Beautiful Models Help ESL Students to Understand English Better, Claims Principal of Toronto English School Chelsea Language Academy

Toronto, Canada, February 20, 2010 --(PR.com)-- “Consider first,” stresses Robbie McMullan, the principal of Chelsea Language Academy, “how hard it often is to get ESL students to speak up in class, especially students from quiet cultures such as Japan. Usually, either they are bored with the topic or too afraid to make mistakes in the language. However, mentioning the latest Hollywood sex symbol or supermodel really gets normally reticent young men to speak up in class.”

“And,” McMullan continues, “to really learn a language you need more than just knowledge of grammar and vocabulary; firstly, you need to develop conversational skill by way of actual discussion. The fact is, I've found gorgeous actresses to be a great English conversation starter among my ESL students at Chelsea."

Interestingly, McMullan claims that discussing the celebrity beauties in the classroom even gets the girls to talk more. He explains that “the guys all start talking about how hot she is and then the girls seem to get a bit jealous, so they feel they have to speak up and defend their own pride. The girls often put the star down. But I inject a bit of controversy by introducing some quotes from her that show her as a confident speaker, something female ESL students, sadly, too often aren't.

McMullan mentions that even homework activity is positively affected. “By assigning readings about various supermodels or Hollywood actresses,” he says, “students actually read more English, which further builds their language understanding. I also encourage my English students to listen to YouTube videos that feature these women speaking. They love doing this kind of homework. Next I think I'll try assigning them writing homework whereby they can write regular fan letters to celebrities, send them off and see if they get a response from their management companies like an autographed photograph or even a note.”

“I'd love to be able to teach my ESL students Shakespearian English if I could,” he continues, “but it's just more effective to talk about supermodels and famous actresses and bring in the most gorgeous pictures of them that I can find just to get them talking. That's how they seem to learn most quickly."

Chelsea Language Academy (www.ChelseaLanguageAcademy.com) is a fast growing English school in Toronto, Canada that was originally founded in 1993 in Tokyo by its principal, Robbie McMullan. Mr. McMullan is a highly experienced language teacher, writer and alumnus of Harvard University.

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For further information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Robbie McMullan, please call Jin Park at +1 416 322 0008 or e-mail Jin at Jin@ChelseaLanguageAcademy.com