Free from Harvard comes this excellent video series on public speaking skills, by Professor Patrick Winston. It has a different focus than many similar resources: instead of the corporate PowerPoint-driven presentation, he discusses the lecture format of universities. But the core principles of how to “give a talk” are  of course the  same. The video is nicely broken up into convenient 2-4 minute chapters.

Hat tip to soulsoup.

Here’s a nice survey post by Curt Bonk of a variety of online language learning solutions out there, with short explanations and reviews. There’s a bit of buzz right now prompted by the NY Times article that came out Sunday (reg required).

A little different take, with a refreshingly informal register. Great advice on what is all too often overlooked: hardcore practice.

Micah Baldwin wrote a wonderful mash-up of the classic frog and scorpion parable, and the post is a nice text that could be used in any BE class that would be interested in discussing the proposed Microsoft + Yahoo! merger.

For a small group class, you could work in some other parables as well, that you select from here. Include the original frog scorpion parable in your selection of parables. Then, for example:

1) distribute a different parable to each S or pair
2) have each S or pair read their parable; you help with vocab.
3) the pairs then relate their parable in their own words to the class as a whole
4) class briefly discusses the meaning of each, to arrive at the “moral of the story” (right hand column)
5) sequence the parable pairs so that the original frog and scorpion parable comes last
5) after the frog/scorpion pair relates their parable and it’s discussed, distribute the Microsoft/Yahoo parable to all Ss
6) Discuss: is the MS/Yahoo merger analogous to the original parable? What business lessons could be drawn from that parable, or any other?
7) For next class: have Ss think of a current business challenge/decision that they or their department or colleagues are making, and find a parable on the parable resource above that relates to the decision, and be prepared to tel the story / present the parable and relevance to the class

Depending on class size, level, and dynamic, it might go to two classes. Step 7 is critical IMHO.

Anyway, just an idea. I think I’m like most BE teachers: everything I read, I subconsciously make a lesson out of!