Thanks for the comments Kooyeen. What do you do in Italy? I've visited once but would like to go back someday. Maybe to teach English! (If possible.)

Hi Shubhangi, I have found that listening to sentences on MP3 or cassette tape or CD, then repeating over and over again is one of the best ways to improve pronunciation. A second way is for your cousin to record his own voice and compare with

I have tried various methods to teach vocabulary - mnemonics (memory 'tricks'), word games (including quiz games), flash cards, etc. However, the most effective way was already hinted at in the post on 'graded readers'. The very best way to learn,

Hi Attila, I have made some audio samples for my students that your students might also benefit from: Dictations Words of Wisdom (quotes and sayings) Jokes (a bit long for beginners) Let me know if these are useful! Teacher Joe

I agree with YoHf, the best way to learn to write faster is to practice. Advise her to keep a journal every night, writing for 20 minutes without stopping. (Except maybe for short breaks to rest her hand!) Few people write as fluently as they

In order to get students to speak out more in class and to speak more fluently, I often use a stopwatch. It may sound odd, but students really love to see how much faster and easier they can speak when after practicing. Beating the clock when

Hi Kompang, I have two general ideas for you. First, do not give up on finding an English speaker to talk to. You can now find a partner on the internet. Read my advice to students who want to do language exchange first. Second, you can do

I have just finished putting my best ESL Teaching ideas on the Interent: http://teacherjoe.us/Teachers.html. I hope they are as useful for you as they have been for me. Let me know what you think!

Hi Shicchan, I teach large classes with 40 students or more, so I have to find ways to get all students to practice. For vocabulary, I have students make a list of words from the textbook or from whatever text we've been reading in class, then