Category: Miscellaneous

A grab bag

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The Dimensions of the present moment

When I was a young(er) teacher, quite cut off and alone in a town in the Czech Rep. — one of the books that were my best friends was “The Dimensions of the Present Moment” – a collection of essays by the Czech immunologist /...

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Teaching as a Rube Goldberg machine….

Teaching affects eternity. It really does. Our lives affect eternity but not near as perfectly and precisely, not near as powerfully nor presciently as teaching. I’ve been thinking lately about my own affect – how I stumbled along and began EFL Classroom about 15 years ago...

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Teaching Swear Words

“I am my language.” What a powerful phrase about how language is so wrapped up with identity. Both our own personal identity and our social identity in a larger group. A language learner aims to get to the moment where they “flow” with the language...

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Community Changes In 2015

We have a great community which over the last 10 years has provided teachers around the world with incredible resources and information.  EFL Classroom 2.0. It’s been a great ride and continues to be so! However, times change and as of Jan. 01, 2015, the...

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Stories from the trenches 4

This story comes from my time teaching at Bloor and Bay, 5th floor, N.E tower – Language Connections International. I was teaching new immigrants to Canada part of the day, foreign students the other half. Small classrooms with one wall all windows facing busy Bloor...

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ELT Golden Raspberry Awards

Well, it is that season again. You know the one – the one where everyone is tweeting and posting about all the “best” bloggers (their online buddies) and posting all their little badges on their blogs. Yes, that time of year – Award Time. I...

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My Teaching Resolution 2012 – Make It Real

Every year, I make a very practical, specific resolution for my teaching. Last year, it was to explore and practice the possibilities of using video in the classroom. This year, it is one big, inspiring one that I hope other teachers will join in –...

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My Blog Year in Review: Part 1

2011 was a big year for myself as a blogger. I blog for several organizations in addition to this blog (both this public one and the one on EFL Classroom 2.0). So I’m always shocked by my output – over 270 posts on this blog...

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Let’s give the gift of a click

As many of you might know, I returned “home” to Canada, the north of Canada this year. After years spent wandering the globe teaching, decided to be in one place, with family and friends. The transition has gone better than I expected. Love spending time...

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Death By Popularity

“I firmly believe that respect is a lot more important, and a lot greater, than popularity.”  Julius Erving This post might unsettle you – so advanced warning. Just my opinion. The rest of August I’ll be chiming in with many other provocative opinions about the...

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Public Education Interventions

Public health intervention more than any other “science” has done more for humankind than anything else over the last 200 years. Forget industrialization, forget inventions – how we live in abundance and health is most definitely related to the things put into place by public...

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A birth, a death, some regrets

A patchwork and “raw” post. It has been one of those weeks. Today, held in my arms for the first time, my beautiful niece’s son – Riley. Couldn’t have been happier. Tomorrow, heading to my coach’s funeral. He died tragically this past weekend. Life shines...

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The Idiot’s Dictionary – early release

I mentioned this book previously. Now, releasing it early – I’ll have a hard cover, POD (Print On Demand), for purchase version shortly. Download The Idiot’s Dictionary.doc I’ll only say thank you to my niece Gabriella, who painstakingly went over the copy and edited everything....

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Why did you leave home to teach?

This morning during my usual coffee and book – came across the above quote. It really got me thinking about the reasons many EFL teachers (or others), pack their bags and leave home behind. It is relatively easier to “take off” these days. Not so...

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“Real” books ….

I’ve got some more of my ebooks up onto Lulu (and shortly Amazon). Available now as “real” books, POD – Print On Demand. Here’s the preview for “The Unbearable Lightness Of Being A Teacher”. Download free the ebook but appreciated any orders of the hard...

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ebooks and real books

I recently made all my books into “real books”. Today, my 3 favorites came in the mail.  Get them all here – I’ll soon add links to the real, POD versions.  It’s great to be an author but even greater to be free to do...

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Keeping Up …..

Just a short post. I’ve not been posting much lately, for a few reasons: A) been hard at work on several web projects and a redesign on EFL Classroom 2.0 B) Reading and looking at years worth of my old writings C) Building this –...

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My Favorite Graduation Speech

It’s that time of year – graduation! Full of commencement addresses and speeches. I’ve got to give my share and I’m always reminded of this time of year by the traffic level hitting this one post; Graduation Speech. For those who haven’t seen it, I’d...