Category Archives: Europe

Georgia: Still fighting Russia, but this time it’s with words

Tblisi: The new teacher who arrived recently at School No. 161 could barely speak a word of the Georgian language, knew little about local customs and easily got lost in the crazy-quilt streets of this hilly capital. But, notes the … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, georgia, News | Tagged | 7 Comments

UK: School curriculum has been ‘slimmed down’

The number of compulsory subjects in England’s national school curriculum, notes the BBC, is to be cut to four from September by Education Secretary Michael Gove. All schools will have to teach English, maths, science and PE with experts to … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, News, united kingdom | Tagged | 5 Comments

Making English mandatory in Slovakia

Slovakia’s governing coalition says it wants to better prepare Slovak kids for their future jobs by making English a mandatory subject, as it promised before the parliamentary election in June. While some parents and teachers welcome this initiative, notes the … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, News | Tagged | 5 Comments

Survival Tips for Teaching Kids English: 30 Tips and Resources

Shelley Terrell teaches English to children, teens, and adult students in Germany and works as an online technology and English instructor. This is a post from her blog, Teacher Reboot Camp: Challenging Ourselves to Engage Our Students. Read more here… … Continue reading

Posted in Advice, Europe, germany, News, young learners | 1 Comment

US and YÖK launch a major English language program

The United States government and Turkey’s Higher Education Board, YÖK, are involved in a new joint effort to send scores of U.S. English Teaching Assistants, or ETAs, to dozens of Turkish universities. “The aim of this program is not to … Continue reading

Posted in Americas, Europe, News, north america, turkey, united states | Tagged | 3 Comments

English is replacing ‘retreating’ Russian in Georgia

Hundreds of native English speakers joined the first day of school last week as teaching assistants under an ambitious program to have every child aged five to 16 speak English. English is now compulsory, and Russian optional. The aim, notes … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, georgia, News, russia, turkey | Tagged , | 3 Comments

French pop music finds its voice with English language lyrics

Over the last three years, notes the Guardian, there has been a rise in the number of French artists choosing to sing in English, despite quotas requiring at least 40% of music played on radio stations to be in French. … Continue reading

Posted in Advice, Bilingualism, Europe, france, L2 acquisition, News | Tagged | 2 Comments

United Kingdom language school’s concern at minister’s bogus-visa fears

Universities and language schools in Wales have called on Immigration Minister Damian Green not to confuse a British education success story with bogus visa factories masquerading as colleges. According to Wales Online, professionals in education raised concern yesterday after Mr … Continue reading

Posted in Adjusting to a new language environment, Advice, Europe, News, UK, united kingdom | Tagged | Leave a comment

Euro news roundup

Find out what’s going on in TEFL around Europe with the latest action from the United Kingdom, Ireland and, er, Malta. UK tightens English language test rules for foreign students In a bid by ministers to deter bogus applicants, tens … Continue reading

Posted in Europe, ireland, Ireland, malta, Malta, News, UK, united kingdom | Tagged | 1 Comment

Georgia: Saakashvili speaks of the ‘Linguistic Computer Revolution’

Georgian President Saakashvili said that English language classes would become compulsory from the first grade in schools, and that every first-grade schoolchild would be given an XO mini-laptop from next year as part of the “linguistic and computer revolution” plan. … Continue reading

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
Posted in Europe, georgia, News | Tagged | 1 Comment