English Language FAQ

According to Merriam-Webster, the standard dictionary for American English, this is the All-Time Top Twenty:

Kaplan International College surveyed more than 500 ESL teachers from 40 countries to discover what tools they use to enhance their lessons. This infographic summarises their findings. Interesting that 86% use music in the classroom, with The Beatles (40%) being the most used source of material. The next three singers (Michael Jackson, Bob Marley & Elvis) are sadly departed, with only One Direction representing contemporary pop music. Also significant that newspapers still have an important role, despite the dramatic decline of printed sales. Key Concepts in ELT

A 'big ask' is an informal idiom describing goal/task that is difficult to complete. It has migrated from British/Australian the discussion of sport into more general English. 

The gig economy is the reverse of the old Japanese idea of the 'salary man' - the worker who spends his/her working life with a single company in return of job security, a regular salary, pension etc.

The flipped classroom is based on a simple idea. Does it work?

In 1965  Gordon Moore, co-founder of  Intel ,  observed that the number of  transistors  per square inch on  integrated circuits   had doubled every year since the integrated circuit was invented. Moore predicted that this trend would continue for the foreseeable future source Computers are getting faster and (relatively) cheaper with each passing year. The phones we carry in our pockets are far more powerful than the ones that sent the Apollo astronauts to the Moon.  Moore has suggested that his law will not continue indefinitely - suggesting  2025 as a possible end date. Others have speculated about what might replace it .  This BBC radio documentary is a useful introduction to the theme. Download The English Language Teaching Pack  for only £1.99