About
A bit about the guy whose head this stuff comes from:
Father of the most wonderful two children in the world, husband to the best wife in the world, British, Master’s (distinction) in TEFL/TESL, Apple iMac lover, Arsenal Football Club supporter, gardener, visitor to 45 countries, early riser, long-distance swimmer, kayaker and cyclist.
Also… Newbie blogger, keen tryer-outerer of Web 2.0 in the EFL classroom, keen on using Twitter as a PLN (Personal Learning Network), trying to keep up with my students’ knowledge & awareness of social media, trying to keep up with my kids, trying to keep up with my diet and exercise schedule, trying to keep up with cool, new stuff on the web…
The story of how I got here is here: Part I, Part II and Part III.
Plus…
Webmaster of the sites you see on the right. There are lots more to come.
(But not the ones in the Blogroll – that’s real cool stuff from real cool bloggers.
Plus…
ISTEK 2010 – Istanbul, Turkey
Here are my Powerpoint presentations on “What’s News? Current Events in the Classroom” and “Making Recordings to Help You and Your Students in the Classroom“.
(Thank you to everyone who attended these sessions)
Plus…
My Dissertation (From a real long time ago, way back in 2003)
If you are interested in communicative language teaching and pronunciation, you might like to take a look at my dissertation (downloadable as PDF):
“What is meant by communicativeness in EFL teaching? An evaluation of the pronunciation component in a sample of elementary level course materials, with proposals for improvement incorporating a Discourse Intonation approach.” – 2003, The University of Birmingham, U.K.
Plus…
An Article
You might also want to read an article of mine on creating news lessons:
“Creating ESL/EFL Lessons Based on News and Current Events”
The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XI, No. 9, September 2005.
Plus…
Teaching the News
A few thoughts from presentations I have given about bringing news / current events into the classroom.
Plus…
My Book
You can also download a free sample PDF showing various parts of my book:
“1,000 Ideas & Activities for Language Teachers”
Plus…
More to come…
Hi,
I wanted to say – THANK YOU! I’m always in search for new materials and ideas, you are doing an amazing job that will help me a lot.
Plus, may I link your work to my site? Also, may I adapt some of your material a litttle? I don’t think my French learners could handle this level of questions and I think I need to change a little – with credit to you, of course..
Thanks , Iris
Hello Iris,
Thanks for writing. You may change the paper-based versions of my material a little. Were you also thinking of putting your adaptations online?
Best wishes,
Sean
Hello Mr. Banville,
I find your websites really informative and a good source to share to my Korean students who are looking to expand their skills and vocabulary.
Sometimes I am pressed for time and can’t go roaming at CNN or BBC. So instead I’d just go to your news sites. I like your Breaking News English the most because the topics are categorized and quite brief. You always have interesting topics.
Looking at your work, I’m guessing that you spend a whole lot of time writing and creating these lesson plans. Your diligence and efforts are really inspiring. And sharing this online, it’s really admirable of you.
I salute you, sir.
Cheers!
Thank you Ria for your kind words.
Best wishes to you,
Sean
Dear Sean,
I just want to say a big THANK YOU for your website, the Breaking News English,
it was very useful for me to be able to pass the advanced language exam.
I haven’t stopped reading your articles, I always feel the benefits of this writings. I’m a hungarian medical student, and it’s definitely a big help for me in my studies as well, since the offical language of medicine is english.
Unfortunately I can’t send any donation, but if you visit Hungary any time, I would be glad to show you my hometown Esztergom, near to the capital city Budapest.
Best wishes,
Laci
Thank you Laci for your kind words. I’m glad my site is useful to you. If ever I come to Hungary, I’ll look you up
Best wishes,
Sean
Hi Sean
Thank you so much for your discussion topics – they are amazing. I have recently found you business site which is so useful. I have modelled a lesson on Ryanair using some of your format and role play. I did this because I couldn’t find a company involved in the tourist industry on your site. However, I would like to send it to you so you can amend as necessary and include in your site if you wish. I started with 19 pages of info from Wikipedia and some additional info from the Guardian, which I managed to whittle down to 202 words, but with your expert eye it could be made even shorter! Again, thank you for your hard word. Margaret
Hi Sean,
I’m an ESOL Teacher at a High School in New Zealand and just wanted to say thank you for your fantastic resources. I can appreciate that a lot of time and effort goes into creating them. Your lessons have saved me many times when I’ve been sick and have to provide work for my classes.
Keep up the good work
Cheers!
Angela
Thank you Margaret,
Thank you for sending me this – It is now my 101st lesson on my business English site.
The URL is: http://www.businessenglishmaterials.com/ryanair.html
Best wishes,
Sean
Thank you Angela, I really appreciate your feedback. I’m glad you like my materials.
Keep in touch, and best wishes,
Sean
Hello Sean,
Thank you for your lesson plan on the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade (AUG 23). I have linked to it in the Web presentation “Precious Cargo: Middle Passage” at SlaveryMuseum.org.
Cheers,
Esha Thornton
Curator, SlaveryMuseum.org
Hi Sean
As a teacher of ESL in a rather unconventional way (see my website) I just have to say a huge THANKYOU for your on line lesson plans (holidays).
I have used quite a few of them when late at night on a Sunday I remember that I am horribly underprepared for the next Monday’s lesson. I love that I can convert one to Word, print it out and look terribly organised when I arrive for class the next morning. I am about to purchase you 1000 ideas book. Cheers from all the struggling ESL teachers around the world who no doubt look just that little bit more organised each Monday thanks to you.
I m a French teacher and I really need short listening activities… Your job is wonderful (thanks!)and I think I ll be using it with my pupils….
Next week, I ll be working on the listening task concerning Amy Winehouse…. but on the MP3 version on line a few words are missing…. ” she won dozens of awards “.
I’ve been using some of your exercises and I ve been working on some others…maybe you’d be interested in having a look at them….
Just tell me and once again thank you!
Sean! you are the Robin van Persie of ESL. ^_^
Love your work.
Many thanks for your great contribution to the world of ESL.
Wow!! What a compliment. If only I had a left foot like his
WOW !! How do you find time to do all this? What great ideas on your blog, too! I have been using the news for teaching ESL students for years and really appreciate the effort you’ve put into all of this. I only just stumbled over your work a few minutes ago so I haven’t had the chance to fully appreciate it yet but it looks incredibly interesting at first sight and I shall definitely be using it. It will also be a great timesaver when I’m too busy or at a loss for what to do to make my lessons more exciting and more effective as a result. GREAT !! I’m so excited… thanks a lot! Carry on the good work! By the way, I’m also an iMac fan, a great globetrotter, really dedicated to my family and trying to keep fit with sports, 24 hours a day are never enough and what gets left out unfortunately is often sleep… that’s why I wonder how you find time for all of this. Thanks again !!
Hi Sean:
Wanted suggest discussion topics (general and busness) on ethics. I am an American who leads discussions for a Ukrainian language school and all teachers here appreciate you discussion topics.
Mike Lynn
Kyiv, Ukraine
Dear Mr Banville,
Just to say that I admire how you take the time and trouble to create all your ESL websites. They are so fantastic because the subejcts are varied and I can use them for all my classes upto the intermediate level. After this level, its gets too easy for them and they do tire of always hearing the same voice and the same accent!
A whole lot of my preparation work is cut out thanks to you. Should you decide to make a charge for your breakingnewsenglish website, I would subscribe. I’m so happy with it. Thank you so much for the energy you put into your work.
Christine
France
Thank you Christine. I’m glad you like my sites
Hi Sean,
I really like your sites. They are very helpful. I was just going through the ones on the discussion website and noticed a few things I thought that you might want to fix. The Africa link just opens/downloads a doc file. The Russia link only opens a pdf file. The Speaking Activities link is the same as the spelling Activities link. There is a Video Games News Lesson that redirects you to Breaking News English. Hope the feedback can be helpful. It’s not meant to criticize. I’m just a crazy perfectionist
Thanks for all the hard work.