Robert McLarty

As I welcome you to another issue of our magazine, I am experiencing autumn for the first time in eighteen months, having moved back to the UK from New Zealand at the end of their summer ready for another spring and summer here.

MET interviews Robert McLarty, Editor of MET, about the September/October 2022 (Volume 31, Issue 5) edition of Modern English Teacher.

Like so many topics, the English classroom is a great place to start raising awareness of global warming. Everyday the media are full of stories of great courage, ingenuity or anguish as people confront or prepare to solve what is probably the biggest problem of the day.

Welcome to another issue of our magazine and, for the first time in nearly five years, I am writing this editorial in England. Things have changed here so, rather like someone arriving in a new country, I have had to be patient and relearn certain habits.

MET interviews Robert McLarty, Editor of MET, about the May/June 2022 (Volume 31, Issue 3) edition of Modern English Teacher, which focuses on teaching young learners.

I am very excited by this issue mainly because the theme is Young Learners and, for once, I can honestly say that that sort of teaching is right outside my comfort zone. The articles do a full 360° view of the topic from the importance of talking to parents, teaching as a parent, the need to develop independent learning, the role of grammar and the absolute necessity to allow young learners to ask questions, move around the room and experiment with English.

This will probably be the last editorial I write in New Zealand since by the time the next issue comes out in May, I should be back in the UK. The last four years have flown by and I have really had a great time teaching some amazing students, working with a whole new team of teachers, seeing our profession from a different perspective and sharing so many new ideas with our readers through a constant stream of new and established contributors.

Robert Mclarty continues to look at fluency and describes ideas for working on spontaneity, vocabulary activation, pace and rhythm.

Robert Mclarty suggests that fluency is comprised of several elements which need to be practised at the same time; spontaneity, vocabulary activation, pace, register and appropriacy.

Welcome to our brand new Modern English Teacher incorporating English Teaching professional.

There used to be a time when certain teachers loved technology and others loathed it. After the last twelve months many of us have been forced to adopt it and I am sure the vast majority have been pleasantly surprised as to what it can add to one’s teaching. 

In my 20th issue as editor of the magazine, I recall the first time I heard the term ‘learner-centred’. Just like learner-centred approaches, everyone has something to add based on their individual experiences. In that way, everything is new. Just like this issue.

As you change levels, ages, classes and institutions your teaching will evolve, sometimes naturally and sometimes by choice. To keep your teaching fresh, make sure you have a way of regularly trying new things out.

Ever since i started teaching, teachers have had a love-hate relationship with coursebooks. Whatever the coursebook or materials you are asked to use, you are not necessarily bound by the order or even the exercises or texts.

In this issue, eight of the articles are written by teachers writing for us for the very first time. They are all worth a read.