The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) at the University of Minnesota has provided high-quality professional development for language teachers for over two decades. Launched in 1996, this internationally known program reflects CARLA's commitment to link research and theory with practical applications for the classroom. Each institute is highly interactive and includes discussion, hands-on activities, and networking.

It is time to sign up for a CARLA summer institute! CARLA offers a wide range of institutes targeted at foreign/world language, ESL/EFL, heritage language, and immersion educators from a variety of teaching levels and contexts. Each institute is highly interactive and includes discussion, hands-on activities, and networking. Join the more than 6,300 language educators who have participated in this acclaimed professional development program.

Learning how to teach languages online requires you to understand the human learning process. At any age, anyone can learn a foreign language. Learning, however, for children is far more natural than adults, as they rely on the deep motor area of their brain. This area acquires information quickly and works in combination with the hippocampus to memorize information–and thus enables language learning among kids.

Educators know better than anyone: Not all students are created equal. A student’s interest and ability to gain skills and information are highly affected by that student’s home life — if parents or guardians aren’t engaged in their child’s education, the child likely won’t be an enthusiastic or effective learner. This is especially the case with fundamental skills that should be practiced early and often, like literacy.

Only 10 pieces of personal mail are received each year by the average American household. With that number including holiday cards and invitations, there isn’t much room left for letters. It is no longer commonplace for one to write or receive a handwritten letter in the mail, but many believe it is a beautiful gesture.

CFP: Society, Identity, and Transformation in Language Teacher Education
11th International Language Teacher Education Conference

May 30–June 1, 2019
The Graduate Hotel
Minneapolis, MN

Call for Papers Deadline: January 18, 2019

CFP: Society, Identity, and Transformation in Language Teacher Education
Eleventh International Conference on Language Teacher Education

May 30–June 1, 2019
The Graduate Hotel
Minneapolis, MN

Call for Papers Deadline: January 18, 2019

Whether you teach children or adults, teaching ESL grammar and vocabulary in a fun and effective way can be so tough sometimes, can't it? Lesson planning for grammar concepts can definitely be a challenge.

Well, today's post is about how to deal with exactly that! I'm going to share my top 5 ways to use games in the ESL classroom. 

Traditionally, tests and examinations evaluate how students perform in terms of learning outcome. However in a learner-centred education system, it is more important to monitor students' learning processes and to give them direct feedback.