You have certainly happened to chat with someone in a language you do not understand well. In this kind of situation, one of the reflexes to better understand what is being said is to base oneself on the gestures or facial expressions of the other person. Perhaps he will even have made the effort to underline or […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
These gestures that matter for language learning
Do you really have to learn the syntactic rules?
In these times in which, who more and who less, everyone allows himself to talk about science and its advances, the criticism that is directed towards certain professional sectors connected in a very direct way with science, such as the doctors and teachers, when they incorporate scientific advances. There are some very clear examples that […] … learn more→
Can schools require COVID-19 vaccines for students now that Pfizer’s shot is authorized for kids 12 and up?
With the first COVID-19 vaccine now authorized for adolescents, ages 12 and up, a big question looms: Will students be required to get the vaccine before returning to their classrooms in the fall? As a professor of education policy and law and a former attorney for school districts, I regularly think about this sort of question. In the […] … learn more→
An ill-defined skills agenda is a high-risk sleepwalk into the future
The UK government’s renewed focus on lifelong learning is widely welcomed – and for good reason. The UK is one of the most economically imbalanced European countries; only Romania and Poland have larger inter-regional income gaps. The UK also has greater income inequality than all but one European Union country, and it has the third-highest […] … learn more→
Bac: continuous testing, the winner by default?
A curious fate is that of continuous assessment for the baccalaureate exam. After having been long and strongly refused , both by teachers and high school students, and their respective unions, he is acclaimed by the same. Those who were revolted by the prospect of the introduction of a dose (even a small one) of continuous monitoring are now […] … learn more→
To preserve academic comfort zones, we must sometimes step out of them
I once served as an assistant to a professor whose approach to teaching consisted of bestowing a static set of knowledge on the ignorant. Each week, I would meet with my undergraduate discussion groups and, because they were too overwhelmed with seemingly random information to make any sense of it, we would review the lecture […] … learn more→
5 factors that contribute to students finishing high school
This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted learning for more than 1.6 billion students in over 190 countries. With movement between bricks-and-mortar schools and online learning becoming the “new normal,” young people, families, educators and the public are seeking assurance that students are receiving the best education possible. They are also concerned about students disengaging from […] … learn more→
Is your kid studying a second language at school? How much they learn will depend on where you live
People learn a second language for many reasons, including work, to better understand the world, an interest in the culture of the language itself, and love. Learning a language has many benefits. For children, it can improve literacy, maths and science skills. It can enhance social skills and empathy, and give them an appreciation of cultural […] … learn more→
Kids with a desk and a quiet place to study do better in school, data shows
Ask what students need to learn at home, and the answer often involves access to Wi-Fi or a digital device. For example, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 sets aside US$7.1 billion to support access to high-speed internet for schools and libraries. What often gets overlooked is whether kids have a desk at home or a quiet place […] … learn more→
Is a great educational pact possible?
At a time characterized by polarization, the educational dialogue is held hostage by those who obtain revenue from the confrontation and prioritize disputed issues, ignoring the existing consensus. In this way, there is a fracture between society and education experts who do not occupy the place they should in the debate where the talk shows […] … learn more→
