It’s wild how we see time differently. When we’re having a blast, a minute flies by in no time. But when we’re in a stressful spot, like during a speaking exam, that same minute can feel like an eternity. That’s exactly what students experience when they step into the exam room to talk on their… Continue reading How long does one minute feel like? – B1 Speaking Part 2
Tag: teaching esl
Linking words of purpose, result and reason – B1 Speaking Part 3
Linking words are one of the main causes of headaches for English language learners. Students often feel unsure of their meanings and their use in sentences. That's why when one of my newest students asked me to have a class on connectors, I took on this challenge. I divided linking words into several groups: reason, result,… Continue reading Linking words of purpose, result and reason – B1 Speaking Part 3
B1 – Pronunciation maze – /d/ and /t/
On Thursday, 24th February 2022, I attended a Cambridge webinar for teachers on Developing Speaking Skills for B1 Preliminary and B2 First for Schools with a focus on pronunciation. In this one hour session, the trainers showed many pronunciation exercises that may help our students in the speaking part of the exam. This webinar coincided… Continue reading B1 – Pronunciation maze – /d/ and /t/
B2 Use of English Part 3 – Incredible vegetables
I guess spring is in the air, and it makes me more inclined towards healthy food and keeping fit topics. This time we'll look into different vegetables and their health benefits. This will lead towards the lesson focus and the nemesis of Cambridge exam candidates - Use of English and word formation. This post and… Continue reading B2 Use of English Part 3 – Incredible vegetables
Starters – Listening Part 4 – FRUIT!
Language exams can be taken at pretty much any age possible - very young learners included! There are many opinions for and against examining children. Some people believe that we need to prepare to take exams early on, and get ready for the adult world, filled with examinations, courses and certificates. Others believe that children… Continue reading Starters – Listening Part 4 – FRUIT!
5 ways of keeping private students
Since I started working with private students, I've realized this is my jam. Honestly, I can't help but think about my students a lot. I'm always coming up with new lesson ideas and planning classes to make sure they get the most out of it. But when those prepaid classes wrap up, I start to… Continue reading 5 ways of keeping private students
The science of attraction – C1 listening
February is such a cold month associated with such a warm day! In this class, let's talk about the truth behind physical attraction to another person while following the audio version of a TED-Ed video. The video talks about the science of attraction and explains all the fuzzy, gooey feelings we may get when meeting… Continue reading The science of attraction – C1 listening
Valentine’s Day-themed C1 speaking
There are only a few days left until Valentine's Day. Why not take a breather from exam preparation, and talk about something that all teens and young adults love - love. If you want to talk about romance and everything related, have a look at this no-preparation Cambridge C1 exam speaking practice. One of my… Continue reading Valentine’s Day-themed C1 speaking
Cambridge CAE – Writing Part 2 (review)
Do you know of anyone who has changed the world for the better? Someone who has positively impacted society? Using a free CAE writing exam, we will discuss the topic and teach advanced students how to write a successful review. All while following the writing assessment criteria. The other day, I was preparing an advanced… Continue reading Cambridge CAE – Writing Part 2 (review)
The horror of teaching Young Learners
I feel like this post needs a little disclaimer, so here it goes. Disclaimer: all the stories and opinions written below are my own and come from my personal experience teaching in Spain. Teaching (very) young learners can be rewarding and a lot of fun, but it's not for everyone! We need to remember that… Continue reading The horror of teaching Young Learners
