CELTA Class Update

Wow, it is hard to believe there is just one more month left for the completion of my CELTA certification!

The course has certainly shaped how I currently teach my English classes.

The practice of filling out the Teaching Practice booklet every week I teach seemed tedious at first, but actually serves a broader purpose. It yields a disciplined and methodical approach to designing the best class for my students!

The course helps me develop as a seasoned professional and ensures my students receive the best instruction possible.

The first part of the course involved teaching intermediate classes. Now, my group has basic classes. The contrast between the two levels could not be more stark. The challenges unique to each level and how to overcome them is an education in itself.

I have made great friends among my teaching peers and we learn a lot from each other.

Have you embarked on your own CELTA certification? What happened? How are you doing now? I would like to know your experiences during and post-CELTA.

Stay tuned for more developments!

*** If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please call Professor Winn at 6214-1511 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation. Buy your English-language texts today!

CELTA Quest, Part II

I have already had my first CELTA certification class. I just posted my first lesson plan because I teach on Friday morning.

I have been teaching for two years. Quick class notes for planning and of course a class diary to chart the student´s progress sufficed. Each EFL (English Foreign Language) teacher usually adopts their own approach sooner or later. If working for a language school, their methodology prevails, but sometimes you still need your now creativity and wits to survive.

This Friday I am team teaching with a great group of fellow CELTAs. There are five sections. The absent member of our group is heading up the first section, but we still do not know who it is. Lucky me, I have the second lesson. It involves food for fuel (energy) and food for pleasure (eating what makes us happy).

After absorbing chapters of theory from two recommended texts on teaching languages combined with my own personal approach honed through the years, I banged out a lesson plan to cover my allotted 20 minutes.

I enjoy word association games and thus I lead off with a Spider Diagram and see how many words the students can name for energy and pleasure foods. Then there is a matching exercise of responses to personal interviews with two ladies, one from the US and the other from France.

I am also a fan of pair work. It is a solid organizational approach to involving students in the lesson and to avoid the dominant student from taking over the class.

And added twist? I do not know this group of students and likewise them of me. So, it is like the first day of class!

I will let you know how it goes.
***
If you are in São Paulo and need English lessons, or Elite English Services including translations (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English), please call Professor Winn at 6214-1511 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

English Test Study Tips

English Test Study Tips

1. Avoid persistent loud noise.

2. Avoid environments that are too hot or too cold.

3. Don’t try to do two or more things at once.

4. Arrange your work space so that your eyes aren’t drawn to other jobs that need to be done.

5. Don’t put unreasonable demands on your attention span.

6. Be aware that emotional distress reduces your ability to concentrate.

7. Understand that drugs (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, sleeping or diet pills) alter your ability to concentrate.

8. Be aware that lack of sleep is a major reason for poor concentration.


If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

Start Learning English Early!

This is a heart-warming story of the joy of learning at such a tender age.



Buy English Grammar Books Now!


Hire your own English Coach

Does English grammar bedevil you? Do you need to learn English quickly for your career goals?

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

Animating Business English Learning Pt 2

Traditional staid approaches solely using textbooks, for example, to teaching Business English bore students and do not produce the communicative skills necessary to function in real-life situations.

Therefore, scenario-based Business English training is gaining critical mass. Professor Winn believes the most practical usage of the language serves the student and provides the preparation for the real work world.

There is a growing consensus among language teaching community that, compared to the classical approach of learning emphasizing vocabulary and formal grammar rules better learning outcomes can be achieved by using approaches that enhance opportunities for students to engage with real-life situations and tasks.

Scenario-based learning may be defined as learning that occurs in a context, situation, or social framework. Practical use of the English language is the ultimate aim focusing on the importance of contextualizing learning activity in real life scenarios and contexts.

In scenario-based learning, learners participate in a fictional context-based meaningful
authentic learning environment and collaborate with other participants in completing activities structured into scenarios reproducing real-world situations. Decisions made by the learners affect the outcomes of the scenarios.

The benefits of scenario-based learning and its successful uses in language teaching are well documented. Scenarios are selected to reflect common and/or particularly important situations that are likely to occur in the actual language use.

Scenarios and case studies are a common way to structure business-related knowledge.

Therefore scenario-based learning is particularly suitable for an authentic, immersive learning
environment. In such an environment, linguistic knowledge can be acquired directly as tacit knowledge, without formalizing it as grammar rules or vocabulary lists.


If you are in Buenos Aires and want animated English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

3 More Tips for Better Spoken English

In our previous post, we offered three tips for better spoken English, the modern lingua franca. Hey, why not three more for our loyal readers? We want you to learn and improve your English!

Tip #4 Correctness

As boring as the subject may be, using the correct tense and grammatical structures is also extremely important in communicating your message accurately and clearly to your listener. If you are uncertain about using a certain structure then stick to the ones you know and are confident about.

Tip #5 Listening

Although this article is focused on English speaking skills, listening is also very important to building effective communication skills in any language. Listening carefully to what the other person is saying is the other half of the conversation! It really does make a difference and will enable you to get your message across effectively when you do actually speak.

Tip #6 Body Language

As strange as it may seem over 80% of all communication is non-verbal. Look at another's facial expressions or how one sits in a chair. Human beings transmit information silently through their body language. Good eye contact and body language are also important to get your message across effectively, and being able to “listen” to the other persons body language is also important. Having good body language will actually help your spoken message get across better.

Improve your English skills today with your own private professor.

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

3 Tips for Better Spoken English

The mostly commonly used language in the world today is English, the modern lingua franca. It is used as the language of commerce, entertainment, diplomacy, and for social interaction between multi-national friends in every corner of the globe. The ability to speak clearly in English is an essential skill for good communication.

Tip #1 Accent

Many people think having a “proper British accent” or being able to “speak the Queen’s English” (Received Pronunciation) is important. In fact, there are many different accents from different countries whose populations speak English as their native language. Within each country there are regional accents, such as a Yorkshire accent or a Birmingham accent. All are correct! Of course, some accents are easier to understand for non-native speakers than others.

Tip #2 Pronunciation

Being able to pronounce a word correctly is perhaps the most important of all the skills needed. Understanding new vocabulary whilst reading is one thing but being able to reuse this word in your own speech is another. Although an understand of the International Phonetic Alphabet is useful, the best way to learn correct pronunciation is with a native English tutor who can give instant feedback on your errors.

Tip #3 Confidence and Fluency

Being able to speak fluently and confidently comes with both practice and the knowledge that you are pronouncing words correctly. It also helps to be able to think in English and not to translate what you want to say from your native language. Translating often brings with it numerous grammatical errors.

Improve your accent, pronunciation, confidence and fluency with your personal English professor.

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

Why Type of Language Learner Are You?

There are two basic types: 1) risk-takers and 2) play-it-safers.

Risk-takers dare to be bold and devote hours to not only learning, but improving their language skills. From listening to podcasts over the Internet to constant exposure to texts in another language, the risk-taker student plans on conquering the language in a determined and purposeful manner and dedicates the time and resources to accomplish this goal. She or he envisions the day ordering an expensive dinner in a perfect French accent in a quaint village in the Loire Valley or sampling beluga in Russian. She or he seeks out native speakers to test her or his proficiency. When the language professor asks if there are any questions, she or he is attentive and probes deeper into the language with inquiries beyond the immediate scope of the class.

The play-it-safer dutifully attends language class, completes all assignments, and maintains a passable level of the language. Textbook exercises and classwork suffice. However, she or he lacks the discipline to bear down hard and conquer the language. Lack of extra work outside class assignments and general disinterest defeat in the end this type of language learner.

Languages are not acquired overnight. Who among our loyal readers acquired a language by doing the bare minimum necessary?

Do more than necessary today! Kick up your language learning by hiring an English language coach.

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in English-language services or translations (Sp/Fr/Pt>En) may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

Why Learn A Second Language Today!

I prefer to say " second" or if you are a real language practitioner "third" language instead of the tired, exclusive use of the word "foreign" language.

Many reasons exist for learning a second or third language. Only a partial list is below. What are you reasons for learning another language?

1. Travel - Whether it's Paris or Phuket, knowing a little of the local language goes a long way. Natives always appreciate another attempting to speak their language.

2. Culture - Perhaps you are interested in the literature, poetry, films, TV programs, music or some other aspect of the culture of people who speak a particular language and want to learn their language in order to gain a better understanding of their culture. What a joy it is reading, listening or watching culture in its original language. Reading Cervantes' Don Quijote de la Mancha in Spanish or Hugo's Les Misérables in French beats a translation any day.

3. Food - Language, culture, and food are intertwined. From sipping French wine or savoring chocolate and churros, one gains a greater appreciation of food and culture by knowing the language.

Send us the reasons why you are studying another language. Please identify the language and why. We will include the best responses in a subsequent blog entry.

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Buy your English-language texts today!

Welcome!

Welcome to Mr. English 101!

If you are fascinated by the English language or just curious about the impact of the modern lingua franca on social, political, and economic affairs around the world, you have stumbled upon the right blog for YOU!

I am Professor Winn, an English instructor and certified translator (Spanish/French/Portuguese to English) currently living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Teaching English as Foreign Language (EFL) is both rewarding and challenging at the same time.

I created Mr. English 101 to demonstrate how my native language interacts with our global society. The demand for English instruction is the highest among second languages. From arts to commerce to diplomacy, English dominates communication in our multipolar world.

My point is not English-language chauvinism. I am fluent in Spanish and read French and Portuguese at a very high level (thus I can translate from them into my native language, as a professional translator should). My respect for other languages and cultures is deep and genuine.

However, the English language at this current time has a greater impact in everyday life. Mr. English 101 demonstrates this fact via reports throughout the week drawing from headlines around the world in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese about how the English language is impacting our global society.

As an added bonus, English lessons are included in the mix for those who are learning English and want to learn more or native speakers who want to improve their own language skills.

So, sign up to follow this blog or subscribe today so you will not miss any of my exciting posts as together we go forward in the discovery of just how important the English langauge is today.

If you are in Buenos Aires and want English lessons personally designed to fit your needs, please call Professor Winn at 1160 461 342 or send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com.

Anyone interested in translations from Spanish, French, or Portuguese to English may send an email to mrenglish101@gmail.com for a prompt evaluation.

Thank you, my loyal readers, for your support and stay tuned for our exciting excursion ahead!