The other day during class I wrote a table of the conjugation of four tenses in positive, negative and question forms on the board. The students enjoyed the visual overview of all tenses side by side which allowed them to see the minor differences between the various tenses quickly. At the end of the lesson, Tarsis (an English learning pilot from Brazil) asked me for the chart. What a great idea! I've put together these tense tables of all 12 tenses - 13 if you count the future with 'going to' - in the positive, negative and question form on one page. Another great way to review tenses is to use the visual tense charts providing time clues to usage. FInally, you can also get an overview of all the tenses and the relation to past, present and future by using this tense timeline.
While traveling, you'll need to ask for directions. It's easy to become confused when listening to someone giving directions.
Tense Guides
These guides to the various tenses provide teachers with resources to use in class, as well as learning materials for students learning English online.
Tense Tables - All 12 Tenses on One Page
Helpful Hints for New Teachers
If you are new to teaching English as a second or foreign language, you will have noticed that it's not the same as teaching English to native speakers. There's a need for a completely different approach to teaching the language including a strong focus on teaching the nuts and bolts of grammar. Nothing can be taken for granted, as there are false beginners and absolute beginners. Teaching tenses is one of the key elements to teaching. These guides should help:
How to Teach the Present Simple
How to Teach the Present Continuous
How to Teach the Past Simple
How to Teach the Present Perfect
How to Teach Future Forms
Proverbs for Your Level
This last week there has been a great response to the proverb activities suggestions sheet. As so many have requested further proverb resources, here are twenty proverbs appropriate for each level with short definitions and a situation matching exercise to help you learn.
Easy Proverbs
Intermediate Level Proverbs
Advanced Level Proverbs
English for Medicine
English for Medical Purpose is one of many different types of English for Specific Purposes. You can find a number of resources including nursing vocabulary and wide range of dialogues such as a dialogue making a doctor's appointment, or dental hygiene. Learning vocabulary for specific purposes is an important part of each English learner's self-directed study. Take charge of learning the specific English you need for your profession by using these techniques to create vocabulary lists.
