# general thoughts — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover general thoughts. Page: Feed: --- ## [Phoebe's Point](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/phoebes-point) _2026-08-16 · OWI World · OWI World_ From the old blog, here is a message from Phoebe that is worth sharing as we start another year: ## [Thomas Merton](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/thomas-merton) _2026-08-16 · OWI World · OWI World_ These words from Thomas Merton might apply to some of our lives as language teachers: ## [Eighth Notes](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/eighth-notes) _2026-08-14 · OWI World · OWI World_ Mozart grew up surrounded by constant music. ## [Our Greatest Challenge](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/our-greatest-challenge) _2026-08-14 · OWI World · OWI World_ In my view, the greatest challenge currently facing the rising tide of young CI champions is to thoroughly convince their colleagues of one simple truth: that students trained in narrative methods acquire command of grammar in a way that is far superior to students who don’t receive such training ## [Student Will Be Able To (SWBAT)](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/student-will-be-able-to-swbat) _2026-08-11 · OWI World · OWI World_ Writing daily student learning objectives on whiteboards is a routine and often frustrating task for teachers. ## [The Listening Skill](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/the-listening-skill) _2026-08-10 · OWI World · OWI World_ The listening skill. ## [Teamwork](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/teamwork) _2026-08-09 · OWI World · OWI World_ While working with my 25-year old son Landen and my best friend Jorge Sanchez this morning painting the interior of my house, it occurred me how much fun it is to work with others, as a team. ## [THE 50% RULE](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/the-50-rule) _2026-08-09 · OWI World · OWI World_ Here’s a post from 2007, still applicable today. ## [Trench Mouth](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/trench-mouth) _2026-08-08 · OWI World · OWI World_ The 2026-27 academic year is upon us. ## [Le Petit Prince](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/le-petit-prince) _2026-08-06 · OWI World · OWI World_ Here is the first chapter of Le Petit Prince, given below in the original French: ## [Watch chovy live code (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/xdPakXSQyaDp) _2026-08-06 · **Sponsored**_ Join Mosh Coding streams with collaborative screen sharing and remote control, open source. ## [Montessori and CI](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/montessori-and-ci) _2026-08-04 · OWI World · OWI World_ Kary Fernandez is a rare gem in the Montessori community: a teacher who truly understands how Maria Montessori’s core principles apply to effective language instruction. ## [General Thoughts on CI - 10](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/general-thoughts-on-ci-10) _2026-08-01 · OWI World · OWI World_ In my view, the real point of CI is not to focus on the method or the materials. ## [General Thoughts on CI - 9](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/general-thoughts-on-ci-3) _2026-07-29 · OWI World · OWI World_ This article first appeared in The Big CI Book (2014). ## [CI Renaissance! - 2](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/ci-renaissance-2) _2026-07-28 · OWI World · OWI World_ The second CI Renaissance! ## [General Thoughts on CI - 8](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/general-thoughts-on-ci-8) _2026-07-28 · OWI World · OWI World_ We cannot be successful in teaching a language by trying to “get” our kids to focus on how the language works. ## [General Thoughts on CI - 7](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/general-thoughts-on-ci-7) _2026-07-26 · OWI World · OWI World_ When we open our hearts to them and accept them as they sit there, looking for something real, they open their hearts to us. ## [This Article is Too Long](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/this-article-is-too-long) _2026-07-25 · OWI World · OWI World_ This article is too long. ## [General Thoughts on CI - 6](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/general-thoughts-on-ci-6) _2026-07-25 · OWI World · OWI World_ Classroom control comes from the synergy between you and your students and is easy to achieve when you create reciprocal, back and forth authentically-interesting narratives in class. ## [General Thoughts on CI - 5](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/general-thoughts-on-ci-5) _2026-07-23 · OWI World · OWI World_ Teachers who have mastered the Star, the Square and/or the Triangle don’t use lesson plans because they don’t want to use them because they don’t need them and would rather spend more time with their loved ones than just in the summer. ## [8.1% APY Plus Free Stock (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/FTAlpjsbFk7t) _2026-07-23 · **Sponsored**_ Claim 8.1% APY and up to $1,030 in SK hynix and Nvidia stock. ## [General Thoughts on CI - 4](https://benslavic.substack.com/p/general-thoughts-on-ci-4) _2026-07-21 · OWI World · OWI World_ It is our mind that makes the language comprehensible to our kids, but it is our heart that makes it meaningful to them.