 Welcome to ESL Progress
Dear EnglishClub.com Member,
Welcome to this edition of ESL Progress! This month you can learn about the 4 language skills, and take part in our Talking Point Discussion on "Missing Children". You'll also find links to recently added pages. Test yourself too with Quick Quiz. As always there is the latest news, lesson plan, jobs and business opportunities for teachers and schools.
Happy Progress!
Josef Essberger, Founder
EnglishClub.com
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NEWS FOR ESL LEARNERS  |
This Month's Lesson  The 4 Language Skills
When we learn a language, there are four skills that we need for complete communication. When we learn our native language, we usually learn to listen first, then to speak, then to read, and finally to write. These are called the four "language skills": - Skill #1: Listening
- Skill #2: Speaking
- Skill #3: Reading
- Skill #4: Writing
The four language skills are related to each other in two ways: - the direction of communication (in or out)
- the method of communication (spoken or written)
Input is sometimes called "reception" and output is sometimes called "production". Spoken is also known as "oral". In fact there are other skills for language learning, such as Grammar and Pronunciation (often called "micro-skills"). But the 4 skills illustrated above are the main ones, and the ones that people usually mean when they refer to "language skills". |
Latest Talking Point  Missing Children: The AMBER Alert System
What is it?
The AMBER Alert System is a child rescue organization which acts as an early warning system for the public when a child goes missing. AMBER stands for "America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response".
It was set up as a result of a call to a radio station in 1997 in Dallas, Texas, from a concerned member of the public who had heard about the tragedy of Amber Hagerman. Nine-year-old Amber had been riding her bike in January 1996 when she was kidnapped by a man who bundled her into his pickup truck. Her body was found four days later, four miles away. Her throat had been cut: she had been murdered. Her murderer has never been caught.
The concerned caller who contacted the Dallas radio station suggested that in future, in similar cases, radio stations could broadcast repeat bulletins about recently abducted children. It was hoped that such a move might raise public awareness and increase the chances of the child being sighted or released promptly.
The Dallas Amber Plan, which was initiated in July 1997, has since won wide support in America and grown rapidly. Other countries have begun to adopt the AMBER alert system too. In the UK the scheme was started in 2002 by Sussex Constabulary and has since been adopted by many other counties in England and Wales.
How does it work?
Once a child has been reported missing, and the situation has been assessed professionally according to the AMBER criteria, AMBER alerts are broadcast on TV and radio, interrupting programmes if necessary. AMBER alerts can also be shown on motorway signs, printed on tickets, sent to mobile phones in the immediate area and transmitted on the Internet. The system works by harnessing the power of the public to assist the police in "keeping their eyes peeled" for the missing child.
How successful is it?
In 2004 alone 71 children were rescued due to AMBER alert initiatives. Since the programme began over 200 children have been recovered. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that over 4,000 children are abducted by strangers in the US every year. Few AMBER alerts are issued each year and the criteria for issuing them are arguably stringent. Defenders of the criteria state that this is necessary as too many AMBER alerts will de-sensitize the public to child abductions.-- Each month we have a new Talking Point and invite your views and opinions. Just follow the link below to say what you think. This month's Talking Point is: "Children only go missing when parents are careless."Say what you think... |
Quick Quiz 
A road on which traffic can go in only one direction is
a) a traffic lane
b) a one-way street
c) a one-sided road
See end of newsletter for answer
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NEWS FOR ESL TEACHERS
Featured Teacherblogs:
Freelance Teacher of English
English Only!
Welcome to my English Stuff Blog
Get Your Own Teacherblog here
"COMING SOON" in 2008!Watch for an exciting new and unique documentary film on the global TEFL industry by independent film maker Daniel Emmerson, to be launched in early 2008. Currently shooting in Eastern Europe, Emmerson will soon be filming on location in SE Asia. The film is sponsored by TEFL.net. Details of this forthcoming film will be announced soon. Two Gateways for Teachers of EnglishReview of EnglishClub.com and TEFL.net by Rolf Palmberg. Read on...The TEFLtastic Blog by Alex Case
Novas, Supernovas and Black HolesIt's all there,..
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This Month's Lesson Plan  Talking Point: MissingA very topical lesson on a globally valuable subject: Missing children. Vocabulary is practised in a gap-fill exercise based on the different meanings of the word "miss". Students have plenty of opportunity to practise their fluency through stimulating conversation questions such as: "If a child is not found quickly, how long should the authorities continue to look for him/her?" Download lesson plan...Each Talking Point worksheet is available for download as a PDF file that you can view in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Each worksheet can be easily printed and is freely photocopiable. |
Latest ESL Jobs 
Find the latest job offers for English teachers posted by schools around the world. Also in the Job Centre: - Subscribe to JobAlert FREE
- Frequently Asked Questions about ESL jobs
- Tips on writing your resume when applying for an ESL job
- Resumes bank where you can post your resume
- Schools can post ESL vacancies
ESL Jobs Centre... |
Schools For Sale 
- USA: Language School in San Diego
- Italy: School for Sale (Calabria)
- Italy: English School for Sale
- Spain: Profitable School for Sale
- Spain: English School near Seville
- Italy: Language School in Romagna
- Spain: English School for Sale, Madrid
See full details... |
Answer to Quick Quiz
b) a one-way street
This is a level 3 question and answer from Word Up, the ESL board game that's fun to play at home or at school. Learn more here...
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