Lexical Lab
@lexicallab.bsky.social
EFL teachers and writers. Online teacher- and language-development courses all year round. Annual face-to-face summer school in north London. Check out our website to learn more: www.lexicallab.com
Training can sometimes create bad rules for teachers because of the circumstances of the training and restrictions involved - coupled with a failure to be explicit of basic beliefs and principles. #CELTA #teachertraining #teacherdevelopment
December 9, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Training can sometimes create bad rules for teachers because of the circumstances of the training and restrictions involved - coupled with a failure to be explicit of basic beliefs and principles. #CELTA #teachertraining #teacherdevelopment
#teacherdevelopment #Teachingtips Our final webinar of the year is on Saturday 6th Dec at 9am UK time. I'll be talking about the nature of difficulty and challenge. www.lexicallab.com/webinars
December 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
#teacherdevelopment #Teachingtips Our final webinar of the year is on Saturday 6th Dec at 9am UK time. I'll be talking about the nature of difficulty and challenge. www.lexicallab.com/webinars
Our next webinar is on Sat 6th December 9am. You can register here: www.lexicallab.com/webinars/. If you can't make it on the day, we will send you a recording.
November 27, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Our next webinar is on Sat 6th December 9am. You can register here: www.lexicallab.com/webinars/. If you can't make it on the day, we will send you a recording.
Because of the focus on building grammar forms on the one hand and not allowing students to say things that are grammatically wrong, low-level materials don't ask about learners' opinions much. We could do more to fill that gap.
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Because of the focus on building grammar forms on the one hand and not allowing students to say things that are grammatically wrong, low-level materials don't ask about learners' opinions much. We could do more to fill that gap.
#EFL #ELT #teachEnglish #teachingtips Critical thinking tasks are difficult at low levels but not imposible. Do you have any ideas?
November 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
#EFL #ELT #teachEnglish #teachingtips Critical thinking tasks are difficult at low levels but not imposible. Do you have any ideas?
There is language that students need to talk critically about texts. Some isn't necessarily difficult, but there may be room for allowing some discussion in the L1 and using this to teach the language students need.
November 13, 2025 at 7:11 AM
There is language that students need to talk critically about texts. Some isn't necessarily difficult, but there may be room for allowing some discussion in the L1 and using this to teach the language students need.
What might a critical thinking approach to ‘gist’ reading any text look like? How would you answer the questions for texts in your coursebook or others that you provide for students? Are there any texts that these questions don’t work for? Why not?
November 6, 2025 at 7:09 AM
What might a critical thinking approach to ‘gist’ reading any text look like? How would you answer the questions for texts in your coursebook or others that you provide for students? Are there any texts that these questions don’t work for? Why not?
#EFL #ELT #learnEnglish Is it the job of language teachers to teach critical thinking skills and how well equipped are they to do so? What do you think?
November 4, 2025 at 7:17 AM
#EFL #ELT #learnEnglish Is it the job of language teachers to teach critical thinking skills and how well equipped are they to do so? What do you think?
October 30, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Not all language lends itself to pre-teaching.
October 28, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Not all language lends itself to pre-teaching.
#ELT #EFL #teacherdevelopment Today, Andrew suggests a way to conduct ranking exercises that may generate more language and stretch students … as well as incorporating other critical thinking techniques.
October 21, 2025 at 10:43 AM
#ELT #EFL #teacherdevelopment Today, Andrew suggests a way to conduct ranking exercises that may generate more language and stretch students … as well as incorporating other critical thinking techniques.
#EFL #ELT #Englishteacher #teacherdevelopment Do you ever do ranking exercises in class? Do you ever notice the same problem as Andrew?
October 16, 2025 at 3:56 AM
#EFL #ELT #Englishteacher #teacherdevelopment Do you ever do ranking exercises in class? Do you ever notice the same problem as Andrew?
Another favourite frame connected with 'critical thinking' which offers a route to challenging stereotypes and assumptions - “Just because … doesn't mean ...”
October 14, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Another favourite frame connected with 'critical thinking' which offers a route to challenging stereotypes and assumptions - “Just because … doesn't mean ...”
Getting students to take on the roles of people they know is another way for students to perhaps practise 'empathy' or consider other perspectives, but it also helps with revising or repractising basic conversations.
October 7, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Getting students to take on the roles of people they know is another way for students to perhaps practise 'empathy' or consider other perspectives, but it also helps with revising or repractising basic conversations.
Here's an example of how we could combine brainstorming with practising empathy. Would using Chat GPT be better for students?!
October 2, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Here's an example of how we could combine brainstorming with practising empathy. Would using Chat GPT be better for students?!
Empathy is a part of critical thinking. How do you encourage it in your classes?
September 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Empathy is a part of critical thinking. How do you encourage it in your classes?
Brainstorming / generating multiple ideas is a part of the creative process. Do you ever brainstorm ideas with students? How do you go about it?
September 25, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Brainstorming / generating multiple ideas is a part of the creative process. Do you ever brainstorm ideas with students? How do you go about it?
How far do you think we can teach students critical thinking? And will it have a lasting impact?
September 23, 2025 at 2:12 PM
How far do you think we can teach students critical thinking? And will it have a lasting impact?
How has knowing more than one language or a previous learning experience helped you when you started learning a new language? Do you get your students to discuss or make use of other languages in your classes?
September 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM
How has knowing more than one language or a previous learning experience helped you when you started learning a new language? Do you get your students to discuss or make use of other languages in your classes?
You can still get a recording of the whole thing and join our discussion this evening. Just copy and paste this URL. www.lexicallab.com/webinars/
September 16, 2025 at 12:48 PM
You can still get a recording of the whole thing and join our discussion this evening. Just copy and paste this URL. www.lexicallab.com/webinars/
Tomorrow - Wednesday the 10th - Andrew is giving a webinar called DOES GOOD TEACHING HAVE A METHOD? as part of the Teaching House series. You can see more details – and book your place – here: share.hsforms.com/1bl3t_9qpQZ-...
September 9, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Tomorrow - Wednesday the 10th - Andrew is giving a webinar called DOES GOOD TEACHING HAVE A METHOD? as part of the Teaching House series. You can see more details – and book your place – here: share.hsforms.com/1bl3t_9qpQZ-...
Today at 18:00, Andrew is doing a webinar - WORKING FROM STUDENTS: BUILDING IDENTITY IN L2 AND POSITIVE CLASS DYNAMICS. If you want to be successful in a tech-obsessed world, you need to focus on the humans in the room. But how do you do that? Join to get some answers. www.lexicallab.com/webinars
September 2, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Today at 18:00, Andrew is doing a webinar - WORKING FROM STUDENTS: BUILDING IDENTITY IN L2 AND POSITIVE CLASS DYNAMICS. If you want to be successful in a tech-obsessed world, you need to focus on the humans in the room. But how do you do that? Join to get some answers. www.lexicallab.com/webinars
Speak good English but want to refine things further? Need to speak advanced English for your career? Our next batch of four-week Advanced English classes starts next Wednesday and Saturday. Book your place today: www.lexicallab.com/learn-englis...
August 2, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Speak good English but want to refine things further? Need to speak advanced English for your career? Our next batch of four-week Advanced English classes starts next Wednesday and Saturday. Book your place today: www.lexicallab.com/learn-englis...
Facebook has just informed me that it was nine years ago today that I took receipt of the very copies of our methodology book, ‘Teaching Lexically’! Have YOU read it yet?
July 15, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Facebook has just informed me that it was nine years ago today that I took receipt of the very copies of our methodology book, ‘Teaching Lexically’! Have YOU read it yet?