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Speaking Out Article Archive

This is a collection of thoughts, comments and articles regarding some of the issues and discussion points that have been raised in our English Discussion Forums. Many topics have links to related discussions and polls to be found in our forums so that you can read up on what other people have had to say on these points, and of course you can add your own opinions to any or all of them.

Broadband Britain- Backwards to the Future

Why the UK is going to suffer from its failure to create the infrastructure for true broadband.

Burnout in the Flame Wars

A look at how our Delphi forum went wrong.

Cockney Rhyming Slang

About Cockney Rhyming Slang and a discussion on whether splitting infinitives is wrong.

Creationism in UK Schools

Creationism is being taught in a number of academies in the UK.

Dave's ESL Cafe

A look at what is wrong with Dave ESL Cafe.com.

Do Exams Damage Learning?

A look at whether English language examinations stop students from learning real English.

E-Raters in Marking Students' Writing

Can computers correct students' writing?

EFLese Course Materials

How the Internet offers an alternative to the world of EFL/ESL course books.

Emotional Intelligence in ESL

A look at whether Emotional Intelligence has anything to offer ESL.

English as an International Language

Comments on English as an International Language, English Spelling, and Are Numbers Infinite?

English Irregular Verbs

A look at English irregular verbs and the free download available from UsingEnglish.com.

English Teaching Franchises

A look at English language school franchises in Japan.

English Teaching Franchises 2

A look at the profitability of the largest chain of franchises in Japan.

ESL Employment

Is ESL employment in the doldrums?

ESL Quizzes and Tests

A look at how we try to structure our Quizzes and Testing Section.

Factoid Learning

Is ILT necessarily an impoverished 'factoid' way of learning?

Foreign Language Learning

Foreign languages are no longer compulsory in Britain.

Humanistic Teaching

Has Humanistic ESL teaching had its day?

ILT Access in Further Education in the UK

A survey of whether FE Colleges in the UK have external computer access for their students.

ILT in Learning English

ILT in learning English in schools and colleges in the UK.

International English?

A look at whether native or non-native speakers are better nowadays.

Internet Language Polls

A look at whether language polls can reflect usage and help ESL learners.

Is Language Infinite?

Comments on Wilhelm von Humboldt's phrase that language is 'the infinite use of finite means'

Language, Thought & Sapir-Whorf

Does language shape thought? Like all the best debates, the argument over whether thought controls language or language controls thought is ultimately unprovable.

Monetizing Educational Blogs

Can the educational bloggers make money?

Open Source Teaching

Comments on 'Using ICT to share the tools of the teaching trade: A report on Open Source Teaching' February 2004, Becta

Separable and Inseparable Phrasal Verbs

A look at separable and inseparable phrasal verbs in our phrasal verb dictionary.

Taking Control of the English Language

Tips on how you can speak and communicate better in English. How can I express myself better in English? How can I listen to and understand English better? How can I improve?

Teaching Inversion

Is inversion worth teaching?

The Origin of Language Debate

Some thoughts about the argument put forward by Steels and MacWhinney, in contrast to that put forward by Chomsky and Pinker.

The Silver Ring Thing

A look at the arrival of the Silver Ring Thing in the UK.

UKeU

A look at the problems with UKeU, the government's flagship for UK university education online.