Academic coordination is often seen as a very difficult task to say the least. The work of the academic coordinator can generate days of stress and frustration that discourage many teachers from taking on coordination activities. But what makes the job of the academic coordinator unattractive? To get a correct answer, it pays to go the other way to...
In this series we have been presenting various options language teachers can pursue in order to diversify or attempt other niche opportunities available in the areas where they perform their activities. Frequently we address native Spanish speakers who teach a second language. In this occasion it is my turn to refer to the same speakers, but those teaching our...
Historically speaking, in our career ladder translation was reserved for the most experienced teachers. It was usual that, after having taught different language levels and courses, some chosen teachers were then appointed to teach preparation courses for International Exams and just a few of them tried translating.
As a translator myself, I know firsthand that being knowledgeable in the language...
It may be disturbing, but when everything around us starts changing, we can only do two things: Hold tight to what we already know and believe that we will be safe forever.
Anticipate what comes next and get ready for it. We have already experienced the first situation, haven´t we? Remember when? You may recall the day that we envisaged online...
For teachers in general, and for language teachers in particular, the pandemic has not only been a temporary change in the way we work, but it has meant a substantial change in the way we carry out our educational work and even in how we live our lives. We have had to make major adjustments in our performance and,...
The shift from “language learning” to “language acquisition” has had a major impact on our knowledge of foreign language learning and consequently on our teaching practice.
In the last two decades we have seen that the difference that Krashen claimed in the early 1990s between learning and acquisition was much more than a good hunch. According to Krashen, acquisition is...
