Articles by Brian Tolentino

Neymar Mini-Lessson

Many of ELL’s love soccer stars. One way to engage these students is by creating a lesson devoted to one of these stars. Here is an example lesson. Step 1: Ask students if they know who Neymar is. Then let them explain to you (in their own words) who he is. I have my students try to explain in 10 words or less. Step 2: Turn off the lights, turn up the volume, and play […]

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Silent Debate (10 Activities)

For this task, you’re going to have an argument with a classmate — but there’s a twist: you won’t be speaking at all. Instead, you will argue on paper. You’ll share your ideas, respond to your partner, and try to convince them of your point of view, all through writing.The purpose of this task is to help you practice critical thinking and argumentative writing skills. By arguing on paper, you’ll learn how to express your […]

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