The recent release of the Polish movie Chłopi (The Peasants) based on a classic novel of the same title, written by Władysław Reymont, has sparked a lot of conversations in my classroom about revisiting obligatory readings as adults and seeing them from a different perspective. It made me think of all the other books we were forced… Continue reading B2 – Rereading books as adults
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B1 – Celebrating Halloween at work
Halloween office parties have already happened or are going to happen this week! So why not use the last few days of October to bring some festive fun into your classroom with a Halloween Business English lesson? It’s the perfect way to explore how holidays are celebrated at work while building practical language skills around… Continue reading B1 – Celebrating Halloween at work
B1/B2 – Taking patient history
My pool of doctor students has recently increased and motivated me to think about lessons that can be useful and interesting for this group. One of the scenarios that I, an ESL teacher, am also familiar with is taking a patient history. The students told me they occasionally have foreign patients and would like to… Continue reading B1/B2 – Taking patient history
B1 – Unusual daily routine
(Almost) all ESL coursebooks start with a lesson on the Present Simple, usually centred around the daily routines of an imaginary person. I was on the prowl to find an interesting video on gym routines when I stumbled upon a short interview with Mark Wahlberg discussing his unusual daily routine instead. The video is authentic,… Continue reading B1 – Unusual daily routine
B2 – Corporate jargon
I was always a little bit afraid of teaching Business English, as my main focus had usually been on exam preparation and General English. However, as it normally is with me and my blog posts, more BE students = focus shift to the business side of English. The idea for this class came up as… Continue reading B2 – Corporate jargon
First class – the needs analysis
The classes have either already started or are about to anytime soon! This year, I have been blessed with many new private students and also a collaboration with a language academy. As I'm constantly on the search for different ways of improving myself as a tutor, I decided to have a look at one of… Continue reading First class – the needs analysis
B1 – Getting a promotion (used to, be used to, get used to)
One of the best ways of understanding the difference between used to and Present Simple is by talking about our past and present jobs. In this way, you can engage your B1-level Business English students to discuss their responsibilities while revising those basic grammar points. A few weeks ago, I was approached by a student who asked if we… Continue reading B1 – Getting a promotion (used to, be used to, get used to)
B1 – The True Cost of Being a Wedding Guest (causative)
Summer is almost over, so it may be an excellent time to start wrapping up all the summer-related topics, including the one we will talk about today - the actual costs of being invited to a wedding. Think about the things that need to be done before the ceremony and the toll it takes on… Continue reading B1 – The True Cost of Being a Wedding Guest (causative)
C1 – Parental favouritism (guided reading)
Talking about families and family dynamics is one of the most commonly explored topics when learning about personal relationships. It offers an opportunity to describe appearances, personalities, and individual characteristics. However, what if we could take this matter to the next level and delve into the dynamics of family roles and how they are affected… Continue reading C1 – Parental favouritism (guided reading)
B2 – Beyond Earth: The UAP Mystery
July 2nd is World UFO Day, a day dedicated to one of humanity's oldest questions: are we alone in the universe? While there is still no definitive evidence of extraterrestrial life, reports of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) continue to spark curiosity, debate, and speculation. From mysterious lights in the sky to military encounters that defy… Continue reading B2 – Beyond Earth: The UAP Mystery
