Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: I Can't Be Bothered with VowelsEpisode no: 016Date: Recorded on 09/04/14 Topics in Language LearningLanguage snobberyEnglish is spoken in many countries – so which is the “right” English?English has official/special status in 75 countries (2 billion speakers)Numbers and their implications: more non-native speakers than native speakers (probably…)ESL students from English-speaking countries: what does that say about us (the ESL programs)? Grammar snobbery...

Show Notes: The Minimal PairTitle: A Slogan is BornEpisode no: 015Date: Recorded on 8/12/14 Topics in Language LearningAlways “on”What do we mean by “on”?When is it hard to be “on”?How do we stay “on” in challenging situations?Take a deep breath!Set the timerFake it ‘til you make itRemember, you’re humanCall in reinforcements Don’t be afraid to say no[17:20] MethodologyBreathing new life into a courseWhy is it necessary?How do you know it’s time?What should you do?What should you not do?Did...

Show Notes: The Minimal PairTitle: What is the last P in PARSNIP?Episode no: 014Date: Recorded on 8/7/14 Topics in Language LearningEFL vs. ESLWhat’s the difference?EFL – English as a Foreign Language is taught to a mostly homogenous group of ELLs in a non-English speaking countryESL – English as a Second Language is taught to any group of ELLs, primarily immigrants, in an English speaking country)ObjectivesEFLLess urgency/ irrelevant to daily routine – speakers don’t need English in their...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 013 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Tweet Me in St. LouieEpisode no: 013Date: Recorded on 7/2/14 & 7/6/14 Topics in Language LearningTechnology in the classroomDigital divideWhat is it?Effects students and teachersChallenging classroom rolesHow do tech skills help make students and teachers more marketable?Tech controversyIs technology replacing teaching?When Sugata Mitra gave slum kids a computer, they learned how to use it on their own…Should the Internet...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 012 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: “Where can I get a Brazilian wax?”Episode no: 012Date: Recorded on 6/25/14 Topics in Language LearningEnglish for Specific PurposesSources:http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/elp-esp http://iteslj.org/Articles/Gatehouse-ESP.html http://www.usingenglish.com/articles/teaching-english-for-specific-purposes-esp.html What is it? How is it different from ESL? (from UsingEnglish.com)Types of learnersTypes of instruction Learner motivation...

Click here to listen to The Minimal Pair: Episode 011 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!Episode no: 011Date: Recorded on 5/29/14 Topics in Language LearningClassroom ManagementSource: The English Skills Learning Center blog: “Tips on Classroom Management for Adult ELL classes” http://www.eslcenter.org/about-us/blog/103-tips-on-classroom-management-for-adult-ell-classes Classroom management—what and why?Challenges of teaching different age groups and...

Click here to listen to The Minimal Pair: Episode 010 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Don't Box Them InEpisode no: 010Date: Recorded on 5/30/14 Topics in Language LearningIntroverts/Passive LearningSources: “Passive Learners vs. Introverts—A comment,” by Naomi Epstein (from the blog Visualizing Ideas) #ELTChat Summary from May 7th 2014—“How we deal with passive learners,” compiled by Lizzie PinardTalking points from both sources and our experiences:Distinction between “introverts” and...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 009 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: DO Talk to StrangersEpisode no: 009Date: Recorded on 5/16/14 Topics in Language LearningTutoring/student support Inspired by the article “Minimalist Tutoring: Making Students Do All the Work,” by Jeff Brooks of Seattle Pacific University (https://docs.google.com/document/d/18iposMnhBlTZIKhZ_s2gpgtfnd5-XV_nBRabuv44o3w/edit?hl=en_US) Talking points:Teaching students to fishImprove the student, not the paperHelping vs. editingGoal...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 008  Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: The Little Episode That CouldEpisode no: 008Date: Recorded on 5/8/14 Introduction: So, it’s finals time…how are you holding up? Topics in Language LearningStudents’ perception of their own performance: Students who think they are doing fine/don’t seem worried, but are failingStudents who are doing fine, but constantly worry about their gradesStudents who wait until the very end of the semester to ask what they can do about...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 007 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: The Ball is PrettyEpisode no: 007Date: 4/21/14 Topics in Language LearningStudent attendance & making up workImportance of coming to class, especially in a second-language classroomReasons for absences; where do we draw the line?Attendance policyHomework that’s due on the day that class is missedMaking up what was missed (including assessments) [20:18] MethodologyOn the lighter side: fun things we’ve done and would like to...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 006 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: “You don’t know what you don’t know…”Episode no: 006Date recorded: 4/14/14 Topics in Language LearningTaking care of ourselves as teachers…Thursday’s TESOL presentation (that we regrettably were unable to attend): “Keeping ESL Teachers from Becoming Their Own Worst Enemies,” George Plautz, Korrin Ebira, Naomi LeeStack of Marking (Balance), by Thomas Starkey http://stackofmarking.wordpress.com5 tips for finding balance/what we...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 005 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: TESOL Recap & ReviewEpisode no: 5Date: 4/6/14 Introduction: Overview of our trip to Portland and our experience at TESOL 2014 Shared highlight:Congrats to Amy Roither, our colleague from St. Louis Community College, who gave a stellar presentation on student-created podcastsThursday 3/27, 11:30—Hear Me Now! Improving Academic Skills with Student-Created Podcasts (Amy Roither) Stephanie’s highlights:Thursday 3/27,...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 004 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Less is MoreEpisode no: 004Date recorded: 3/24/14 Topics in Language Learning: TESOL 2014Top prioritiesGrammarAcademic writingClassroom flippingPronunciation ListeningTechnology in the classroomCultural/social issuesHow do we hope this translates to the classroom? What do we hope to gain?Stephanie: “I hope to…”“…have more dynamic sessions in grammar.”“…walk away with more reading strategies.”“…see practical uses of flipping the...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 003 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: When Saying Yes is Saying NoEpisode no: 003Date: 03/12/2014 Topics in Language Learning: L1/L2 LiteracyInterrupted educationFrequent displacementRefugee campsChild laborersUsing multiple languages (simultaneously or sequentially)Countries that have been colonized (native vs. official language)Frequent displacement (learning a new language with each move)Shared L1 (help or hinder?)Language gaps (in one or more...

The Minimal Pair: Episode 2 Show Notes: The Minimal Pair Title: Midterms ComethEpisode no: 002Date: February 24, 2014 Introduction: Hello and thanks for listening. This is Episode 2 of The Minimal Pair, recorded on Monday February 14th, 2014 in St. Louis, MO. Believe it or not, the semester is almost halfway over! I don’t know about you, but between MLK Day, President’s Day, and all the snow days, I’m feeling the pressure to get everything covered in time! Topics in Language LearningMidterms...

The Minimal Pair Episode 1