Heads Up English

Global Warming and the Environment

Are you concerned about the present state of the environment? Why/not? Is global warming just a myth to scare people, as some people say? Why/not? Will the lives of our children (or our children's children) be more difficult because of the damage wrought on the environment now? Why/not? Will humans become extinct because...

A (Mostly) Complete Glossary for ESL EFL Teaching

Don't know a term? Need a quick reference on techniques and methods? As the title suggests, this is a mostly complete glossary of EFL ESL terms.

Lower-Intermediate News: Cram Schools

Tests are huge in South Korea. In fact, good test scores determine whether a student enters a top university. A good university likely means a good career. A good career likely means the person is a more attractive marriage partner. Students often study ten to twelve hours in the classroom every...

What's Your Personality?

Is it possible to be perfect? Why/not? Are there any persons or personality types that you admire? Why/not? Is your personality closer to your mom or your dad? Why do you think so? Do you think personality tests really reveal someone's personality? Why/not? What kind of person are you? Please explain. What kind of person...

How to Present the Target Language

No matter the lesson, the teacher must present its target language, theme, or focus. He has four options that best allow him to clearly present the information, and thereby get the students ready to begin drills, activities, or other forms of reinforcement. This article looks at: explicit explanations, visual aids,...

Freedom for One and All

Have you ever voted? If yes, talk about your first voting experience. If no, why haven't you ever voted?! Do you think voting in elections is a basic right or a privilege? And should there be any restrictions? Please explain. Would you ever go to war, or rebel against the government of...

Advanced News: Clashes Continue in Iran

The police and protestors continued to clash over the weekend in Iran. The police were out in force, armed with batons, tear gas, and water cannons. Permission hasn't been given to use firearms when confronting the protestors, although unconfirmed reports contradict official statements. The violence and chaos have been stepped...

Upper-Intermediate News: Clashes Continue in Iran

The police and protestors continued to clash over the weekend in Iran. There were thousands of police out around the country, armed with batons, tear gas, and water cannons. Although police haven't been given permission to use firearms against the protestors, some reports contradict official statements. The violence and chaos...

Books, Books, Books

Does reading for pleasure have a place in the modern world, or has it simply become too time consuming a pastime in the hustle and bustle of today? Why do you think so? Are some genres of fiction more noteworthy than others? Why/not? If you could quit your job for six months...

Adverbs of Frequency

What are adverbs of frequency? Adverbs of frequency explain how often something happens. The adverbs can be used when talking about the past, the present, or the future. But they are most often used to talk about the present tense, especially for beginners. Here are three example sentences: Sam always wakes...