Rule breaking: Why memorizing vocabulary lists is a waste of time

In our second post of the Rule Breaking series, we are looking at vocabulary and why memorizing lists of words is not only pointless, but a waste of your valuable language learning time.  Language is too intangible to be rote I have talked about this subject a few times in past posts, but it is … Continue reading Rule breaking: Why memorizing vocabulary lists is a waste of time

Rule breaking: Why teaching grammar rules doesn’t always work

I have been an EFL teacher for about four years now. In this time, I have had the privilege to teach a wide variety of learners, levels and needs, from 9–10 year-old beginners to 45 year-old advanced learners. I feel like “I’ve seen ‘em all.” I’ve also been pretty lucky to have been exposed to … Continue reading Rule breaking: Why teaching grammar rules doesn’t always work

How to learn new words, and make them stick!

Throughout my time teaching, nothing has frustrated students more than “I don’t know the word for…” or “I forgot the word for…” This gap in knowledge is simultaneously infuriating and humiliating to students. Many students to whom I teach and with whom I speak correlate their poor English speaking skills to a lack of vocabulary. … Continue reading How to learn new words, and make them stick!