Seraphim William Davidson
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University of Alabama - BA in History and Political ScienceInterests
religion, history, chinese, china, culture, taiwan, taiwanese, orthodox, greek, russia, russian, daoism, taoism, buddhism, buddhist, daoist, taoistAffiliations
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Displaying Results 1 - 89 (of 89) for All Content
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Holy Thursday: Holy Week in the Orthodox ChurchOn Great and Holy Thursday, we focus our attention on the events that occurred in the Upper Room and in the Garden of Gethsemane. -
Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: Holy Week in the Orthodox ChurchBecause they share the same system and cycle of prayer, the Holy Week days of Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be treated here together. -
The Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday: Holy Week in the Orthodox ChurchWhile not a truly a part of Holy Week, the Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday prefigure the events that are to come. These two festivals liturgically display the power of Christ over death and a prefiguring of His coming Kingdom. -
Bodhidharma: Zen Missionary to ChinaFew foreigners can be said to have had as big an impact on China as Bodhidharma. Like many religious figures, his story is rooted as much in legend as in history. -
The Three Jewels of BuddhismTaking refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddhism serves as the initiation rite into the Buddhist faith. The Three Jewels are the Buddha, the Buddha's teachings (the Dharma), and Buddhist monastic community (the Sangha). -
Working at a Convention: Jobs to Look ForWhile the economy may not be doing well and jobs are hard to find, many large organizations are still holding large international conventions, exhibitions, and congresses. -
The Fifty-two Steps to BuddhahoodAccording to The Recorded Sayings of Zen Master Dahui Pujui, "As soon as the butcher lays down his knife, he becomes a Buddha then and there." -
Modern Day Schools of Chinese BuddhismSoon after the death of the historical Buddha, the movement split into many different schools. As more scriptures and missionaries entered China, Chinese Buddhism coalesced into many different schools as well. -
Getting a Job with a Staffing Agency: Temp Jobs for BeginnersNo matter how well or badly the economy is doing, there will always be people who find themselves unemployed and in need of quick cash. Staffing agencies can help job seekers to find both permanent and temporary employment. -
Staffing and Temp Agencies in Boston, MassachusettsIf you're out of work and in need of quick cash, finding a job though a temp agency can be a good way to pay the rent while you're looking for something more permanent. -
Buying a Second Hand Laptop: A Used Product GuideWith the economy the way it is today, more and more people are looking for cheaper ways to buy the things they need. -
Commentary on 2nd ThessaloniansThe 2nd Letter to the Thessalonians begins with Paul giving thanks for the Thessalonians. In the process of doing so, he sets the stage for Chapter 2's theme of the time before the second coming. -
Sacrifice in the Old and New TestamentsThe ritual practice of sacrifice is one of the most ancient human forms of worship. In many traditional religions, sacrifice takes the form of a trade off. -
Commentary on 2nd CorinthiansPaul opens the second letter to the church at Corinth with his often used opening formula and thanksgiving for those to whom he writes. -
Commentary on Acts 1-15After the Ascension, the mission begins in Jerusalem. When the Holy Spirit comes on the disciples they begin proclaiming the good news. -
Non ESL Teaching Jobs in Taiwan: Advice for ForeignersMaybe you've been teaching a few years now and you've gotten tired of it, or perhaps you'd like to live in Taiwan but don't think teaching is for you.
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The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of MatthewThe story of the crucifixion begins with Christ predicting his own death. In the account of the last supper in Matthew, Judas is named as traitor and refers to Jesus as 'Rabbi.'
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Commentary on Mark 1-8In the first part of the book of Mark we are introduced to Jesus as he begins his ministry, a fact that distinguishes Mark from the other two synoptic Gospels.
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Commentary on Matthew 1-11The Gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy tracing Christ's family back to Abraham. The story of His birth and the events before it are narrated and followed by an extensive rendering of Christ's temptation in the wilderness.
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Less Known Chinese Holidays and FestivalsEveryone has heard of Chinese New Year, and many know about the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, but there are number of minor holidays that are not well known outside Chinese communities.
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Chinese Valentine's Day: The Qi-Xi FestivalOn the 7th day of the 7th month, Chinese people celebrate the Qi-xi Festival, a holiday that is roughly equivalent to the western holiday of Valentine's Day.
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Mid-Autumn Festival: Watching the MoonLike most of China's traditional holidays, Mid-autumn Festival is founded on a legend. Most likely, though, the holiday sprang up as a celebration of the harvest coming in.
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Moving to Taiwan: Advice for ESL Teachers and Chinese StudentsThinking about moving to Taiwan for work? If you've never lived abroad, setting off for the first time may seem frightening. However, Taiwan is actually one of the friendliest places for newcomers.
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Teaching ESL in Korea, Taiwan, China, or Japan: A ComparisonTeaching in a foreign country can be a fun and rewarding experience, if you are prepared. In some places you can earn a lot, but the cost of living is high.
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Doing an ESL Teaching DemoFor most of the ESL teaching jobs you will apply for, the school will require you to give a demonstration of your teaching ability.
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The Iran Election Protests, Tiananmen Square Protests and Generational ChangeThough separated by twenty years, the 2009 Iranian election protests and the 1989 student demonstrations have much in common.
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Teach English in Taiwan: Going on an InterviewFinding a good ESL teaching job in Taiwan can be tough, but the interview process is even more challenging. Schools in Taiwan vary from well organized and professional, to poorly run and a nightmare for all involved.
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Teach English in Taiwan: How to Find an ESL JobWhether you are interested in long term relocation or just want more than a visit, teaching English as a second language can be a rewarding experience. However, without preparation, you may find yourself in a difficult situation.
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Lantern Festival: A Traditional Chinese HolidayExisting in the shadow of the all important festival of Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival gets little attention from outside observers despite the fact that it is the more colorful of the two.
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Chinese New Year in the Modern World: A Traditional Chinese Holiday TodayIn calendar terms, Chinese New Year is comparable to the western New Year. However, the festivities surrounding the holiday are actually closer to the western holiday of Christmas.
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Punishment and Discipline in an ESL ClassroomKeeping order in a classroom can be one of the most difficult tasks for a teacher. When some of the children are acting naughty, it is distracting to the others.
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Living with Epilepsy or Seizure DisordersBeing diagnosed as having epilepsy or a seizure disorder can cause traumatic changes in a person's life. Perhaps worse of all is the feeling of being a burden on others.
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Creating a Rewards System for Your ESL ClassEvery teacher would love to have a classroom full of highly motivated students. Sadly, this is rarely the case. For young ESL learners, the benefits of learning English are too distant to interest them.
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Bull's Eye: An All Purpose ESL GameReview time can be the most boring class for kids, so why not review lessons with a game that is fun and will give them real practice using what they've learned?
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The Dublin City Ramblers: Irish Folk Music LegendsThe Dublin City Ramblers are one of Ireland's most enduring musical establishments. The group found its beginning during the Irish ballad boom of the 1960's when Patsy Watchorn, Sean and Matt McGuiness and Pat Cummins began playing together.
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The Dubliners: Ireland's Greatest Folk Music GroupThe Dubliners have become as much a legend in Ireland as many of heroes they sing about. The seemingly immortal group entered the music scene during a boom in the public's interest in popular ballads.
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The Dubliners' Bobby Lynch: A Dubliner ForeverBobby Lynch is an almost forgotten member of The Dubliners. Having spent only one year with the group, Bobby didn't have the same impact on the group that other former members had.
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The Dubliners' Patsy Watchorn: The NewcomerPatsy Watchorn may be the newest addition to The Dubliners' line up, but he has a long history as a balladeer. Patsy's entry into the group marked the first time since founder Luke Kelly's death that The Dubliners had a regular 5-string banjoist.
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The Dubliners' Paddy Reilly: The Pub EntertainerBorn in Rathcoole, County Dublin in 1939, Paddy Reilly got an early start in music. In a 1968 interview with Folk Magazine, he remembered, "Both my Ma and Da were good singers in their young days. I got quite a few songs from them."
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Qingming Festival: Tomb Sweeping DayAs a time to honor one's ancestors, the Qingming Festival is a Chinese holiday that goes back to time immemorial. On this day, families will gather at the site of their ancestor's graves to clean the tombs, and burn paper gifts.
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The Six Destinies: Reincarnation in Chinese BuddhismAccording to Buddhist belief, there are six possibilities for rebirth after death. One may be born as a god, a human, an asura, an animal, a hungry ghost, or a hell-dweller.
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Ghost Month: A Traditional Chinese EventGhost Month is an event that takes place during the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar year. The event is without parallel in the West and is neither a religious nor a civil holiday.
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Dragon Boat Festival: A Traditional Chinese CelebrationThe Dragon Boat Festival is an important holiday in Chinese communities across the world. Held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar year, the festival reminds people to prepare for the beginning of the summer heat.
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A Sentence Writing Activity for Grammar ClassesTeaching kids grammar lessons is hard enough. It is a great challenge for any teacher to teach their class well enough that they can do well in their textbooks and on tests.
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The 2009 Boston Pops Fireworks SpectacularJuly 4th is always a special time in Boston. As the heart of American democracy, the city goes all out to celebrate the nation's birthday with a week long festival, a free concert, and, of course, fireworks.
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The Missionary Work of Lynette HoppeLynette Hoppe was an Orthodox Christian missionary who died in the field after a long struggle with cancer. The way she faced her difficulties and especially the way she faced death itself was a witness to the people she worked among.
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Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular 2009 With Neil Diamond and Craig FergusonScenes from the show at the Charles River Esplanade including clips from Neil Diamond's performances.
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The Orthodox Christian Understanding of AngelsMost often depicted as supernatural protectors or cute babies, the modern world seems to have traded the traditional understanding of angels for a popular, comforting folk belief.
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The Dubliners' Eamonn Campbell: The ProducerThough he didn't join The Dubliners until 1987, guitarist Eamonn Campbell has a long history with the popular Irish folk group. Eamonn was born in Drogheda, County Louth in 1946, making him the youngest member of The Dubliners.
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The Dubliners' Sean Cannon: A One Man ShowBorn in Galway in 1940, guitarist Sean Cannon became the first member of The Dubliners who was not himself from Dublin. Sean is known as one of the more cosmopolitan members of the group.
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The Dubliners' Jim McCann: The McCann ManJim McCann had a long career in music before joining the Dubliners. Born on October 26, 1944 in Dublin, Jim was introduced to folk music while a medical student at University College Dublin.
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The Dubliners' John Sheahan: The Quiet OneJohn Sheahan is perhaps the most unlikely member of The Dubliners. His quiet nature and classical music training set him apart from his fellow group members.
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The Dubliners' Luke Kelly: The Dublin MinstrelLuke Kelly's sincere, passionate voice is a Dublin legend. Luke's contribution helped bring the Dubliners, a group he helped found in 1962, to international recognition.
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The Dubliners' Ronnie Drew: The King of IrelandDubbed "The King of Ireland," the Irish folk singer Ronnie Drew had a musical career spanning five decades. Though well known through his solo work, it was the years he spent with the Dubliners for which he is best known.
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Summary and Analysis of James, Jude and First, Second and Third JohnThe Epistle of James has been a controversial book in Christian history, particularly with Martin Luther who called it a 'straw epistle.'
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Analysis of Paul's Letter PhilippiansIn Philippians, Paul is writing to a community that he himself founded. He begins the letter by telling them of his sufferings in prison.
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Tradition and Theology in Orthodox ChristianityThe Orthodox understanding of tradition is that of a living experience of God in the Church as guided by the Holy Spirit.
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A Summary and Analysis of 1st and 2nd Timothy and TitusWhile all three were supposedly written by St. Paul, the letter to Titus and the two letters to Timothy are quite different than Paul's other letters, and 2 Tim is still different from the other two.
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An Analysis of St. Paul's Letter to the EphesiansPaul, or perhaps a disciple or interpreter of Paul's, begins this letter as Paul often does, with a thanksgiving for the Ephesians and for their faithfulness.
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Russia: Moscow as the Third RomeGrand Prince Ivan III had married the niece of a Byzantine emperor, seen as making the Romanov line a continuation of Byzantine royalty. With the fall of Constantinople, Moscow became, in effect, Third Rome.
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The Council of FlorenceConstantinople was being threatened by immanent takeover by the Turks. In order to get Western military assistance, the Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaeologus looked to the West for help.
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Pope Urban II's Speech at the Council of Clermont and the CrusadesThe speech at the Council of Clermont had quick and long lasting results. Filled with zeal at the prospect of liberating the Holy Land and motivated by the promise of instant entry into heaven, thousands of men responded to the call.
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The Western Schism, Papal Power, and the Conciliar MovementThe 14th and 15th Centuries was a difficult time for the Catholic Church. The Church had three claimants to the Papal throne, and the Conciliar Movement was attempting to limit the power of the Pope.
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The Letter of Photios the Great to the Bishops of the EastIn his letter, Photios claimed that the Latins were leading the Bulgarians away from pure Christianity. He listed a number of issues.
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The Taiwan Tugou: Formosan Mountain DogsThe Taiwan Tugou is a fascinating but little known breed of dog.
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The Power of Popes in the Twelfth CenturyIn the 12th Century, the Western Christian Church was involved in a long running controversy over the power of the Pope.
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A Step Towards the Great SchismOften cited as the beginning of the Great Schism between the eastern and western halves of the Christian Church, the anathemas of 1054 were just one in a series of conflicts between the the Greeks and Latins.
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The Donation of ConstantineFor centuries, the Donation of Constantine was used as a justification for the civil power of the Papacy.
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Iconoclasm: Religious Turmoil in the Byzantine EmpireIn the early 8th Century the Byzantine Empire was plunged into chaos by the outbreak of iconoclasm. The Emperor Leo III issued an edict banning the use of icons in Christian worship.
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Fireworks Displays in the Greater Bostan AreaBoston, the birthplace of American democracy, is one of the best places in the country to celebrate the fourth of July. Here's a list of fireworks displays and other events going on in the Greater Boston area.
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The Gods of TaiwanWhatever the origin, worshipers choose which gods to worship based on their efficacy in answering prayers. In private worship, the most important thing in a worshipers mind is fulfilling their needs.
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Worshiping the Gods of TaiwanJust as one must build a good relationship with their families or co-workers in order to live peacefully, it is seen as equally important to build a relationship with the local gods.
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Resurrection Narratives in the GospelsWhile the four gospels contain similar characteristics in regard to the Resurrection Narrative, there are also many differences, differences which reflect their own particular theological purpose.
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Why There Are Four Gospels and Not OneThe writing of the gospels was a shared action between God and the writers.
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A Comparison of St. Paul's Letters to the Galatians and to the ColossiansThough they were supposedly written by the same author, the letters to the Galatians and to the Colossians have many differences in style and content.
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The Communities of the New TestamentMany things in the New Testament were written to solve particular problems in particular communities. This is important to consider because some things may have been emphasized while others were not.
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The Death of Christ in Early Christian KerygmaThe death of Christ was an essential part of the early Christian kerygma. While Christ's death essentially meant the same thing to all Christians, it was applied in different ways as a catechetical tool.
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St. Innocent of AlaskaThe Orthodox Church gives the title of 'Equal to the Apostles' to a select few of its saints. The title is given to those who imitated the original apostles of Christ by spreading the Gospel among those who had not heard it before.
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Are Buddhists Atheists?The question of gods in monastic and popular Buddhism is not an easy one to answer.
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Characteristics of Russian Folk TalesA description of different aspects of stories told by the Russian people. For the purposes of this article, Russia will refer to Great, Small, and White Russia (modern day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus).
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Ghost Month in TaiwanGhost Month is a part of Chinese culture which has no parallel in the West. It is neither a religious nor a civil holiday. Instead, the performed during this month are seen as a duty, a duty to the wandering spirits of the dead. The rituals are also a precaution, because spirits that are not properl
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Qing Ming: Tomb Sweeping Festival - Part TwoOn the day of the Tomb Sweeping Festival (Qing Ming in Chinese), Chinese people gather at their family tombs to honor those who have gone before them. The English name comes from the most prominent act done at this time, the cleaning of the tombs. Buddhists read scriptures and perform cleansing rit
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Qing Ming: Tomb Sweeping Festival in Taiwan - Part OneOn the day of the Tomb Sweeping Festival (Qing Ming in Chinese), Chinese people gather at their family tombs to honor those who have gone before them. The English name comes from the most prominent act done at this time, the cleaning of the tombs. Buddhists read scriptures and perform cleansing rit
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Koxinga: The Last Ming WarlordThe fall of the Ming Dynasty was a tragedy for many Chinese. Few tried so hard to reverse history as Koxinga.
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Mopeds: The Affordable, Responsible ChoiceWith the high cost of gas, mopeds are looking like a better option.
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Teaching Vocabulary Using a Reading TextA reading class is a good opportunity to teach young ESL learners new vocabulary.
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Teaching Young ESL Learners to Write Great SentencesTeaching non-native English speakers to express themselves well can be a challenge, but with a little effort you get them off to a good start.
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Chinese New Year and Lantern FestivalLantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Traditionally, people walked around visiting family and friends carrying lighted lanterns. Today, large lanterns in a variety of shapes are built in public spaces. In addition, many people will write wishes on large paper lanterns,
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Teaching an Effective Grammar ClassTeaching grammar is an ESL teacher's most difficult task, but with a little effort you can make your classes memorable for your students.