Jonathan Marks
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Pronunciation skills: Syllabic l
This lesson practises the pronunciation of syllabic l. It occurs in many words with the spelling ‘consonant + le’, and also when the contraction ‘ll occurs after a consonant sound, as in that’ll do.
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Pronunciation skills: Stress in compound nouns
This lesson focuses on stress patterns in compound nouns. Students form compounds to fit definitions then practise them by asking questions.
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Pronunciation skills: Adverbs of frequency
Adverbs of frequency such as always and sometimes are a familiar teaching point. This lesson by Jonathan Marks practises some of these phrases with a particular focus on their stress patterns.
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Pronunciation skills: Sound and spelling
This lesson plan by Jonathan Marks focuses on homographs and homophones, as well as other pairs of words whose pronunciation learners tend to find confusing.
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Assimilation and elision
This comprehensive article by Jonathan Marks explains the most common types of assimilation and elision.
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Grammar: mood and modality 1
Jonathan Marks explains the difference between mood and modality.
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Grammar: mood and modality 2
Jonathan Marks explains the difference between mood and modality.
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Grammar: passives
Some advice and suggestions for practising the passive in a conversation class.
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Lesson Share: Debates: Where to sit
The class attempts to reach a consensus on where everyone should sit.
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Lesson Share: Discussions: What I noticed
Students discuss ten things they saw, heard, felt or smelled on their way to the lesson today.
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Lesson Share: Grammar activities: Can do / can't do
An activity that is likely to lead to disagreement and discussion!
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Lesson Share: Miscellaneous: English I've liked
This is particularly good for learners who arrive for a lesson in a hurry and full of other concerns, and benefit from having a few quiet moments to switch into English and re-establish a positive attitude towards the language.
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Lesson Share: Pictures: The character of music
A fun activity in which students pair up pieces of music with adjectives.
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Lesson Share: Pictures: Dialogue in music
This simple activity uses a piece of instrumental music to create a dialogue.
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Lesson Share: Pictures: Musical involvement
A short activity using music which prompts discussion.
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Lesson Share: Pre-reading: Making connections
A fun and useful activity where students are encouraged to predict the story they are going to read.
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Lesson Share: Pre-reading: What is the connection?
Learners have to find the connection that links words together in this pre-reading exercise.