Latest
Building Thinkers, Not Test-Takers: The Englist Approach
Recently, the teachers at Englist read a research paper titled “Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert.” The authors of the paper give an interesting example of how necessary background knowledge is to reading comprehension. Using that example, I’d like to explore the complexities of reading and why the ability to read fluently doesn’t always mean the ability to comprehend completely.
Student focus and AI
Recently, the teachers at Englist read a research paper titled “Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert.” The authors of the paper give an interesting example of how necessary background knowledge is to reading comprehension. Using that example, I’d like to explore the complexities of reading and why the ability to read fluently doesn’t always mean the ability to comprehend completely.
Decoding Alone Doesn’t Crack the Code – The importance of background knowledge in the ability to read.
Recently, the teachers at Englist read a research paper titled “Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to Expert.” The authors of the paper give an interesting example of how necessary background knowledge is to reading comprehension. Using that example, I’d like to explore the complexities of reading and why the ability to read fluently doesn’t always mean the ability to comprehend completely.
Academic Writing
To Kill a Mockingbird and Lit Class in Taiwan
How Taiwanese kids learn about this book, and so many others, could be done so much better if we would move past the idea that for a curriculum to be “American” it needs to be copied and pasted wholesale from American high school lit classes. More specifically, students at Englist enjoy and understand advanced books like TKAM because we approach them differently than anyone else in Taiwan does.
How Englist does online learning better than others
We understand that online learning is hard for families. Online classes might mean parents need to do a little extra work in helping their kids, or might need to pay a little bit closer attention to how their student is behaving in class. It’s no fun for anyone – parents, students, and teachers. What makes Englist such a great program is that we both understand the difficulties and drawbacks of online learning, but we are also able to transition to an online system in the blink of an eye.
The 5 most common mistakes in academic writing
There are a few academic writing mistakes Englist teachers see more often than others. Take a look at the five most common mistakes in academic writing and see if these are problems you may have in your writing.
Elementary Fundamentals
How to leave a comment on a Google document
We use Google Documents to share a general classroom blog with parents (so everyone can see class news and activities) and to inform parents directly about their child’s progress. We also know some parents may not be familiar with Google Docs, so here’s a clear, step-by-step guide for opening the document and leaving a comment on something the teacher wrote.
Why the stories we tell matter
If I, as a fluent English speaker, felt unseen in my textbooks, imagine how much harder it is for children learning English as a second language.
Why kids need freewriting
Freewriting is simple. It’s just writing with no rules, no expectations, and—most importantly—no grades. In a world where kids are often ranked, tested, and pushed to perform, students also need space to explore and to just write.
College Applications
How to prepare for the IELTS exam
By Teacher Jon A good IELTS study plan can do a lot to prepare you for the test. These steps will help you organize an ideal study plan. Useful resources Ideal study space Understanding the test format Immersion - not over-study Taking mock tests Practicing...
Why your kids are studying the wrong way for the SAT
Students practice until their heads hurt, and as soon as the test is done, they forget most of what it was they were learning. Cram, forget, cram forget. It is how testing works in Taiwan and how it will continue to work. The thing about these methods is that students aren’t actually learning, and this sort of training has very little value.
5 great (and 5 overrated) extracurricular activities for college
High school students need to take up activities that make them stand apart from other candidates and show them to be thoughtful, engaged, passionate, and bright. A popular way of ensuring you stand out is to plan a “spike”, or an extracurricular that is highly unique, independent, and impactful.