Adrian Buck’s Reviews > The Language Teacher Toolkit > Status Update

"We know that in our business so much is about classroom relationships, being able to adapt to the moment, having a feel for what students enjoy and of course, behaviour management."

"We believe an excellent all-round teacher will get better results with what might seem a dubious approach (such as grammar-translation), than a less gifted teacher trying to use an allegedly superior method." - there is also the issue of the teacher, irrespective of their gifts, using a methodology that they are personally committed to. Methodology has to be negotiated between class and teacher.

"If the approach provides the elements above - input, output, repetition and reinforcement, interesting material, explanation and so on, it should work"

"The listing of words by gender on paper or by display acts as an added reinforcement." - I remember the long tables of spelling patterns Miss Terrapin put on the board when I was at Becontree.

"A good worksheet will often contain a variety of exercise types which move from easy to harder, recycling vocabulary and structures several times"

"At the time of writing, Siri and Google Now are examples of how the built-in interactivity of phones can be put to good use' - Wow! Just wow, we're none of us safe.

"There many reasons why we teach the way we do. The most prominent refer to the way we were taught and learned languages ourselves." - the mismatch between ELT CLT textbooks and Grammar-Translation teachers.

"..and, most importantly, engage in regular dialogue with colleagues online or in the staff room about what works best in the classroom" - in Hungary, what happens after the classroom door closes is a professional secret.

"Having regular conversation time with colleagues, especially native speakers. You could devote an hour a week formally at school or socially to conversation." - Ah, the Közgé in the noughties, how I miss you!

"In languages, however, a lack of proficiency is hard to conceal and it can undermine your credibility, which can, in turn, affect the motivation and behaviour of your class" - I have always been surprised that my classes ask me - as the native speaker - to evaluate the English of my colleagues.