Tag: IATEFL

  • Presenting the diversophy migrant edition

    Presenting the diversophy migrant edition

    Delegates at the IATEFL conference in Liverpool in April had the chance to try out the diversophy migrant game. It certainly led to conversation and dialogue, the prime intention of the game, when I heard comments such as the following during the game: Well I would never call my teacher by their first name so…

  • What does a materials-lite course look like?

    What does a materials-lite course look like?

    This is a great example of how to teach without a coursebook. Sometimes called Dogme but always working with emergent language. The lesson plan comes at the end as a summary and is used as a springboard to the next lesson and there is a lovely bit at the end of this 30 minute talk,…

  • Public service announcement: Learning styles

    Public service announcement: Learning styles

    I am including this 30-minute talk debunking the myth of learning styles because many of the teachers I deal with in teacher training believe that learning styles exist and I have tended only not to agree rather than to actively disagree. It is disappointing to find learning styles included in the syllabus of respected programmes…

  • Barrier or Badge?

    Barrier or Badge?

    What does integration mean? Without a common understanding of this, is it possible to devise a valid and meaningful test? In this panel debate we heard examples of completely inappropriate test items requiring respondents to describe in the target language how things are done “in your own country” even though they have been living in…