Error correction activities that aren't a waste of class time.
English Language Articles
Articles about learning, using and teaching the English language, including advice, tutorials, opinions and lesson plans from various authors and contributors. Articles cover topics from English grammar, spelling and punctuation, through to language teaching, career development, specialisations, and ideas and suggestions for the classroom.
Latest Articles & Notes
The most effective error correction games
Colloquial expressions for medical terms
Everyday English for medical jargon, to be used by patients, doctors, nurses and other people using or studying Medical English.
How to teach colour word recognition
A complete guide to teaching students how to understand written colour words, including fun word recognition games.
How to use Colouring-in in ESL Classes
How to usefully, efficiently and productively use colouring in to teach all kinds of language and skills
Classroom activities for colour vocabulary
Fun classroom activities teaching students how to understand, read and write colour words from a€śorangea€ť and a€średa€ť through a€śdark greena€ť to a€ścreama€ť and a€śmetallic bluea€ť.
How to teach colour vocabulary in ESL classes
The nine stages of teaching colour vocab, from understanding what "red" means and being able to write "green" to discussing the psychological effects of different colours.
The best picture books for ESL young learners, and what to do with them
The top childrena€™s books for practising typical EFL language points, with interactive classroom activities for each picture book.
The bluffer's guide to level checking
A quick guide to putting someone in the right level, giving a good impression, and finding out other vital information as you do so.
How to teach opposites
Tips on teaching adjective opposites, verbs with opposite meanings, etc.
Classroom activities for teaching opposites
Fun practice activities for adjective opposites, verbs with opposite meanings, etc.
The Editor's Blog
Richard Flynn (aka Tdol) is an English teacher and the Site Editor here at UsingEnglish.com. Here, he talks about English usage that catches his eye or ear, and looks at language issues that interest or puzzle him.
Formal Letter Writing - Help with formal and business letter writing. A summary of writing rules including outlines for cover letters and letters of enquiry, and abbreviations used in letters.
Speaking Out - A collection of thoughts, comments and articles regarding some of the issues and discussion points that have been raised in our ESL Forum.
More English Articles
These articles are in PDF format for which you will need to download Adobe Reader.
- Bring & Take - How to use these verbs in English.
- Inchoative verbs - A practical list of inchoative verbs in English.
- Modals of Possibility - Understanding how could, might and may are used to express possibility.
- Learning Vocabulary - Some suggestions about learning vocabulary
