BUDDY UP

No glasses at hand? LISTEN HERE Halloween is probably one of our favourite celebrations. We have this one chance to put on our best black dress and a conical crown, maybe some accessories and make-up as well. And we can dance around the cauldron without anyone suspecting of our true identity. The truth is, not only teachers but also the majority of children and teens absolutely enjoy Halloween and all the activities around it.  Be it the games, the sweets or the costumes, they do look forward to this celebration. Paradoxically, many parents seem not to like it much as they consider it against their national traditions.  What do you do when parents show their discomfort about Halloween celebrations? My word has always been the same: when we teach English, we teach much more than just a language. We attempt to create an open mind regarding different cultures. Besides, it is a great opportunity to discuss the cultural background and history of this and other celebrations as well....

    Motivation is one of the key factors in language learning and language teaching. As J. Harmer points out, "the motivation students bring to class [whether intrinsic or extrinsic] is the biggest single factor affecting their success." There are aspects that are considered to have the power to enhance or deter students' motivation. Among these internal factors it is worth mentioning intelligence, aptitude, attitude, perseverance, learning strategies and self-evaluation; among the factors escaping students' possibilities, physical surroundings (classroom, school), method employed by the teacher and teacher's personality.   Students who are intrinsically motivated are bound to succeed whatever the situation. Those who do not have such motivation can equally succeed in second language learning if the circumstances in which they are studying are favourable. This is why and whatever the teacher does inside the classroom is of vital importance in determining their a...