Faq Reference Data Information

So, you want to learn to speak English. That is great. There are a ton of great resources out there that can help including over 49,000 ESL websites.

Now if you are like most other ESL students reading this article then you already have a fairly good notion of the English language. You most likely are looking for a place to practice and enhance your English skills. So, here are four easy steps to do just that.

Step Number One: Preparation

Since you already have a fairly good notion of English you don’t need to start all over with the ABC’s and the verb “to be”. Take stock of your current skills and find out where you are weak. Once you know what you need to learn…all you have to do is learn it.

So, pick out something from your list of things that you know you need/want to learn. Take a few minutes to analyze why you want learn this information, and make sure you focus on that particular point while studying. It is super easy to get side-tracked onto other topics.

If you do see something of interest while you are on your search for information…make sure to take note of it so you can come back at a later time. But for now…FOCUS on the task at hand!

Step Number Two: Practice

Now that you know what you know what you want to learn, jump over to Google or Yahoo and do a quick search on your chosen topic of interest. From there you should be able to find sites that will provide you with tools and resources such as audio files, video files, exercises, and tests to practice what you want to learn.

Step Number three: Use

Alright! You are rip, raring, and ready-to-go! You studied what it was you wanted to learn, and now you need to put it into use in real life situations. Use what you just learned on your friends and acquaintances. Hit the forums and try out what you now know. Try to use it at least thirty times to really assimilate it well and make it a part of you.

Step Number four: Evaluate

Once you are done for the day, sit down for a few minutes and evaluate how you did. Did you learn everything that is required? Are you still weak in certain areas of this topic?

Take note of these things, and use them in your planning time tomorrow as you restart the cycle. Make sure to do these four steps everyday, and you will steadily see your skills progressing. So now…just go do it!

Travis Waack is an author and webmaster. You may view his collection of educational related resources at official-education-reosources.com official-education-reosources.com

Whether we do it consciously or not, we give off hints to people as to what our expectations are. We exhibit thousands of cues some as subtle as tilting of the head or a raising the eyebrows, or a dilation of the nostrils but most are more obvious. People, especially students, pick up on those signals (American Psychological Association, May 20, 2003).

What does this mean? In 1968 Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson gave all the children in an elementary class a test. They then told the teacher that certain of these children were extremely intelligent (the children were actually quite average). At the end of the school year Rosenthal and Jacobson came back. The children they had identified as potentially high performers had made significantly more progress than the rest of the class, based on test scores.

Putting aside the question of whether Rosenthal or Jacobson behaved ethically by playing such a game with the future of children we are faced with some incontrovertible facts. Perception does indeed impact performance. And positive vision has a positive impact, especially when that vision is held by a person of influence.

It therefore, stands to reason that developing a classroom vision of the most desirable of circumstances should have a positive impact on the performance of the students and the effectiveness of the classroom.

Step One:
To create a vision the teacher must decide what the ideal classroom environment should look like. Begin by reviewing the vision/mission statement of the organization in which you are employed. Large inconsistencies between the beliefs of the teacher and their employer are indicators of dark times ahead. However, do not despair. It is not realistic to assume the organization will maintain the same framework throughout any teachers’ entire career.

Step Two:
Put pen to paper and describe in detail what you want to see in the future. Be positive and be open to modifications to educational practices.

Step Three:
Incorporate your beliefs. Be specific as to what you value and what you want to be the outcome for your students. Be precise and be practical. Your beliefs are a written statement of your values.

Step Four:
Build a mission statement based on your belief and values statement. This statement provides an overview of your perception of your purpose and function. Focus on the common purposes you possess with your organization. The statement must be specific to the organization, not generic. Keep the statement to no more than two sentences.

Although the benefits of visioning may seem vague the long term benefits are substantial.

- You begin thinking outside the box.

- Your sense of purpose and direction are enhanced.

- Your focus is intensified.

- Your productivity and performance are enhanced.

Pitfalls to avoid when developing your vision plan.

* Rigidity of tradition.

* Anxiety from fear of ridicule.

* Complacency from others.

* Short term thinking.

* Those who say your vision won’t make a difference.

Here is an exercise to get you started:

It is five years from today and you have through Herculean effort created your most desirable classroom environment. Describe it, in detail as you see it around you.