Peppermints and Diamonds

  The demand for ESL teachers throughout the world increases each year and teaching ESL – online or in a classroom – has become a popular career among English speakers. The good news is: It’s not difficult to become an ESL teacher. However, being a great ESL teacher certainly is. How do you know that YOU are a great teacher – and make your students wanting to never stop learning? In this post, you’ll learn the 13 rules which help you to teach ESL effectively, together with info on how to become an ESL teacher in no time. How to be a Good ESL Teacher 13 Rules Teaching Is Not Just a Job! Learning English empowers people from all over the world to pursue a successful career and to connect with other people and cultures internationally. That’s why teaching ESL is such an attractive job: As a native English speaker, you can find employment nearly anywhere, travel the world, finance yourself and make a difference in other peoples’ lives. Teaching ESL is not just a job. It’s not about you...

  📘✨ ESOL BASE LESSON TEMPLATE 🔵  THE BASE LESSON (ALWAYS THE SAME) 🧺 Base Ingredients (Every Lesson) 👋 Warm-up / activation 👂 Input (listening / reading / viewing) 🧠 Language focus (vocab / grammar / pronunciation) ✍️ Guided practice 🗣️ Speaking / interaction 🔄 Review & reflection 🥣💛 Base Lesson Flow 1️⃣ Activate prior knowledge 2️⃣ Comprehensible input 3️⃣ Notice the language 4️⃣ Supported practice 5️⃣ Communicative use 6️⃣ Reflect & check learning ♾️ Built-in Pedagogy 👥 Sociocultural (interaction & collaboration) 🎨 Experiential (learning by doing) ♾️ UDL (multiple ways to engage & express) 📝 ESOL scaffolding (models, sentence frames, visuals) 📊 Assessment (Always Present) ✅ Formative: observation, drafts, peer talk 🎟️ Exit ticket / quick reflection 🔍 Teacher notes for next lesson 🟢  THE SWAP-IN OPTIONS (CHANGE THESE) (Like cake flavours — mix & match!) 📖 Input Swap (Choose ...

 Pollard Park in Blenheim, Marlborough 🌳🌹 🌿 Pollard Park – Blenheim Pollard Park is Blenheim’s main public garden and one of the town’s most loved outdoor spaces. It’s located just south of the town centre and is often described as the “green heart” of Blenheim. --- 📍 Location Centrally located, a short walk from Blenheim’s CBD Bordered by Parker Street and Hutcheson Street Easy access with parking nearby --- 🌹 Gardens & Landscape Rose Gardens: One of the highlights, featuring many varieties that bloom beautifully in spring and summer Formal gardens with seasonal flower displays Large mature trees, providing plenty of shade Open lawns mixed with carefully landscaped areas --- 🚶‍♀️ Paths & Recreation Well-maintained walking and jogging paths Flat terrain, suitable for all ages and mobility levels Popular for dog walking (on leash), casual strolls, and exercise ⚽ Sports & Activities Hosts cricket fields, tennis courts,...

# 3-Week Intensive ESOL Course (Years 7–8) **Learners:** 2 Korean ESOL students (Year 7–8) **Context:** Students have been living and schooling in New Zealand for approximately **one year** **Duration:** 3 weeks | **Time:** 5 hours per day (75 total hours) **Primary Focus:** Speaking and listening (fluency, confidence, accuracy) **Secondary Focus:** Reading, writing, vocabulary, pronunciation, and academic classroom language **Curriculum Alignment:** New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) – English Learning Area & ESOL Progressions --- ## 1. Course Rationale This intensive ESOL course is designed for two Korean students in Years 7–8 who have **already been in New Zealand for one year**. They have basic functional English and familiarity with New Zealand school routines, but require **targeted support to increase spoken fluency, accuracy, and confidence**, particularly in academic and social classroom contexts. The course builds on students’ existing knowledge and shifts from survival English...