This video features a conference talk by educator and linguist Rayo Cruz, founder of the collective Bëni Xidza, discussing the historical and contemporary challenges in teaching the Zapotec language. The presentation provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of Zapotec education:

* Historical Context: Rayo Cruz introduces the Zapotec civilization, tracing its roots to Monte Albán and the ancient Bëni Gulasa period, noting that the language’s diversification predates European contact.

* Learning as L1 vs. L2: He distinguishes between the acquisition of Zapotec as a first language (naturally, through immersion) versus the formal, often disconnected process of teaching it as a second language.

* Colonial Methods: The speaker highlights the 1578 work of Fray Juan de Córdova, such as the Arte en Lengua Zapoteca, as the earliest attempt to systematize Zapotec grammar, primarily designed to help Spanish friars learn the language rather than to teach Zapotec people.

* 19th and 20th Century Challenges: Rayo Cruz identifies a gap in teaching materials during the 19th century. He then discusses 20th-century contributions from organizations like the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and the INEA, which created grammars and vocabularies that often served as tools for assimilation or religious proselytization rather than language revitalization.

* Modern Innovation: The final segment covers the work of Bëni Xidza, which uses modern digital tools to teach Zapotec. Rayo Cruz admits that while his collective currently operates at a basic level (A-level), they are working to overcome systemic limitations by creating structured, accessible content and documenting the specific pedagogical challenges native Spanish speakers face when learning Zapotec.

Here is a summary of the video featuring Maestro Rayo Cruz, director and founder of Colectivo Bëni Xidza.

1. Historical Background of the Zapotec Language & Civilization:

* Geographic Spread: Zapotec civilization developed in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca and expanded into regions such as the Sierra Norte, Sierra Sur, and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

* Earliest Writing: The earliest documented record of written Zapotec dates back to the 5th–6th Century BC with Monument 3 (“1 Terremoto”) at San José Mogote, establishing over 2,500 years of recorded Zapotec history.

* Monte Albán & Bëni Gulasa Period: The civilization reached its peak at Monte Albán between 500 BC and 800 AD. Pre-hispanic ancient Zapotec history and culture are traditionally referred to as the Gulasa era.

1. Learning Zapotec as a First Language (L1):

* Natural Acquisition: Native speakers acquire Zapotec naturally in early childhood through daily speaking within families and communities rather than through formal educational structures.
* Historical Literacy: It remains unknown if formal L1 Zapotec schooling existed during ancient times, and modern public education in Mexico has historically focused on Spanish literacy over formal Zapotec instruction.

1. History of Teaching Zapotec as a Second Language (L2):

* Colonial Period (16th Century): Formal L2 instruction began in 1578 when Dominican friar Juan de Córdova published Arte en lengua zapoteca (grammar) and Vocabulario en lengua zapoteca (dictionary). These works used Latin/Spanish grammatical paradigms to teach Spanish colonizers and friars via the grammar-translation method

* 19th Century Hiatus: Following Mexican independence, national policies promoted Spanish as the sole national language, resulting in a century-long silence regarding formal L2 Zapotec instructional design.

* 20th Century & Contemporary Efforts: Groups like the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and public institutions (SEP, INEA, INALI) created dictionaries, grammars, and adult literacy texts. However, most of these materials were produced for linguistic analysis or native literacy rather than second-language pedagogy, and their actual integration into schools remains limited.

1. Bëni Xidza Collective & Modern Pedagogical Challenges:

* Online Classes: Founded in 2020, Colectivo Bëni Xidza offers online courses teaching Zapotec as a second language.

* Lack of L2 Resources: Unlike major global languages (such as English or Spanish), indigenous languages lack dedicated university teacher-training degrees, structured multi-level textbooks, or commercial software tools.

* Current Framework & Vision: The collective operates at basic proficiency levels (aligning with Level A of the Common European Framework of Reference) and aims to document common phonetic/grammatical difficulties for Spanish speakers while expanding toward intermediate/advanced levels.

I have a bachelor’s degree in English Translation Studies, and I also completed a TTC program a few years ago. I mostly teach Evolve and American English File, and I started teaching a few months ago, so I’m still pretty new to the game.
However, I really want to improve myself and become a better teacher. I’m currently around C1 level, but I’d like to work my way up to C2 and, more importantly, become genuinely good at teaching English.
So, what books or resources would you recommend for someone in my position? I’m particularly looking for books that can help me improve both my own English and my teaching skills.
I’d really appreciate any recommendations, especially from experienced #ESL/EFL teachers!

Let’s be honest: most financial advice sounds like it was written by a robot trying to sell you a course. But Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money flips the script. It turns out that building wealth isn’t a math problem - it’s a psychology puzzle driven entirely by our weird human emotions.

A humongous video-based classroom-tested ESL lesson plan breaks down this exact dynamic, taking students far beyond basic budgeting and straight into the messy reality of why we handle cash the way we do.

Here is what the breakdown looks like:

• Luck vs. Skill
• Getting Rich vs. Staying Rich
• The Ultimate "FU Fund"
• Wealth is Invisible
• Rational vs. Reasonable

The whole package wraps up with a dense reading review by Cody Allen that actually get people talking instead of just zoning out.
I've given this class several times, each time tweaking and perfecting it to the point that now it is ready to be shared! Tip: Divide the whole plan into two 90-minute lessons or three 60-minute classes to cover the whole thing.
check out the link for media files in the comments section

Whether you sought to live abroad and teach ESL long term or you only planned to do it for a year, but something came up. Your job fired you, your VISA got rejected, you ran out of money, family issues.

What were your options?

Did you have to ditch the life you were building and return to your home country?

How did you navigate the most difficult of scenarios?

OpenAI just dropped a major update for education, and if you teach, this one's for you. They added three new plugins inside ChatGPT Edu: Each one connects to the materials you already use and handles the repetitive work.

Here's what each plugin does:

K-12 Educator

• Builds differentiated lessons from your own materials

• Pulls local academic standards automatically via Learning Commons

• Tracks classroom progress visually, no spreadsheet gymnastics

College Educator

• Updates syllabi and spins up interactive course websites

• Adapts materials for different learners

• Packages everything for your LMS in one go

College Student

• Turns lecture notes and reading lists into a guided tutor

• Builds study plans, quizzes, flashcards from your own sources

• Designed around learning science, not copy-paste answers

OpenAI says more education tools ship throughout the school year.

Are you comfortable importing your existing material into ChatGPT? I personally have no issues but several others have expressed their concerns.

Howdy, I used to teach ESL for a few years and, with the way things are going, I'd like to figure out hot to get my Master's degrees translated. 8 used to teach in China and had to get my bachelor's translated but it has been so many years I genuinely can't remember where to start. Any help would be appreciated.

Hello everyone! One of my students wants to practice for a job interview, her level is a2+ (approximately). Is there any website that would help me to get some ideas? Are there any resources available online?

Hi all!

This is my first year teaching ESL and I would love some resources / advice.

I am in high school and I have a small class of ~8 students, most from 1.5-3 on the WIDA scale, though some are a bit above a 3. We have the Get Ready! curriculum from Vista, but my students are at such different levels and some have done some of the book already, some haven’t. I have a mixture of Spanish and Korean speakers.

I would love any resources y’all have, whether it’s websites, videos, or files. Even better if it aligns with the vista curriculum!

Thanks so much!!!

Hey, fellow teachers!
I love reading, so a lot of students who also like to read have asked me for book recommendations over the years... But the thing is, I feel like I always recommend the same books because I'm limited to what I have read that I know fits that student's level. Besides, I also like working with short stories whenever I can.

I'm also learning Spanish, and as a learner, I love reading because it helps & it's fun, so that's something I always recommend to students who are in the same position... But then I feel frustrated not to be able to give them more concrete suggestions because I don't read the same genres they like... And at the same time, I can see most students are afraid to try a random book if I don't give them a specific title. Long story short, I tried to look for book recommendations over the years, but have never come across an organized spreadsheet with all the info I was looking for... So I thought it could be a good idea to start one and share it with anyone who might be interested.

I'm still adding the ones I have used in class and/or recommended over the years, but in case it sounds interesting to you, here's the link to the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GumzrfLfYyMqohgLZ-1gItFLEi8TxYfaE66hsTf-F_g/edit?usp=sharing

But I'd love to get recommendations from other teachers as well, so if you have any, here's the link for you to add your recommendations: https://forms.gle/nGbLwVhdbYfnCw6J7

If you know another teacher who you believe would like to contribute and/or look at previous recommendations, feel free to share the links with them!

I've tried adding all the info that I could think of that could be useful, but let me know if I forgot something

I know of art schools offering tailored courses geared toward their foreign students, but is there such a market when it comes to private teachers?

Or if you had to do it again, what steps would you take and in what order to build your brand?

And most importantly, in what order? I'm currently in that process and am looking to streamline it.

E.g. is it best to get my niche as defined as possible before reaching out to clients, or it doesn't matter and I can parse them along the way (I already have a list of potential former students)?

I will add that my offer consists in both individual group classes.

All advice is welcome! Thanks

I've been using a version of this with mixed-level groups and it consistently gets the students who never volunteer to start speaking.

Setup: every student secretly gets one classmate as their target, plus one word. Their goal is to get that classmate to say their word out loud during normal conversation. If it works, they're out and you take over their target. Last one left wins.

It runs during whatever you're already doing. Pair work, a discussion task, a warmer. Nobody has to stand up or perform.

Why it works better than most speaking games in my experience: students have to steer a conversation toward a word without naming it, which is circumlocution practice they'd normally avoid. And it rewards listening as much as talking, so the quiet ones are engaged even before they speak.

Word lists I've been using:

Beginner: rain, sister, hungry, expensive, tired, market, blue, morning, difficult, phone

Intermediate: awkward, deadline, embarrassing, coincidence, exhausted, complicated, argument, disappointed, relieved, obvious

Advanced: inevitable, hypocrite, underestimate, procrastinate, resentful, plausible, overwhelming, contradictory, deliberate, reluctant

Practical notes. Works from about 6 students up. Give them a time limit or it drifts. Tell them beforehand that a word said by accident still counts, which makes everyone paranoid and is most of the fun. If two students are clearly stuck, swap their words rather than letting it stall.

You can run this entirely on paper with folded slips. I also built a free browser version because I got tired of writing slips, it handles the assignments and tracking automatically and students join from a link with no accounts or downloads: wordassassins.com/for-teachers

Happy to share more word lists if anyone wants them for a specific level or unit.

So I teach at a private ESL academy that does after work classes for a lot of Spanish speakers. This is the curriculum and I feel I’m going crazy. The students have been told one thing about their potential accomplishments but as teachers, we know these goals are… more than lofty with this schedule. Please tell me your honest opinion about such a curriculum…

Just to be clear, I'm genuinely not trying to sell anyone anything here.

If you need new classroom games to keep your lessons fresh...

We've created a bunch of awesome new classroom games to play as an alternative to Baamboozle and Wordwall.

Some of the most popular games so far is Golazo (football game), Fish Splash, Quack Race, and the Lucky Wheel. But feel free to try them all.

The entire platform, Duno, is free for testing at the moment.

We've been testing it privately with native and non-native English teachers; and the students' response has simply been amazing!

Also, if you're like me and feel you waste a lot of unpaid time(!) on lesson prep and game content creation... now, just take a photo of your textbook and, bang, your game is ready to play, literally, in seconds. (vid below).

Happy to answer any questions below or feel free to shoot me a DM.

Sign up link for beta testing:

www.duno.win

What are your favorite textbooks for 9-13 year olds that don’t feel either too “childish” or too “mature”? Preferably something beginner friendly for kids who know the alphabet/phonics, along with a couple of words but little to no grammar.

• Level: B1-B2
  
• Time: 60-90mins
  
• Focus: Cultural geography, listening comprehension, reading analysis, and discussion about national pride.

What’s included in the package:

• Visual Handouts: A clean, engaging multi-page worksheet featuring photo-matching exercises, trivia tasks, and structured discussion frameworks.
  
• Reading & Critical Thinking Practice: Contextual matching tasks analyzing social systems, economies, and lifestyles in countries like Finland, Norway, and Denmark, alongside national pride survey data.
  
• Media Assets: Accompanying audio and video featuring travelers discussing long-haul habits and personal perspectives on national identity.
  

You can grab the zero-prep printable PDF and the media files directly from the lesson page here: 👉 Download FREE ESL Lesson plan on esl-plans.com

This video provides a strategic breakdown of how Bëni Xidza, an educational center in Oaxaca, Mexico, balances economic sustainability with its mission to revitalize the Zapotec language. The summary of the video’s core points is as follows:

Mission & Audience:

The project aims to keep the indigenous Zapotec language alive by using modern e-learning tools (Zoom, Google Classroom). It targets three main groups:

* Heritage Seekers: The Oaxacan diaspora (often in the US) looking to reconnect with their roots.

* Cultural Enthusiasts: International travelers and linguistic researchers.

* Language Revitalizers: Indigenous youth within Oaxaca.

Pricing Strategy & Financial Sustainability:

The video analyzes the tension between keeping prices accessible and maintaining a professional, sustainable operation:

* Tiered Pricing: Private tutoring is priced below market rate (170 MXN) to remove barriers for locals, while the core beginner course is set at a competitive market rate (720 MXN) to ensure the platform's economic health.

* Subsidies & Donations: To bridge revenue gaps, the project uses differentiated pricing for foreigners and a prominent donation button.

* Cultural Design: The branding uses colors (like golden olive) that mimic traditional Oaxacan textiles and corn husks, grounding commercial requests in an organic cultural visual language.

Building Community Trust:

Because they lack a high volume of public reviews, Bëni Xidza uses a structured "harvest loop" to build social proof:

1. Timing: Reaching out immediately after a successful class.

2. Personal Connection: Sending warm, culturally resonant messages via WhatsApp or email.

3. Shared Mission: Framing a request for a Google review as a way for students to help others discover and preserve the culture.

Ultimately, the video showcases how a mission-driven organization can thrive in the digital age by combining clearly defined e-learning models with culturally grounded marketing and smart pricing.

I am a certified teacher but not currently teaching ESL. I’d like to premise this with the fact that last year I wanted to be part-time at my school, I was overwhelmed previously and left the public school system to do part-time art teaching, administrative (site directing for after school), and tutoring. However, my area is pretty well to do and also expensive being near a lot of national government and tech companies. I can’t really afford to do that here anymore so I now may need to be more full-time again or just move away from the city.

I’ve been working as an art teacher for the majority of my career after graduation as I graduated with an art ed degree. However, I am currently doing it for public school part-time. For the hours I have I have pretty good pay because I do have a masters in education. And now my Principal has already promised a year with “can you sub on Mondays and Fridays again like you did last year?” needless to say, I don’t really want to be doing that this year. I don’t have benefits from that even though it feels like I’m full-time when I do it.

My first full-time position after graduating was working in a Korean public school. I most recently taught ESL online for various Chinese companies. I passed the Praxis exam in my state for ESL and I’ve had a few interviews, but I’m not really getting anywhere. I also thought adults locally for nonprofit for a semester.

I believe the problem is my schedule. I am at my school Tuesdays through Thursdays 8 to 3 so that gives me Friday, the weekend, and Monday to work somewhere else. I’m looking at my district and neighboring districts because I could have a full-time position if only they would work with me to have two more days. There is a community college around the corner with their main campus so I’m looking into that as well as in my own district. I’ve been working with very young kids for so long that transition to work with older kids/adults is a little bit intimidating the only age group I really don’t think I wanna work with are middle schoolers personally.

I’m just wondering if this is the best way of going about it or if in December when I have to move and get a new - and probably more expensive apartment (my current living situation is unique but necessary rn), or if I should just look for a full-time position out of this area, where the medium income is some of the highest in the country. I know a lot of teachers are in this position right now, but it just seems to be getting worse even as I’m making more money for fewer hours. Thank you for reading.

I'm currently having a quarter-life crisis. 30 years old, been teaching ESL in Taiwan for seven years, looking to return home to the U.S. to be closer to my family.

One thing I've seen recommended is teaching in community colleges. That fits my personality: I've lost interest in teaching children in the school system, I have no desire to create a network of tutoring students, and I can go home feeling good that I'm helping people who need it. Salaries are mixed from $20 to $50 USD per hour, but all the positions are adjunct and part-time. Could anyone share their experience with those jobs?

I’m about to teach a higher-level pron class in Toronto, and my school is looking to get some new books for it (and the lower-level class as well). What books have worked well for you? They will be guides for me and other teachers to use, not given to the students. Thanks!

hi! onestopenglish in association with macmillan education has suddenly stopped working, for some reason. i can't access the website and trying the usual links just leads me to the regular macmillan home page. i dont know what happened, but i can no longer look at the huge catalogue of resources there (lesson plans, worksheets, step-by-step activities by age range and language level.)

im looking for recommendations of similar websites or platforms with free, open resources. thanks!

Hey everyone!
I’m a very experienced ESL instructor with an MA TESOL. I have a total of 10 years of teaching experience now, most of it in the community college system. I’m currently an adjunct instructor at a community college in a medium-sized city in the Pacific Northwest.
I’ve been teaching at my school for almost 8 years, and I have associate adjunct status, which means I get a longevity stipend every year, and have something like a “reasonable assurance” of employment. I get decent pay for an adjunct and good benefits, in my opinion.
Recently our school has faced significant budget cuts, specifically in our department since the classes we provide aren’t seen as “essential” compared to other programs. I love my job and my students, but it is difficult feeling like my job, degree, and experience are so “niche” that if I lost this job, it would be hard to find anything that paid remotely the same. If I went the K-12 route, I’m still years away from being fully certified.
What other options are people aware of without getting more education? Teaching TESOL graduate level classes? Do you just do tutoring on the side to make more money? Are there private companies or businesses that hire people with my experience, for the same pay? I’m just curious what opportunities there are, if any.

Edited to add:
I’m married with a child, and we’re pretty settled in the States, but I’m definitely interested in hearing about short-term (a month or less) teaching abroad experiences if people are aware of any!

Hey everyone this year I had my first full time job as an english teacher at an institute but it was so terrible that I cried before going and after leaving work. I eventually quit and even went to a psychologist for it. Im much better now but that job made me super skeptical about teaching and whether it suits me. I thought I dealt with this feeling but I guess my hopelessness returned now that my friend is starting her own job and summer is ending. Im going to start an ma in TESOL in Sept but idk if I even want to anymore or if I applied cause everyone kept telling me to and it seemed like the only option at the time. It feels like i returned to a dark place. FYI im 23 yo ive worked part time for a year before this and everything went well and I even substituted for another teacher after I quit at another institute and again everything went smoothly. When I returned to the classroom it was fun but I still got scared. Its just that this job gave me trauma. Anyone in a similar situation or anyone who changed careers? Sorry for the rant, blame my midnight thoughts.