Tony Penston

I'm a semi-retired EFL teacher and teacher trainer, having worked in many countries, throughout which time I have acquired a knowledge of various learner difficulties and how to dispel them.

In Phonetics for English Language Teachers, I avoid academic language yet remain precise in what teachers need in the classroom, particularly in understanding the vocal articulations involved in pronouncing English. Explanations of common difficulties and simple correction methods are included throughout.

In Using Drills in English Language Teaching the question ‘How many times should I ask learners to repeat a new phrase, and how is this to be done?’ is answered comprehensively. Visual aids are included, in accordance with the communicative approach.

In A Concise Grammar for English Language Teachers, Second Edition, I have retained the user-friendly language and visual explanations for which the first edition became famous. This time there’s more colour, more teaching tips, and the novel ready-to-use activities. Unique!

One of my articles advocating for ‘real’ communicative language teaching is titled ‘Death to the [yes/no] concept question’ (English Teaching Professional, 89, 2013). And my advocacy of precise grammar explanation is expressed in ‘You should or ought to use corpora when explaining lexical choices’ (International House Journal, 52, 2024).