PhonicsMaking English Fun

The Best ESL Reading Games and Activities.

ByMaking English Fun! November 25, 2023November 25, 2023

Unlock the joy of reading in your ESL classroom with our engaging selection of reading games! Are you a teacher searching for innovative ways to enhance reading skills among your ESL students? This article gives you 17 reading games, each designed to boost comprehension, vocabulary, and overall language proficiency. From creative ‘Comic Strip Creation’ to…

What is the Reciprocal Teaching Strategy?

ByMaking English Fun! November 25, 2023November 25, 2023

Reciprocal Teaching is a collaborative instructional approach characterized by a guided dialogue between teachers and students, focusing on the joint construction of meaning and understanding from texts. This approach emphasizes the active engagement of learners through dialogue, fostering deeper comprehension and critical thinking skills. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of Reciprocal Teaching,…

The Boomerang: Engage Study Activate Teaching Method

ByMaking English Fun! November 21, 2023November 22, 2023

As English Teachers, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance our teaching methods and engage our students more effectively. ( or at least we hope we all are!) Enter the Boomerang variation of the ESA (Engage, Study, Activate) teaching method. The Boomerang method in ESA is a more flexible approach. It still involves the…

10 Hardest English Words to Pronounce for Spanish Speakers

ByMaking English Fun! November 15, 2023November 16, 2023

For Spanish speakers, diving into English offers its own set of pronunciation challenges. The two languages, while sharing some commonalities, differ significantly in their phonetic structures. English, with its wide array of vowel sounds and consonant combinations, can present particularly tricky hurdles for those whose native language is Spanish. Here, we explore English words that…

10 Hardest English Words to Pronounce for French Speakers

ByMaking English Fun! November 15, 2023November 15, 2023

English and French are two languages that are bound not just by proximate geography, but by history, culture and more. The English language wouldn’t be what it is today without its considerable French influence following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, and of course nowadays thanks to the power and influence of countries such…

ESL | ESL | Phonics | Teaching

How to Teach English Phonics to Adults

ByMaking English Fun! October 9, 2023November 22, 2023

Over the years, we have amassed a wealth of knowledgeand experience in teaching English phonics to adults and are excited toshare our insights with you. Through a balance of theory and practicalapplication, we have developed effective methods that make the learningprocess enjoyable and productive, giving adults the confidence to masterEnglish phonics. To teach English phonics…

Phonics | Teaching

What Is a Vowel Quadrilateral

ByMaking English Fun! July 13, 2023July 13, 2023

The vowel quadrilateral often known as a vowel diagram is a visual representation in phonetics that demonstrates the positioning and articulation of vowel sounds. It is a tool that provides an intuitive understanding of the dynamic nature of vowel production. A vowel quadrilateral is a vowel diagram in phonetics, representing the oral cavity and showing…

ESL | Grammar | Phonics | Teaching | Teaching English

What is the Difference Between High Frequency and Dolch Words?

ByMaking English Fun! December 24, 2022August 10, 2023

If you’ve ever used “high-frequency words” and “Dolch words” interchangeably, then you may be sad to hear that you’ve been using them incorrectly all this time. While there is a certain amount of crossover, they are two distinct and separate ideas. We’ll do our best to explain that difference in today’s post. Dolch words are…

Phonics | Teaching | Teaching English

Is “Qu” a Blend or a Digraph?

ByMaking English Fun! December 22, 2022November 29, 2023

Has a student ever asked you before about the letter combination “qu” and specifically how to identify it? If so, what was your first gut reaction to the question? Was it to say that “qu” is a blend? Or did you immediately gravitate towards digraph? Qu can be both a digraph and a blend in…

ESL | Phonics | Teaching | Teaching English

Free Rhyming Worksheets.

ByMaking English Fun! November 5, 2022November 5, 2022

Rhyming is a great way to help students recognise word patterns and learn how English words are constructed and these rhyming worksheets will help you both teach and consolidate these skills. There are over 25 different rhyming worksheets on this page and we have them downloadable and printable in sets with different styles, tasks and…