Jose Carillo's Forum

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

New DVD Series for English language teachers released

Denver, CO (PRWEB)—A new DVD series entitled English Language Teaching in Action has been published by BridgeTEFL, a Denver based provider of teacher certification courses. The "how-to" style videos are designed as a professional development resource for TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teachers.

The DVD series is a high-quality, versatile product that can be used both in classroom training contexts and for self-access purposes. It is a long-awaited resource that has the right combination of quality, extensiveness, and price 

"These videos fill a gap in the current materials that are available to TESOL teachers," explains Sarah Athanas, one of the producers of the DVDs. "While most TESOL-oriented videos lack a clear focus, these videos are professionally shot, edited, and reinforced with helpful graphics. Each video focuses on a specific topic, such as tips for remembering students' names or how to use timelines to teach verb tenses."

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Philippines

Jose Carillo’s “Give Your English
The Winning Edge” now available

Give Your English the Winning Edge, the third book in Jose Carillo’s English-usage trilogy, was formally launched last July 20 in ceremonies at the Centennial Hall A of The Manila Hotel in Manila.

Carillo and Manila Times Publishing executives led by its president and CEO Dante Francis Ang II were joined during the launching by Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, the multi-awarded writer, critic, and educator; Dr. Ma. Lourdes Bautista, professor emeritus of English and applied linguistics of the De La Salle University-Manila; John Nery, senior editor and columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Ed Maranan, writer and Hall of Famer of the Palanca Awards for Literature, and several other guests. A lively discussion about English usage in Philippine literature and journalism ensued during the program.


BOOK LAUNCH OPEN-FORUM: Award-winning author Jose Carillo (center) explains a point about English grammar during the open-forum that followed the launching of Give Your English the Winning Edge, the third book in his English-usage trilogy, last Monday (July 20, 2009) at The Manila Hotel. He was joined in the panel by Dante Francis Ang II, president and CEO of Manila Times Publishing Corp.; Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, multi-awarded writer, literary and language critic, and educator; Rony Diaz, former Manila Times publisher now editorial consultant and a Palanca Awardee for English fiction; and Ed Maranan, writer and Hall of Famer of the Palanca Awards for Literature. Click image to see larger version

The 486-page volume by the National Book Award-winning author discusses the various mechanisms and tools of English for combining words and ideas into clear, logical, and engaging writing. It shows how the various connectives—the conjunctions, the conjunctive adverbs, and the prepositions—establish the six basic logical relationships in language, then demonstrates how to make them work with the various other grammar elements to form more effective, convincing, and readable expositions.

Carillo, a nationally awarded writer and editor and an internationally awarded corporate communicator, won the National Book Award for linguistics from the Manila Critics Circle in 2005 for his first English-usage book, English Plain and Simple: No-Nonsense Ways to Learn Today’s Global Language. He came out in mid-2008 with his second English-usage book, The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors.

A former newspaper journalist and corporate communications executive, Carillo ran a Metro Manila-based English-language services company as its general manager for nearly five years until mid-2005. He is now an independent editor and communication consultant based in Metro Manila, and writes a weekly English-usage column for both the print and online editions of The Manila Times.

Published by Manila Times Publishing, Give Your English the Winning Edge comes in regular softcover and, by order, in premium hardcover. Copies are now available in the major Metro Manila outlets of National Book Store, Powerbooks, Bestsellers, Goodwill Bookstore, Fully Booked, and Expressions. Distribution to their outlets in major cities outside Metro Manila will follow in the next few weeks.

Read two early media notices of the book

Read another media notice of the book

Click to browse the book


100 Best Blogs for Teachers of the Future

Working hard to earn your teaching degree, you are likely ready to jump right into your own classroom already. Before you do so, check out these blogs to help you prepare for the real thing. From resources for teacher to veteran teachers’ perspectives to the special education classroom to education news, politics, and policy, and much more, these blogs offer information on a wide variety of educational topics.

These blogs offer tons of great resources for teachers, whether just starting out or experienced veteran:

The Top 101 Websites for Teachers. This blog is a great resource for quality places teachers can go on the Internet to find inspiration and more.

Creating Lifelong Learners. Elementary teachers can find tips for teaching traditional and new media literacies.

Dynamite Lesson Plan. Tips and information for teachers with a bit of education policy mixed in is found on this blog.

HOPE Foundation. Offering professional development for teachers in an effort to improve learning for all students, this foundation shares its mission on its blog.

Miller’s English 10 Classroom Blog. Each year, this class documents their class on this blog. Find assignments, homework prompts, and much more…

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Philippines outsmiles neighbors, raises P1M for UNICEF

MANILA—Sony Ericsson recently turned over P1 million to the local unit of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), marking the conclusion of a two-month campaign that “collected” one million smiles from users of the company’s products. The donation will go to UNICEF’s fund for children education programs.

Sony Ericsson donated P1 for every smile captured in its camera phone kiosks that are located in SM shopping malls in various parts of the Philippines.

“It has been said that everyone smiles in the same language,” Hirokazu Ishizuka, Sony Ericsson corporate vice president, said as he turned over the check to UNICEF country representative Vanessa Tobin at SM North Edsa in Quezon City.

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Public schools in Mountain Province take a new road to learning

Thanks to the advent of information and communications technology, the Mountain Province, a quaint, landlocked little corner of Luzon, has been brought closer to the rest of the globe.

By bringing ICT to seven public schools in Mountain Province, Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART), through its Smart Schools Program (SSP), widens the horizon of both teachers and students.

In time for the opening of the new academic year, Sabangan National High School, Banao National High School and Guinzadan National High School, and four elementary schools—Bontoc Central School, Data Elementary School, Bun-ayan Labbay Elementary School and Sabangan Central School, were officially welcomed into the fold of the Smart Schools family.

Says Principal Joel Francis Licayo of the Data Elementary School: “We have come to a point when and where being in sync with the advancement of technology is by far the most essential key to be effective and successful in our lives, careers, endeavors and even in education.”

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Apple’s “I Love Philippines Year 2” promo underway

Three participating Apple Mac dealers are running “I Love Philippines Year 2,” a promo enjoining people to share their snapshots, videos, blog features, or original music compositions about their experiences on Philippine travel destinations, local delicacies, crafts, traditions, and festivals. The promo is being undertaken by the Digital Hub @ Robinsons Place Ermita, iStudio @ Bonifacio High Street, and Power Mac Center @ Greenbelt 3.

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Livemocha reaches 3 million members

SEATTLE, Jun 25, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE)—Livemocha, the world's largest online language learning community, announced today that it has surpassed 3 million members in just 20 months of existence. Livemocha also unveiled free language courses in 12 additional languages, each translated and verified entirely by Livemocha members. With a thriving community from over 220 countries, Livemocha is also emerging as a powerful platform for leading language publishers around the world. Earlier this year, Livemocha and Pearson had announced an agreement to co-develop a new, direct-to-consumer, conversational English-language learning experience on Livemocha's online platform.

The 3 million member milestone solidifies Livemocha's status as the world's largest language learning community, as it continues to outpace the growth of traditional classroom and CD-based language courses. With ubiquitous connectivity becoming the norm worldwide, Livemocha appeals to language learners of every age and nationality as they bring more of their life online. Community-based instruction and crowd-sourced content publishing, the foundations of Livemocha, combine to form a social, personalized learning experience with the potential to disrupt the language learning industry.

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United States:

Telephone access to interpreters in over 150 languages made available

Washington, D.C. (Vocus/PRWEB )—Consumers, business and government organizations across the nation now have a new option when communicating with non-English speakers. Language Learning Enterprises, Inc. (LLE), the leading, global provider of language services, including telephone interpretation, translation and language testing, now offers the ability to access a professional language interpreter over the phone in over 150 languages simply by using a credit card. This option compliments LLE’s telephone interpretation network, LLE-LINK where customers still have the ability to create an account for live access to a professional linguist.

"This new feature is exciting because it enhances the 'on-demand' nature of our organization, as you never know when a language barrier is going to challenge everyday business transactions," states LLE's founder and CEO, Kathleen K. Diamond.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 20 percent of the nation’s population, or over 56 million individuals, are classified as having the limited ability to speak or understand the English language. “Everyday, government, business, non-profits and consumers use our LLE-LINK service to communicate with limited English proficient individuals,” adds Diamond.

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United Kingdom:

Educational DVD on English language released

It is difficult not to begin with a string of superlatives, for this entertaining and educational DVD set is worthy of much praise. Melvyn Bragg, president of Great Britain’s National Campaign for the Arts, narrates the beautifully filmed and enthralling story of the English language.

English speakers all around the world will be interested in the past, present and future of the language as roots, development and expansion are explored.

The politics of a place seem to play a large role in the development of the primary language. Beginning with the Germanic tribe from Frisia who came to the British Isles after the Romans left, and pushed the remaining Celts to the far corners of the land, the history of the English that we speak today is traced.

With each invasion or attempt to conquer Britain, the English language either came to the forefront or was shoved underground.  Even in the time that it disappeared from use by those in power, the language was still growing, expanding with new words from different cultures.

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China:

The world’s first virtual world for English learning released

SHANGHAI, CHINA and WOBURN, MA (Marketwire - July 16, 2009)—8D World has released Wiz World Online (www.wizworldonline.com), the world's first virtual world dedicated for global English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners to improve their spoken English in a highly motivating environment.

Wiz World Online was first released in Chinese to the general public and has attracted a rapidly growing user base while partnering with hundreds of public and private schools in China. In addition, users can go directly to www.wizworldonline.com to join.

In July, 8D World will be working with six Shanghai government agencies and Shanghai Oriental Digital Community to launch the Wiz World Cup oral English competition in anticipation of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Taking advantage of the virtual world platform, Wiz World Cup is able to attract an unprecedented number of contestants who only need a home computer and a broadband connection to participate.

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This page welcomes news releases related to the English language, English-language teaching, communication, and education in general. Please send your news releases to jcarilloforum@gmail.com. We reserve the right to edit releases for clarity, conciseness, and space considerations.

 




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Page last modified: 12 September, 2009, 3:00 a.m.