Language news
Language learning research and teaching in the news.
Taxes For US Teachers Abroad
It’s tax season in the US, and if you have a US employer they should be sending you your W-2 forms by the end of the month.
Sudan Teacher Arrest
A first-year British international school teacher has been charged with “inciting religious hatred” in Sudan.
Korea Visa Changes
In the wake of the case of an accused child abuser who had been working in Korea and fled to Thailand (recently caught by interpol), Korea has unveiled a slew of new laws for English teachers.
Korea Visa Changes (Part 2)
Read about Korea visa changes first. I don’t really know the industry in Korea well enough even to hazard a guess, but I can comment that TEFL, especially TEFL in Korea, does seem to rely heavily on…
Thanksgiving / US Return Roundup
First of all, happy Thanksgiving! Of course it is the US holiday that I'm referring to, but as far as I am concerned, this is a nice holiday that has a meaning which is not necessarily connected to…
The TEFL Logue Goes Home
I suppose it's about time to let my readers know that I'm 99% sure to return to the US.
Japan EFL Giant NOVA Shuts Its Doors
Nova has long been known in EFL as perhaps the best example of McEmployment. In my mind at least, that title just means that potential teachers interview at home, go through Nova’s own training, and…
Vote For TEFL President Here
With all the scandals about, you can trust the TEFL Logue not to do any ballot box stuffing. Cast your vote here! Opinion Polls & Market Research
Campaign For TEFL President Takes A Surprising Turn
As you are probably well aware, two well-known TEFL bloggers are neck in neck in the race for TEFL President: Alex Case of TEFLtastic (find his platform here at the TEFL Logue ) and Sandy of…
It's A TEFL Election Year And TEFLtastic Is Running: When I Am TEFL President, By Alex Case
I'm proud to have the opportunity to announce the candidacy of one of "our own" for TEFL President - Alex Case of Tefl.net's TEFLtastic blog .
Bureacracy With A Smile And Some English...Or Not
One Czech national who is also a fluent English speaker went undercover in her country to assess the English-language readiness of Czech public officials - and found it sadly lacking.
Dear TEFL Logue Readers,
You might have noticed that, instead of three TEFL Logue posts a day, there is now one (if you’re lucky!).
Is This Exclusionary
Living in a country where YOU are the foreigner can do a number on your views. Has it changed your views on the controversial topic of ... ...foreign language signs? I'm serious.
ESL Carnival At Larry Ferlazzo's Blog
TEFL Logue readers are no doubt familiar with Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day For ESL blog.
Word Press Blogs Blocked In Turkey
Just as Thailand unblocks YouTube after five months, Turkey has blocked all Word Press blogs. I found out about this via the comments of A Foreign Perspective , one of the EFL blogs I follow.
The TEFL Logue At TEFLtastic
If you can take that much TEFL in one dose, the TEFL Logue has just been featured at TEFLtastic.
TEFL News Hot Off The Press: August 27
From a rather unlikely source, the New Yorker , fiction with the ESL classroom as a backdrop.
Bilingual Education Drama
I recently came across an article on a potentially controversial topic in the US; my instinct is that it feeds into the fears fueling what I consider the ridiculous and xenophobic “English only”…
Lost Isn't Over Yet, But It's Time To Leave The Island
“ It’s time for Americans to get off their island ” says one Fulbright recipient, explaining why it’s important for US citizens to spend time in other countries, especially given what seems to be a…
Have You Measured Your Students' Heschl's Gyrus-es lately?
If not, maybe you should, because according to scientists at Northwestern University , the size of a person’s Heschl’s Gyrus (the left one, apparently) can predict how successful a language learner…
Emerging Trend: English For Sex Work Purposes
Get ready for a new type of English for very special purposes in London: according to the Guardian Education section, there is now class which offers sex workers, many of whom are immigrants, the…
Dual Immersion Program In Salt Lake City
How great would it be if the linguistic diversity present in the US was used for good rather than considered a problem to be solved?
Innovative Language Learning Center In The US
Wayne Parks is a veteran firefighter from Fairfield, Connecticut…but not a typical one. Why?
Can You Walk A Mile In Someone Else's Shoes?
Your ability to see things from different perspectives may make you “un-American.” Of course for many, especially those who are not American to begin with, this is not really a problem.
ESL In Arizona
Starting in September, school-age English language learners in Arizona will be spending four hours a day in classes specifically devoted to language learning; previously they spent only one hour a…
English Language Drama In The US: Four Reasons NOT To Support English Only Resolutions
1. Language restrictions have historically been used to forcibly assimilate people and have resulted not only in the loss of cultural integrity for many but also for lingering hostilities.
Have You Counted Your Blessings As A Native English Speaker Lately?
“…being a native English-speaker also seems to many to confer an unfair advantage.
Concerns From The EU Administrative Capital About The Dominance Of English
A recent article in the Economist dealt with some consequences of the rise of English, specifically in Europe.
Bilingual Speakers And Translation
A recent study of “bilingual” Chinese-English speakers found that they subconsciously “resort to” their native language. In this case all of them had acquired fluency only “beyond adolescence”.
The Daily Kimchi At A Crossroads: Vote To Make A Difference
As TEFL Logue readers should know, one of the EFL blogs I follow is the Daily Kimchi , the brainchild of Canadian Gdog who arrived in Seoul around this time last year to start teaching English.
Join The Protest...Against Spelling Bees
A spelling bee in the US was recently picketed Who would do that? Anti-globalization protesters angry that big bad coffee company Starbucks sponsored the film Akeelah and the Bee ?
Language Learning Challenge From The Seoul Times
One teacher looks at Korea’s English language challenges and puts a large amount of responsibility on the shoulders of the government .
Harder For Some To Teach English In China
TESall.com recently featured an article from the Shanghai Daily about the challenges for “ABC’s” – or America-born Chinese – who go to teach English in China.
Grammar Ethics: To Correct Or Not To Correct?
There are lots of theories on correction in the classroom…but what about correction outside the classroom? Should you, for example, correct your boss’ grammar mistake?
From Scott Sommers' Taiwan Blog: Why Native Speaker Programs Don't Work
Scott Sommers' blog recently featured his thoughts on why native English speaker programs don’t work.
More English Only Measures In The US
I’m happy to report that eslbase’s TEFL Blog is back in business after a short hiatus; and also that it’s featuring a story on an issue I like to write about: these English only measures in the US.
Using Your Past To Relate To Students
I found two news stories, the links to which I’d set aside for a rainy day, on how a teacher’s past experiences can help them relate to students.
Isn't It Dangerous? From The EFL Blogosphere
I recently encountered an interesting blog post , which came out of the experience of a teacher in Japan whose students asked him “Isn’t the US dangerous?” after the Virgina Tech shooting.
Missing Traveler In Syria
Teaching EFL often leaves you in a position to travel independently for extended periods, or puts you near places which are not really part of the main tourist trail.
Visual Cues In Language Learning
From HealthDay via Yahoo News: A Canadian study shows that “Infants can tell the difference between two languages without hearing the spoken words, simply by watching the face of the adult who is…
Long-Time Learners Who Still Don't Speak The Language
I recently came across an interesting blog post where a teacher in Turkey wondered if there was something about Turkish language which made it harder for Turkish speakers to learn English – and vice…
The Case Of Zen Kimchi (And The Role Of The Internet In EFL)
Via EFL Geek’s blog , I came across the story of Zen Kimchi , a long time EFL blogger, who is currently having legal trouble: apparently he is the first foreigner to actually finish a one-year…
Bootsnall Treasure Hunt Contest
Do you love a good competition? Have you stopped deriving joy from beating your students in English grammar games?
EFL Safety: One Teacher's Experience With Crime Abroad
I never quite know how to react to stories about safety for EFL teachers. I have mixed feelings about advice coming from my own country, especially when it comes from people who have never traveled…
Anyone Up For A Toefl Tour?
Care for a Toefl tour? If you’re a South Korean in dire need of the test, you may find demand outstripping supply in your own country – and sign yourself up for a tour which includes test…
English Forever? And Esperanto
Will English ever lose its role as the language of international communication? I had to leave my crystal ball behind the last time I moved, but my guess is, short of a number of major changes, not…
English As A Medium Of Instruction
I’ve recently come across news articles about English as the language of instruction in public schools in countries where it may not be the first language spoken by students, such as the Philippines…
An Innovative Volunteer Off To Guatemala For Two Years To Teach English
Madeleine Andersen, a graduate of Brown University, will be spending two and a half years in Guatemala , involved in an English-language instruction program at a school run by women's cooperative…
Online TEFL Teaching: Neat Possibilities
I recently posted about online teaching: is it a threat to classroom teaching? , and explained why I think it's not for the time being.
Is Classroom Teaching Endangered...By Online Teaching?
Google news updates recently delivered to me an interesting blog post about online teaching: is it a threat?
The International Herald Tribune's Take on "Unconventional" EFL Methods
Which former leader from an EU country recently spent £1,240 (or more) per week for English lessons and accommodation in Wales?
Three Weeks To Learn A Language...And Then Teach It
If you think a four-week intensive TEFL course is a weak foundation on which to base further teaching, have a look at this idea: from the Guardian Education section , “Members of the Association of…
TEFL Mystery #7: What's Up With The TEFL Logue?
Some of my more intrepid readers might have noticed that for a few days now, I have been making one post per day instead of my usual three. Have I...
Donate Textbooks To Learners Protecting Wildlife In Congo
Do you have English language textbooks you don’t need anymore, or does your school? Or do you know someone who can spare a few new textbooks?
More On English Only Legislation
“...the state's image is harmed when cultural differences are not embraced…There's a message sent to those outside … that we're intolerant, we're colloquial and we want to isolate ourselves from the…
Foreign Language Learning In US Schools
The Brown Daily Herald discusses the lack of a foreign language requirement at Brown – it is one of the few Ivy League universities not to have any.
ESL Funding Cuts In The UK
The UK is reducing funding and eligibility for free English language classes (I should point out that this is not really breaking news anymore...but developments are occurring all the time).