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These posts contain links to and commentary about aspects of the language teaching industry.

2012: year of collaboration

Happy new year to everyone in our ELT community! Our community–a concept so important to me–is where I’ve been placing my focus for the last few years.  It’s not that I’ve done as much to build it up as I’d like to, but my involvement and dialogue with a broader group of educators has definitely given me a bigger sense of what power it has. But involvement isn’t enough to create positive change, you need collaboration.  2012 is the year to focus on collaboration too.Read More »2012: year of collaboration

Meeting of the minds

I love all professional development events–a junkie for it, you might call me.  I love it when teachers, instructors, educators, whatever term you are comfortable with calling us, surround each other in support and growth.  The way so many come together to share ideas in individual or groups sessions fills me with an adrenaline high for several days afterwards.  One session, however, I haven’t been fortunate enough to witness or participate in, online or otherwise, is an ultimate meeting of the minds.Read More »Meeting of the minds

These sentences were not fabricated for a coursebook.


Have you ever written down one of your entire conversations verbatim? Probably not.  Now, when you read the dialogues in coursebooks outloud, do you think they sound like your conversations? Also, probably not.  Something’s off.  Determining the difference can be an interesting exercise, both for students and also instructors.  Read More »These sentences were not fabricated for a coursebook.

11 posts I wish I’d written

Previously, it was all about looking back at my journey this year through my favourite 11 posts, but that journey is much more than just my blog, it’s path is woven through the winding, twisting, infuriating and inspiring blogosphere out there.  This review of 2011 is made up of blog posts that members of my PLN wrote that I wish I’d written, but I didn’t and am eternally jealous.Read More »11 posts I wish I’d written

11 from 11

There’s never a bad challenge when it comes to looking back, making choices and reflecting.  And as the end of year approaches, my inner geek revels in the opportunity to choose my favourites and make lists.  I do it with albums each year and with a nudge from Adam Simpson, I have lined up 11 of my favourite posts from 2011 to give you a full snowy (or rainy) afternoon of reading to make your brain hurt…I mean, be filled with absolute pleasure.Read More »11 from 11

The interactions of ARC

EDIT: This is the first ever appearance of Academic Reading Circles online. Some information, including roles, have been since update in the book. Click here to see. If you use any information from this post, related ARC posts linked below, slideshares, or the book itself, please attribute it to Tyson Seburn, with a link to the related post, presentation, or book. Thank you!

I will conclude the academic reading circle series of posts by looking at the in-class dynamics, my interaction with student groups and midway checks. As my semester is entering its last week before exams, we concluded our ARC with the second week on the History course topic: feminism.  Last week, we focused on Soviet propaganda.  This week, it’s SlutWalks and the future of feminism.Read More »The interactions of ARC

ELT bites (not how you think)


Sometimes the photocopier is blown, there’s no tech in your room and you forgot all other materials back on your desk, far far away.  A very minimalist activity that generates language and conversation would be helpful now–a nice, bite-sized glimmer of hope for prep gone awry.  These types of activities are included in the #ELTBites challenge and I wanted to contribute.  And let’s face it, how often do you get to suggest ELT bites?Read More »ELT bites (not how you think)