Speaking Out Article Archive
This is a collection of thoughts, comments and articles regarding some of the issues and discussion points that have been raised in our English Discussion Forums. Many topics have links to related discussions and polls to be found in our forums so that you can read up on what other people have had to say on these points, and of course you can add your own opinions to any or all of them.
Broadband Britain- Backwards to the Future
Why the UK is going to suffer from its failure to create the infrastructure for true broadband.
Burnout in the Flame Wars
A look at how our Delphi forum went wrong.
Cockney Rhyming Slang
About Cockney Rhyming Slang and a discussion on whether splitting infinitives is wrong.
Creationism in UK Schools
Creationism is being taught in a number of academies in the UK.
Dave's ESL Cafe
A look at what is wrong with Dave ESL Cafe.com.
Do Exams Damage Learning?
A look at whether English language examinations stop students from learning real English.
Do not might one's understand to speak
Have we found the modern voice to the Pedro Carolino's old classic "English as She is Spoke"?
Dumbing Down Our Children
Questions arise about the factors hindering children's learning. While teachers play a role, parents also bear responsibility. The decline in reading habits and over-reliance on technology might be contributing factors.
E-Raters in Marking Students' Writing
Can computers correct students' writing?
EFLese Course Materials
How the Internet offers an alternative to the world of EFL/ESL course books.
Emotional Intelligence in ESL
A look at whether Emotional Intelligence has anything to offer ESL.
English as an International Language
Comments on English as an International Language, English Spelling, and Are Numbers Infinite?
English Teaching Franchises
A look at English language school franchises in Japan.
English Teaching Franchises 2
A look at the profitability of the largest chain of franchises in Japan.
English, a Crazy Language Indeed!
A couple of light-hearted and entertaining looks at the English language and why it can sometimes be so confusing to learn.
ESL Employment
Is ESL employment in the doldrums?
ESL Quizzes and Tests
A look at how we try to structure our Quizzes and Testing Section.
Exams and Testing
The UK's education system subjects children to more tests than previous generations. Is this beneficial for their learning or merely a result of the information age?
Factoid Learning
Is ILT necessarily an impoverished 'factoid' way of learning?
Fora & Forums
Many speakers of English maintain that the correct plural of forum is fora rather than forums because it is a word of Latin origin, but is this right?
Foreign Language Learning
Foreign languages are no longer compulsory in Britain.
Higher Education
What's the point of a university-level education?
Humanistic Teaching
Has Humanistic ESL teaching had its day?
ILT Access in Further Education in the UK
A survey of whether FE Colleges in the UK have external computer access for their students.
ILT in learning English in schools and colleges in the UK
ILT in learning English in schools and colleges in the UK.