TEFL Tips - Present Perfect Tense

There are lots of tenses and lots of bits of tense related jargon to confuse both you and your student. But really, 90% of the time you’ll be using one of these five tenses - present simple, past simple, future, present continuous and present perfect. The first four are really pretty easy and sink in quickly. But present perfect will haunt most English students for years. It’s formed by using the verb have as an auxiliary with the present participle of the verb you are using.

Eg - I have read that book.

There are two basic rules. Firstly, you use it when a situation started in the past and has recurred several times or is recurring in the present. “I have told you to open your book three times now!” Secondly, in situations where a single event in the past has an effect in the present. “I have read that book” implies that not only have you read it, but you remember what happens. It’s something you’ll come back to again and again and again. My tip is a simple one! Establish how you are going to teach this tense, what examples you want to use etc, and really, really, really focus on it till it’s drummed in good and proper! More so than any other bit of grammar.

TEFL Tips - Present Perfect Tense

There are lots of tenses and lots of bits of tense related jargon to confuse both you and your student. But really, 90% of the time you’ll be using one of these five tenses - present simple, past simple, future, present continuous and present perfect. The first four are really pretty easy and sink in quickly. But present perfect will haunt most English students for years. It’s formed by using the verb have as an auxiliary with the present participle of the verb you are using.

There are two basic rules. Firstly, you use it when a situation started in the past and has recurred several times or is recurring in the present. “I have told you to open your book three times now!” Secondly, in situations where a single event in the past has an effect in the present. “I have read that book” implies that not only have you read it, but you remember what happens. It’s something you’ll come back to again and again and again. My tip is a simple one! Establish how you are going to teach this tense, what examples you want to use etc, and really, really, really focus on it till it’s drummed in good and proper! More so than any other bit of grammar.

Samsung P2

I’ve pretty much made my mind up. I need a new MP3 and I’m jolly well going to get one. Hopefully I can persuade someone visiting the US over Christmas to bring me one back! The range sold in Mexico is limited and grossly overpriced! I’ve been weighing up the options - Archos 605, Zune 30GB, Sansa View 16GB and Playstation Portable were all given due consideration. But I think I’m going to plump for the Samsung P2. It does have it’s limitations, and at $250 for the 8GB model it’s not the cheapest. But it’s the right size, bluetooth enables, decent 3inch screen, radio and plenty of other features, that I will actually use.

Samsung P2

I’ve pretty much made my mind up. I need a new MP3 and I’m jolly well going to get one. Hopefully I can persuade someone visiting the US over Christmas to bring me one back! The range sold in Mexico is limited and grossly overpriced! I’ve been weighing up the options - Archos 605, Zune 30GB, Sansa View 16GB and Playstation Portable were all given due consideration. But I think I’m going to plump for the Samsung P2. It does have it’s limitations, and at $250 for the 8GB model it’s not the cheapest. But it’s the right size, bluetooth enables, decent 3" screen, radio and plenty of other features, that I will actually use.

Yucatan from Space

I’m always on the look out for pointless bits and pieces about Mexico. Today I found this cool photo taken from space. It’s part of the Yucatan, with Merida visible in the bottom left corner. The sea looks as turquoise from space as it does when you’re stood right next to it. There were quite a few good photos from around the world, including a photo of Bangladesh during the recent floods.

Yucatan from Space

I’m always on the look out for pointless bits and pieces about Mexico. Today I found this cool photo taken from space. It’s part of the Yucatan, with Merida visible in the bottom left corner. The sea looks as turquoise from space as it does when you’re stood right next to it. There were quite a few good photos from around the world, including a photo of Bangladesh during the recent floods.