ESL teacher explaining the passive voice at a whiteboard

Teaching the Passive Voice: 9 Best ESL Activities & Games

Quick Answer: Teaching the passive voice works best when you start with the “why” before the “how” — the passive is used when the action matters more than who did it (The window was broken), or when the doer is unknown or obvious. Introduce it after students are solid on tenses, drill the be +…

Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy framed by rooftops and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.

What PISA 2022 Reveals About the World’s Top Education Systems (And What ESL Teachers Can Learn)

Before diving into country comparisons, it is worth being clear about the instrument. PISA measures: Reading comprehension — the ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate text Mathematical reasoning — applying mathematical concepts to real-world problems Scientific literacy — understanding scientific concepts and reasoning about evidence PISA does not measure: Speaking or communication ability Creativity, critical…

Teacher presenting a reported speech lesson to an ESL classroom

Teaching Reported Speech: 9 Best ESL Activities & Games

Quick Answer: Reported speech (also called indirect speech) is how we tell someone what another person said without quoting their exact words — “I’m tired” becomes She said she was tired. Teaching it well means drilling three moving parts at once: the tense usually shifts back one step, pronouns change to match the new speaker,…