Thor's Language and Teaching Notes

This is a new Wordpress blog where Thor is (slowly!) transferring some stuff from http://thormay.net, as well as adding new content. The idea is to open up relevant content to others for comment etc as well as providing a specialized ESL venue.

TESOL Lectures and Resources

developed by Thor to train graduate teachers in ESL/EFL

Thor's big ESL links page

Links to useful other ESL sites, jobs, resources, materials etc.

Barebones Index

This index page has the bare bones of ESL/EFL teaching content that Thor developed and used in South Korea from September 2000 to 2007.  Most of it was for tertiary students with only basic English skills. It contains many original dialogues and activities, as well as some advice for teachers.

Classes in China 2007 to 2010 at ZRVTC / Holmes Institute (Chinese/Australian joint venture, Zhengzhou city, Henan, China)

=> It was a requirement of this particular program in China to use a text book - a mixed blessing - so much (not all) of the Zhengzhou material is simply text book based lesson planning..

1. Year1 Nursing & Logistics Students [September 2010 to January 2011] Preparatory English for IELTS
2. Year 1 Nursing & Logistics Students [March 2010 to July 2010] Preparatory English for IELTS
3. Critical Thinking & Study Skills Program [March 2010 to July 2010]
4. Years 1 & 2 Nursing and Logistics Students : [September 2009 to January 2010] Preparatory English for IELTS
5. Nursing and Logistics Students : [March to July 2009] Preparatory English for IELTS
6. Year 1 Nursing and Logistics Students : [September 2008 to January 2009] Preparatory English for IELTS
7. Year 2 Nursing Students : [from September 2008] Preparatory English for IELTS
8. Year 1 Nursing and Logistics Students : [September 2007 to July 2008] Preparatory English for IELTS

Startup English Dialogues

A new project of dialogues mostly yet to be written!

Last Message to Friends

Spoken language group projects for smart minds -- developed in China, 1998-2000 to challenge postgraduate university students

Aesop's Fables in Easy English [ the sample collection available on this website has been added to up to book length and includes a range of extra activities. The book version is in the process of being developed as a commercial publication. When it is ready revised sample pages will be available].

A small collection of Aesop's fables, rewritten for second language learners, with some suggestions for activities

English for Mechanics

Over 90 short texts for learning the English of automotive mechanics. This material has been sold and used successfully in a number of industrial locations.

Short Texts from Oz   - [ this book length project was first written and extensively trialled in the 1990s. It is in the process of being redeveloped as a commercial publication. When it is ready sample pages will be available]

A volume of short texts for learning English, written in Australia

Bus to Heaven

A story for learning English

Mr Dog Looks for Breakfast

A children's story for learning English - based on the Total Physical Response method

Industrial Dialogues for English Conversation

Written for immigrants in Australia

"Evaluating Linguistic Difficulty"

An long article few traps for wannabe ESL writers. It is old, but still very relevant.  

Talk to Eliza ! + links to other chatter bots

So you want to use English, huh? Here is a link to the famous Eliza AI "therapist". Type in your problems or dreams and Eliza will talk back all day...

Articles and critiques by Thor on language teaching methodology and policy

This is a whole other section of the website

Research papers by Thor on formal linguistics, sociolinguistics etc.

This is a whole other section of the website

Doubt well, do what you can, then let it be. Presidents, priests, wage slaves, hustlers, men and women, kids, we all live by the grace of those we love to despise...

(a bouquet for the unknown artist!)