Author: Kristine Totanes

Hello there! My name is Kristine, and I'm an ESL instructor who has a zest for both teaching and learning. A U.S.-born Filipino American who teaches ESL to expatriates and short-term students living in the Philippines, I've learned how to reconcile seemingly opposing cultures and foster my own sense of identity through my own cultural and national heritage. I've also gained a wider appreciation of other people’s beliefs and cultural values–and even become a better teacher as a result. As the founder of The English Blog, I long to connect with teachers from all cultural backgrounds and walks of life. Besides sharing my own experiences and tips on ESL teaching, I hope to gain insights and advice from fellow English teachers around the world. As a lifelong learner, I'll never stop expanding my circle and improving my craft as a teacher, so please don't hesitate to send me a message through The English Blog and say hello!
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3 Reliable Ways to Lower the Affective Filter

Posted on by Kristine Totanes

The affective filter is a psychological filter that, for better or worse, can affect a student’s ability to learn a second language. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, “affective” means “referring to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions.”

Think of this affective filter as a wall; when it’s high, it inhibits learning. When it’s low, the students are better able to learn and acquire new information.

Some surefire ways to raise the affective filter include too much error correction, lack of self-confidence, and feelings of embarrassment or shame. Unfortunately, these are all-too-common phenomena that, when left untreated, can prevent student growth and, even worse, result in a lifetime of distress.

Resilience is Only the Beginning: 3 Ways to Build Antifragile Students

Posted on by Kristine Totanes

As someone who just finished reading Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s New York Times Best Seller Antifragile, I’d like to share ways that we can build antifragility in our students. “What’s ‘antifragility’?” you might ask. As Taleb nicely puts it, “Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets…

3 Ways Enderun Colleges Has Revolutionized ESL Learning in the Philippines

Posted on by Kristine Totanes

Although Enderun Colleges is best known as the premier institution in the Philippines for culinary arts training (thanks to the school’s partnership with the internationally renowned chef École Ducasse) and hospitality management training (thanks to its partnership with the well-respected hospitality school Les Roches in Crans-Montana, Switzerland), Enderun is also recognized for its state-of-the-art programs…

3 Memory Activities for Your One-on-One Class

Posted on by Kristine Totanes

Do you want ESL games and activities that are fun and entertaining, require little to no preparation, and challenge students in a way that gets them highly engaged in the classroom? Why not try incorporating memory games into your lessons? After all, students learn best when they’re enjoying themselves and playing an active role in…

3 Activities to Get Learners in Your Classes Writing and Enjoying It

Posted on by Kristine Totanes

Whether you’re teaching expository, descriptive, narrative, or persuasive writing, the challenges are relatively similar. You’re there not only to teach students writing skills so that they can succeed in school and at the workplace, but also to ensure that they’re enjoying the writing process.  It’s a well-known fact, after all, that students learn best when…