commute to and from the job can take up a significant part of your day.…
- From Dubai to Glasgow, via the Carnival by: Adam
- Category: Theory (23)
- 10 video clips that will help you to enter the world of Dogme ELT by: Adam
December 20, 2011, 22:23
Time for a bit of end-of-year reflection... and video clips. Have you ever actually tried to organize a piss up in a brewery? I mean, there’s this huge…
- Zeitguest: The Merits of Social Media and Modern Modes of Communication in Education by Maria Rainier by: Adam
December 4, 2011, 18:42
Maria Rainier thankfully eases my blogging load with a guest post in which she shares her thoughts on the place of social media in education. Since social…
- Have you ever wondered why your group activities fail to inspire students? by: Adam
November 15, 2011, 16:50
This post is deliberately intended to act as a continuation of an issue raised in Willy Cardoso’s guest post on Cecilia Lemos’ blog. I recommend reading…
- Zeitguest: ‘Keeping Students On Task Online’ by Marina Salsbury by: Adam
November 5, 2011, 11:35
Here is another fantastic guest post from Marina Salsbury, her second for my blog,in which she investigates how to effectively use online tasks. More…
- Why has it taken me so many years to use songs in my teaching? by: Adam
October 28, 2011, 21:34
Today, 28th October, 2011, I taught grammar through the medium of song for the first time. I have no idea whatsoever why it has taken me more than a decade to…
- Zeitguest: 'Rewriting Comics when Teaching English to Students' by Lindsey Wright by: Adam
June 27, 2011, 21:35
I'm delighted to host this fantastic guest post from Lindsey Wright The rules of grammar, punctuation, and style, in any language, are often difficult for…
- Are you likely to be eaten by a Grue? Interactive Fiction in the Language Classroom by: Adam
June 10, 2011, 17:30
Here's a post about something I learned about at a conference that I'm considering using with my students. Back in early 1984, when I was ten years old, a…
- Five minute fixes: Compare and contrast outlines by: Adam
May 26, 2011, 13:48
Here's a post about how I teach comparison and contrast in the classroom, as well as an application I've started using to help my students organize their ideas.
- Why I went the tech route with my collaborative work by: Adam
May 13, 2011, 19:09
My post in defense of the use of technology in the classroom, with reasons why! Inspired by the wonderful Sue Lyon-Jones NOTE: If there's a big white space…
- Why is my class going so well? by: Adam
May 10, 2011, 21:06
My life is good post. You know how it is. The class isn’t going that well and a lot of the students just don’t seem to be motivated by what we’re…
- How I developed an academic vocabulary syllabus (part two) by: Adam
March 4, 2011, 15:04
This is the second of two posts describing the initial and continuing development of an academic vocabulary syllabus (part one here). Taking it to the next…
- How I developed an academic vocabulary syllabus (part one) by: Adam
February 23, 2011, 15:30
This is the first of two posts describing the initial and continuing development of an academic vocabulary syllabus. This post has been some five or six…
- Turkish for beginners #1: 'red' and 'white' by: Adam
February 19, 2011, 16:17
This is the first in my extremely lighthearted introduction to the Turkish language. When I were a lad (that's perfectly acceptable 'regional grammar' from…
- 10 contemporary motivation theories and how they explain why your students just aren't 'into it' by: Adam
January 19, 2011, 17:15
This is a post summarising contemporary notions on what motivation involves, along with questions to encourage reflection on why some students don't enjoy…
- Up or down? by: Adam
December 12, 2010, 17:33
This post is a very brief addendum to Scott Thornbury's blog post on the linguistic implications of the link between the body and the mind.
- Time for a text message rethink? by: Adam
December 10, 2010, 14:53
This is a short follow up to an old post about the benefits of text messaging.
- Is this really bad grammar? by: Adam
December 4, 2010, 18:48
This post is a discussion of what to do when students encounter poor native speaker grammar. What do you do when your students encounter audio or video of…
- Adam’s adventures in mind mapping: Part one by: Adam
October 25, 2010, 14:35
Do you ever use mind maps with your students? Mind maps are, basically, a visual method of taking notes. For those of us who give credence to learning styles,…
- Have you ever been interrobanged? by: Adam
October 7, 2010, 10:48
This post is about the mysterious 'interrobang' punctuation symbol.
- What would you do... if you had to sit this exam? by: Adam
September 10, 2010, 13:19
What would you do if you had to sit the following exam? Why don't you give it a try? Sit yourself down with a nice glass of wine and slowly work your way…
- Learning styles... a load of rubbish? by: Adam
July 26, 2010, 11:13
This post contains links to a number of video clips discussing the notion of learning styles. Can it really have been way back in March that the great Scott…
- The IATEFL English for Specific Purposes SIG Conference: Ankara June 18th-19th 2010 by: Adam
June 22, 2010, 11:16
The IATEFL English for Specific Purposes SIG Conference in Ankara brought together teachers from not only Turkey but from around the World to discuss contempora…
- Why texting is good for the English language by: Adam
May 28, 2010, 11:11
Can examples like this really be good for the English language? David Crystal certainly thinks so and puts forward a very convincing argument. There they…
- 10 video clips that will help you to enter the world of Dogme ELT by: Adam
- Category: Opinion (22)
- Thanks for the nomination... now don't vote for me! by: Adam
February 1, 2012, 18:15
To totally avoid confusion, I should mention that I posted this after the voting had closed, so this is in no way an attempt to canvass for votes. I was…
- Not my EduBlogs Awards nominees by: Adam
November 21, 2011, 15:56
These are not my EduBlog Awards nominations. Let’s get one thing completely straight: these are not my nominations for the EduBlog awards. In fact, all I…
- Going Paperless: You’ve got to be kidding by: Adam
August 26, 2011, 12:02
This post sees me reflect on the need to cut down on paper without committing to going paperless. So, it’s the time of year when I invoke the Roman God…
- What’s wrong with Russell Stannard’s Teacher Training Videos? by: Adam
July 29, 2011, 11:36
This provocatively titled post finds very little wrong with Russell Stannard's Teacher Training Videos website but asks that we all consider why we are using…
- Are You One of the TEFL Industry’s Useful Idiots? by: Adam
May 3, 2011, 17:23
Welcome to my conspiracy theory/we're all being brainwashed post. Edward Bernays. Edward who? Never heard of him. Don’t worry, there’s no reason you…
- Too much information? by: Adam
April 14, 2011, 11:08
You want my phone number? I don't think so. I received this email from the British Council (Turkey) the other day. I guess I'm on some BC mailing…
- Why are you a demotivated teacher? by: Adam
April 9, 2011, 11:23
This post focuses on decisions that are made outside of the classroom that can make us unhappy little bunnies. Motivation: if they’ve got it, you’re…
- The ELT Conference: Our profession's moral blindspot? by: Adam
March 31, 2011, 19:10
This post poses a moral question to all those who attend ELT conferences. “We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side by side; one which we preach but do…
- Izmir 2011: Reflections on the IEU Conference by: Adam
March 28, 2011, 14:28
This post details my reflections on ‘Squaring the Circle’: the 1st IEU International ELT Conference The issue of competence versus performance in…
- What goes into holding a conference and why you should be happy to pay for the privilege of attending by: Adam
January 31, 2011, 19:21
This post describes the process of planning and executing a conference. It draws on the knowledge of an anonymous expert. It is hoped that you will feel more…
- 10 contemporary motivation theories and how they explain why your students just aren't 'into it' by: Adam
January 19, 2011, 17:15
This is a post summarising contemporary notions on what motivation involves, along with questions to encourage reflection on why some students don't enjoy…
- Do we need to join the 'teenage fan club'? by: Adam
January 12, 2011, 14:29
This is a very brief post linking to an article by the mighty, velvet-voiced Herbert Puchta. OK, do you know your Lady Gaga from your Jay-Z? Have I lost you…
- Time for a text message rethink? by: Adam
December 10, 2010, 14:53
This is a short follow up to an old post about the benefits of text messaging.
- Is this really bad grammar? by: Adam
December 4, 2010, 18:48
This post is a discussion of what to do when students encounter poor native speaker grammar. What do you do when your students encounter audio or video of…
- My Edublogs awards nominees by: Adam
December 1, 2010, 23:52
This is a post showcasing my edublog awards nominees. Another year, another EduBlogs awards nomination post. Having said that, I've never actually written…
- My twitter challenge: Ten people I follow on twitter and why by: Adam
November 12, 2010, 09:45
This post introduces ten people I follow on twitter. ====HEY! Click here to receive 'one year' by email==== Time for a challenge. In order to promote a…
- My blog's hidden gems by: Adam
November 7, 2010, 11:23
This post showcases six of my favourite posts from this blog... enjoy! ====HEY! Click here to receive 'one year' by email==== This post is inspired by…
- The one thing that all teachers need to remember every time they enter the classroom by: Adam
November 4, 2010, 09:42
This post shows us the importance of keeping an open mind. ====Hi. Click here to receive 'one year' by email==== Watch this short video clip and follow…
- Six reasons to be wary of social networking by: Adam
September 4, 2010, 11:27
While I was skiing a few months ago I observed a situation which made me feel old, well, at least found me pining for simpler times. Sitting a a table near me…
- Learning styles... a load of rubbish? by: Adam
July 26, 2010, 11:13
This post contains links to a number of video clips discussing the notion of learning styles. Can it really have been way back in March that the great Scott…
- Are you guilty of 'test tampering'? by: Adam
June 12, 2010, 08:09
Have you ever 'fixed' a test for any reason? This is an extremely emotive question and I wouldn't blame any of you for not answering. Personally, there's…
- Why texting is good for the English language by: Adam
May 28, 2010, 11:11
Can examples like this really be good for the English language? David Crystal certainly thinks so and puts forward a very convincing argument. There they…
- Thanks for the nomination... now don't vote for me! by: Adam
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